The Open 2026 - Royal Birkdale

[PaulMdj]

The Open starts next thursday, but with this being the last Major of the year and The Scottish Open currently being played having a possible impact on peoples thoughts about who’s likely to be in contention for The Open, I thought I’d open the thread a day or two earlier than normal.

 

[PaulMdj]

Favourite Major of the year for me, not because of where it’s played, but because it is “the” Major” imo.

I don’t think we’ll have a surprise winner this year, but I do think it’ll be a European.

Matt Fitzpatrick or Bob Mac I’d love to see win it.

 

[IanM]

I hope Tommy wins. If nothing else, he'll then be able to afford some proper trousers!

 

[Backache]

My favourite as well, partly because of where its played. I love the long coverage of the first two rounds and links golf generally.

 

[PaulMdj]

I hope Tommy wins. If nothing else, he'll then be able to afford some proper trousers!

Well he won’t be paying any accommodation fees next week so he should be able to afford a new pair.

 

[kp17]

I think Scottie now heading down to Birkdale a few days earlier after a poor show and missed cut will send him into his robot mode even more. I wouldn’t be suprised to see him blow the field apart.

As always would love to see fleetwood get it over the line

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

I genuinely don’t have a clue who will win this one, which is odd as my betting has been good this year 2nd at the Masters and PGA then got Wyndham as an E/W at the US Open.

You’ve got the obvious favourites of Rory/Scottie, fan favourite of Tommy (who I’d love to win it but I just don’t see him ever bagging major, though I’d love to be wrong).

I’m swaying toward E/W bets on Matt Fitz, Hovland, Aberg and Xander. But as long as it is not Bob Mac I’ll be happy

 

[Red devil]

Looking forward to it and looking at the new layout. Completely new par3 15th that looks,according to my brother who was caddying there the other week as though it had been there 100yrs. Such is the cracking job they've done.
On train to work yesterday I noticed fairways of S&A, Hillside, West Lancs and Formby in particular are very brown. Birkdale's aren't visible from the train so let's hope they've had the hose on

 

[Taz]

 

[Red devil]

As many will have gathered I live in Southport and have seen over the past months the infrastructure going up not just on the course but the surroundings. It is immense in its size and the planning behind it must be colossal.
I think it's this that has prohibited Turnberry from hosting an Open for a while, irrelevant of ownership.
It's not just a case of having a world class golf course let's have an Open anymore

 

[Barking_Mad]

Sadly at the moment the weather looks to be non breezy!

 

[Red devil]

Sadly at the moment the weather looks to be non breezy!

Usually a breeze off the Irish sea. Nothing at the moment

 

[chico]

Sadly at the moment the weather looks to be non breezy!

I've always said about the weather "give it an hour"

 

[Orikoru]

I suppose I'll be backing Tommy and Fitzy again even though it's got me nowhere in the last couple of majors.

 

[irip]

I suppose I'll be backing Tommy and Fitzy again even though it's got me nowhere in the last couple of majors.

You know exactly what will happen if you don’t back them though.
And if you do back them they won’t make the cut

 

[Slab]

Paid my 35 magic beans to the sky giant so my viewing is set
Got minimal wfh hours to do so i have the time
Gonna try to watch 30 hours across the 4 days

 

[Billysboots]

I’ll be rooting for anyone from these shores with the exception of MacIntyre, who is, by some distance, the most disagreeable golfer I’ve watched in years.

 

[Bagger Vance]

But as long as it is not Bob Mac I’ll be happy

Does that make you Scottishist or left handedist??

 

[Billysboots]

Does that make you Scottishist or left handedist??

Or just grumpy sod-ist?

 

[Arthur Wedge]

What’s Bob Mac done to annoy people ?