McILROY SET FOR ‘FAIR’ TEST AT ROYAL BIRKDALE
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy speaks to the media during his press conference at The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale. (Photo: Stuart Kerr/R&A/Getty Images)
As sunbaked fairways await for tomorrow’s 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, Rory McIlroy believes the Lancashire links will still present a fair test as the world’s best gather to contest the final Major of the 2026 season.
The world number two will make his 17th appearance at the oldest and most famous Major of them all, and his second at the renowned Southport venue after playing in 2017. Nine years ago, McIlroy finished tied fourth as Jordan Spieth claimed the Claret Jug - a trophy he won at Royal Liverpool in 2014.
Ahead of Birkdale's return as host venue, every hole has undergone some work in a two-phase project by architects Mackenzie & Ebert. Most notably, a new par three, the 15th, has been added to the scorecard, while the par four fifth has been redesigned.
Birkdale is staging the event for an 11th time, with past winners having included Peter Thomson, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson and Johnny Miller.
“I think one of the common things you hear about Birkdale is it's very fair for a links golf course,” said McIlroy. “The fairways aren't overly undulating, so when you land the ball in the fairway here, it seems like it stays on the fairway.
“There's not a ton of blind shots, which I've never really had a problem with in other links courses, but that's quite a common thing that people say. But I've always liked this course. I first played here in the Amateur Championship and then played an Open back here in 2017.
“You know, if you were to poll every player in the field, I'd say it would be up there in terms of being everyone's favourite Open venues to play for sure.”
Since first hosting the golf championship began in 1954, Birkdale has become the competition's most regular venue, outside of St Andrews. Next year, The 155th Open will return to the Old Course, where McIlroy finished third in 2022.
This week provides the 36-year-old a chance to claim a second Major victory of 2026 after becoming a two-time Masters winner in April. Asked what his favourite Open venue is, McIlroy replied: “St Andrews. The Open at St Andrews just feels different, just like the US Open at Pebble Beach feels different.
“I've only played in two Opens at St Andrews, but they've been my favourite as a player and also were my favourite ones growing up and watching. It sort of helped that Tiger [Woods] won a couple of them early on.”
McIlroy is one of seven Irish players in the field this week. Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin gets his Open campaign under way at 8:03am on Thursday alongside Francesco Molinari and amateur Lev Grinberg. Fota Island amateur David Howard, who came through qualifiying, sets off at 10:42am alongside Kazuma Kobori and Tom Sloman.
Amateur champion Stuart Grehan is off just after midday at 12:14pm alongside former champion Cameron Smith and Keith Mitchell. Another former winner Darren Clarke tees off at 12:47pm with Adrien Saddier and Bernd Wiesberger.
Harrington, a former winner at Royal Birkdale, is off at 1:20pm along with Marco Penge and Michael Hollick. The 2019 Open champion Shane Lowry is off at 2:53pm with Major winners Aaron Rai and Brooks Keopka.
World number two Rory McIlroy is joined by Xander Schauffele and Matt Fitzpatrick at 3:15pm in one of the marquee groups on Thursday.
Full tee times for Thursday and Friday are now live. Click on the link at the top of the story.