​Oh, we do like to be beside the seaside. There’s nothing quite like an Open, is there? In Southport, where the splendid links of Royal Birkdale meet an Art Deco clubhouse, the stage is set for the 154th championship. The air around this place blends the air of an exclusive golf club with a hint of fish and chips on the breeze, a brisk, invigorating scent that seems to capture the spirit of seaside golf.
Some will tell you that the old Victorian resort has seen brighter days, and the golf writers certainly know something about faded grandeur. Just look at us, for goodness’ sake. This year’s spectacle promises to be a bumper edition. If you were fortunate enough to win a spot in the ticket ballot, you’ll be among an anticipated 300,000 enthusiasts filing through the gates. The queue to enter will probably begin somewhere along the length of Lord Street, but you can while away the wait leafing through the Herald supplement, freshly presented and full of anticipation.
The Open logo shines on the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, a sign that this event is set to break records. Attendance at Birkdale is expected to surpass the previous high of 290,000 set at the 150th Open in St Andrews in 2022, and to eclipse Birkdale’s own mark of 235,000 from nine years ago. It should be quite the week.
“We know we have very strong demand for our championship, and that’s a positive,” said Mark Darbon, chief executive of the R&A. “We’d like to try to accommodate that demand where we can, which means seeking opportunities to grow spectator numbers where possible. But at the same time, it’s a delicate balance because the one thing we want to do is protect the spectator experience and manage crowds sensitively around these wonderful golf courses. Birkdale is an excellent location for that logistical setup, with good transport links and well-planned routes around the golf course.”
Spectators watch as players prepare for the start of the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, a storied venue that certainly checks many boxes. This year marks the 11th time this neck of the golfing woods has hosted the Open.
Back in the day, Birkdale was originally slated to host The Open for the first time in 1940, but the Second World War intervened. It would finally take centre stage in 1954, when the spotlight shone on the great Peter Thomson. The Australian, the first player from Down Under to lift the Claret Jug, cherished The Open and built a legendary relationship with golf’s most cherished major that should have been celebrated with a few wedding vows.
Thomson began his Open career with a sixth-place finish in 1951 and followed with runner-up finishes in the next two championships. His breakthrough at Birkdale in 1954 preceded a remarkable run: the first of three consecutive Open titles and five in total during a period of extraordinary form. Yet, despite such dominance, Thomson remained remarkably humble. “I played in 30 Open Championships, and I lost 25 of them,” he once candidly observed, underscoring that the pursuit of greatness is a blend of skill, perseverance, and a touch of good fortune.