​Driving irons have a certain aura about them. They look clean, serious and slightly intimidating. These days, having a 2-iron in your bag is the golf-club equivalent of ordering an espresso with no sugar and then discussing Formula 1 tactics.But this week, driving irons will likely have a chance to shine on a bone-dry, rock-hard Royal Birkdale during the 2026 Open Championship as players transition from the air game of the PGA Tour to the links style of golf.Tom Kim teeing on Sunday at the 2026 Genesis Scottish Open with a Titleist T200 2-iron fitted on a Fujikura Ventus Black graphite shaft.Last week, Tom Kim won the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club with a Titleist T200 2-iron in his bag. Rory McIlroy added a TaylorMade P·760 3-iron, replacing his Qi4D 5-wood. Tommy Fleetwood, who normally plays TaylorMade P·7TW irons from 5-iron through pitching wedge, removed his 56-degree wedge and added a 3-iron. He said Monday at Royal Birkdale that he was leaning toward keeping that setup for The Open, although his final decision will depend more on the wind than the firmness of the ground.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“In practice rounds, especially at The Open, you play 15, 16 clubs and see which ones you hit the most and then put those in,” Fleetwood said.That is the critical part. McIlroy and Fleetwood are not adding long irons because they suddenly feel nostalgic for 1987. They are selecting tools for a specific job under specific conditions.More: Our Open Championship hub: Stories, videos and moreTommy Fleetwood added a 3-iron and took out his sand wedge last week at the Genesis Scottish Open, and may go with the same setup at Royal Birkdale.Royal Birkdale’s par-70 layout measures 7,223 yards, and its hole designs repeatedly force players to decide whether to challenge fairway bunkers or lay back. On firm links turf, a low-launching 3-iron can be used from the tee to chase the ball down narrow fairways, stay below strong winds and help players avoid pot bunkers that can turn a par 4 into an archaeological dig.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementA tour player can strike a 3-iron at tremendous speed, control the launch and shape the shot. When the turf is dry, that ball may land like a skipping stone and run another 40, 50 or 60 yards. It becomes a precision tee club instead of a long approach club.1 / 19A young visitor shelters in the shade, as players practice a few days before the start of the 2026 Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale golf course near Southport in north-west England on July 12, 2026.(ANDY BUCHANAN, AFP via Getty Images)For many recreational golfers, however, the same club produces a very different experience.For a typical club player, a driving iron lacks the forgiveness needed on mishits, so shots struck anything less than perfectly tend to launch low, lose significant distance and fly offline.That is why a modern recreational setup that includes a high-lofted fairway wood is usually the smarter