The 154th Open Championship began on Thursday at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England, presenting players with conditions markedly different from the last time the course hosted the event in 2017. Unlike the rain-soaked, wind-lashed atmosphere that defined Jordan Spieth’s victory nine years ago, this year’s tournament is unfolding amid a prolonged British summer heatwave, with relentless sunshine and minimal rainfall hardening the course’s surfaces.

The traditional links layout, measuring 7,223 yards along the Irish Sea coast, features firm, fast fairways that have turned brown and dusty, with the rough trimming down to more manageable lengths. One notable change to the course since 2017 is the addition of a new par-three 15th hole, alongside redesigned elements on the fifth and 14th holes, including new bunkers and narrowed fairways, all contributing to a tougher playing challenge.

Reigning champion Scottie Scheffler arrived earlier than anticipated after missing the cut at the Scottish Open last week. He described the conditions as “extreme,” emphasizing the complexity of shot-making required to negotiate the firm fairways and tricky rough. “The ball’s just going to run forever pretty much,” Scheffler said, highlighting the strategic decisions players face off the tee—whether to attempt driving into the fairway or accept playing from the less penal rough.

Similar observations were made by Rory McIlroy, a former Open winner at nearby Royal Liverpool in 2014. McIlroy called the makeup “a double-edged sword,” praising the dry weather for creating optimal links conditions while acknowledging the challenge posed by fast fairways and downplayed rough. He anticipates more aggressive tee shots as players try to bypass the fairway bunkers, selecting drivers over irons with higher frequency than usual. “It’s as linksy as links gets,” said McIlroy, noting that the less penal rough might encourage riskier play.

Tommy Fleetwood, a Southport native intimately familiar with Birkdale, echoed the sentiment of a “really old school Open” characterized by firm and brown conditions. He noted the significant transformation of the terrain within weeks and emphasized the mental challenge presented by the unpredictability of ball roll and bounces in such dry, fast conditions. Fleetwood and other players drew comparisons to the 2018 Open at Carnoustie, another heat-affected tournament where firm turf vastly increased driving distances but also introduced complexity in shot control.

Englishman Aaron Rai, fresh from his first major victory at the PGA Championship, reflected on the stark contrast between his recent practice rounds on softer turf and the current dry state, which has removed much of the traditional lushness from the course.

The weather-induced firmness and pace of the course have led some players to adjust equipment, swapping woods for long irons to better exploit the fast fairways, a strategy reminiscent of Tiger Woods’ approach when winning at Royal Liverpool in 2006 under similar conditions.

With 21 English players in the field seeking to end the country’s Open Championship drought since Sir Nick Faldo’s last triumph in 1992, local support is expected to play a role. Justin Rose, who marked his arrival on the scene at Birkdale as a 17-year-old amateur in 1998, highlighted the potential boost from home crowds without succumbing to pressure.

Overall, the 2026 Open at Royal Birkdale is shaping up as a demanding test of adaptability, course management, and mental resilience. Players must navigate fast fairways, shifting strategies, and unpredictable ball behavior, underscoring the unpredictable nature of links golf and the enduring challenge of the Claret Jug.