Thursday coverage of the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale
Maybe it's just World Cup fever, and this is selective confirmation bias based on where I cutoff the screenshot, but I am always tickled by the number of countries represented on the Open leaderboard. I know this can happen at any major or Tour event for that matter, but the Open almost always delivers. There are currently 12 countries at T-13 or better. While I know this will change in the coming days, it's fun to see.
The whole Bryson vs. the media situation is a trap. No one wins, ever.
Something I've come to appreciate about links golf is the way it rewards accuracy by distance. An accurate drive goes a much farther distance than a wayward drive that gets caught up in a pot bunker or native grass. On the 14th today, Russell Henley, one of the shortest hitters on Tour, split the fairway and outdrove Rory McIlroy, whose ball got caught up in the thick stuff, by 35 yards.
It's a cherry-picked example but something you see in links golf that you don't see too often on Tour, where courses aren't firm enough to create this dynamic. And one of the reasons a variety of skill sets can thrive in links golf versus aerial Tour golf.
Yesterday I wrote about my disappointment in some of Mackenzie & Ebert's recent shaping at Royal Birkdale. Basically, I find a lot of the new and renovated green complexes pretty artificial-looking.
This, as I understand it, is a long-standing issue at Birkdale. The older greens, mostly built by Martin Hawtree in the 90s, are not especially well tied in to the surrounding dunescape, either. Many of them have the kind of copy-and-paste runoffs/collection areas that one sees in a lot of late-20th-century golf architecture. The left edge of the first green is a good example.
(Photo credit: Cookie Jar Golf)
The recent work has just exacerbated this issue in a few places by making the runoffs bigger and more visually prominent. See the right side of the 15th green.
(Photo credit: Joseph LaMagna)
But I should clarify that I don't object to runoffs or artificially pushed-up greens in general. I think this style of green construction works just fine when it's executed skillfully.
The famous crowned greens at Pinehurst No. 2, for instance, never feel repetitive or overworked. Each is different, and each flows into the surrounding terrain in a unique way. They don't always strike the eye as natural, but because of their variety and irregularity, they're always exciting to look at and reckon with. (And yes, they are not original to Donald Ross's 1936 greens renovation! They're awesome nonetheless.)
(Photo credit: Fried Egg Golf)
Questions of shaping and aesthetics are tricky. So much about the topic is subjective, and you can definitely starting sounding insane (or, worse, pretentious) if you dwell on it too long. But naturalness, beauty, and visual harmony are huge sources of pleasure in golf. Here's how Alister MacKenzie put it:
"It may at first appear unreasonable that the question of aesthetics should enter into golf course design. However, on deeper analysis it becomes clear that the great courses, and in detail all the famous holes and greens, are fascinating to the golfer by reason of their shape, their situation, and the character of their modeling. When these elements obey the fundamental laws of balance, of harmony and fine proportion, they give rise to what we call beauty. This excellence of design is more felt than fully realized by the players, but nevertheless it is constantly exercising a subconscious influence upon him and in course of time he grows to admire such a course as all works of beauty must be eventually felt and admired."
Absolutely electric getting a promo for the December Optum Golf Channel Games during live play at the Open Championship on July 16th ⚡️
The anticipation is building!
Much is being made of the 15th hole this week. "Controversial" seems to be the word of choice in reference to the new Mackenzie & Ebert par 3, which can play up to 241 yards from the back tee. Today, the tee is up and it is playing just over 200 yards.
Is it out of character with the rest of the golf course? Yes. Should it probably have a slightly wider, bigger landing area? Sure, it's a little narrow and most players are shipping balls down into the right runoff area. But I actually appreciate that players are required to shape their approach from right to left to have a chance of hitting the ball close or even just to hit the green, especially when the prevailing wind is off the left. Hitting it close isn't impossible. Some guys have executed the shot, like Alex Smalley, who hit a beautiful iron shot inside seven feet and made birdie this morning. It's not my favorite hole on the course - and critiquing it for being out of character with the course is valid - but I am not offended by it.
The new No. 5, on the other hand, is awful, in my opinion. Never mind that it, too, has severe mounding around the greens that is not only out of character but very unattractive. My bigger issue with No. 5 is how the hazards are placed. Why is there a bunker on the right side of the fairway by the pond 80 yards from the green? Is that strategic architecture? It feels more like someone said, "Oh, players might hit it there, so let's just toss another bunker in."
The hole basically asks you to either engage with a scattering of pot bunkers up around the green arranged in a fashion that doesn't really make sense, or a simple lay-up with like a 5-iron and then a wedge.
"Well, you can try to get aggressive and dodge all the bunkers or lay up." Yes, I understand. But the configuration of the bunkers, three of which are essentially guarding the inside of the fairway near a water hazard, does not make much sense. It looks really bad and unnatural too, but that is sort of beside the point.
It's still probably an upgrade over the previous version of the fifth, which was kind of a thoughtless nothing-burger, but it is not an effective or efficient use of hazards. And for that reason, I'd argue that it's a poor design.
Pros are worked up about the 15th and largely complimentary of the 5th. For me, it should be the other way around.
Legitimately jazzed to see Collin Morikawa back in the mix. I know he's not everyone's cup of tea, but his style of play is so satisfying to watch when his game is in shape. He had fallen off so much at the back half of last year, and I would argue his lowest point came after missing the cut at Royal Portrush. I wrote about the state of his career last July. While he hasn't had a banner year in 2026, he's shown flashes of his peak on-course performance once again
“Sometimes you feel like you’re out there alone.”
Whether or not he goes on to win this week, I think golf is better when he's in the mix. Hopefully he's a little less prickly with the media this week and we can all just enjoy a ball-striking fiesta
I would like to render a judgment on this:
The 5th hole is a so bad it's good situation. So it is decreed.
I would guess that close to 50 reporters were waiting in the Mixed Zone to speak with Bryson DeChambeau after his first round 67 on Thursday when an R&A media official emerged to inform us that Bryson wanted to send word he was not granting any interviews, to print reporters or television reporters. The R&A asked him if he'd be willing to answer a few questions submitted by one of their staffers, and he agreed to make a video of his answers.
I can't say for sure, but I suspect this is in retaliation for Nick Faldo saying earlier this week that "Bryson has no strategy" for playing links courses, and Brandel Chamblee saying he's "more interested in being Grant Horvat than Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy."
I don't know that I want to spend much energy on this. Bryson doesn't need to talk to the press. He has every right to decline interviews, and if he feels he's been treated unfairly, maybe he should just pivot to doing everything on his own YouTube channel.
I don't think that strategy will benefit him, answering cupcake questions from people on his payroll, but he is welcome deploy it.
What I would say is I think, in general, Bryson would benefit from a bit of media literacy.
It's not as if Faldo and Chamblee are in the interview room, peppering him with questions. They're commentators, and former players, not journalists. If he wanted to be annoyed with Eamon Lynch or even someone like me — someone who has written columns about him, and been critical at times but also sympathetic — I would get it. But boycotting news reporters from NBC, ESPN, Sky Sports and the Associated Press? It all seems like a little misguided.
We've been here before, of course. We'll probably be here again.
Si Woo Kim on playing a different style and different looking golf course than most weeks on the PGA Tour:
"Yeah, I like it -- we've been playing the whole year like soft greens and soft fairways, but this is special once a year and good to experience. So I like it. I like to play."
What is a good score this afternoon?
As of 11:00 a.m. ET, the golf course has played a little bit more than one stroke over par and progressively harder throughout the morning as the wind intensifies. Two guys posted 66 (-4) and 68 is in a tie for 10th. I think if you shoot even par this afternoon, you feel really good about your chances of contending.
You'll get the easier conditions in the morning tomorrow, and the golfers near the top should stay about where they are or fall back to you.
Nos. 14 and 17 are fairly gettable. No. 18 is playing like a brute. I'd say if you can play the first 13 holes at +1 or even this afternoon and get into the clubhouse at even, you've done well. Conditions can change quickly, but that is how I am currently thinking about it.
Golf never ceases to amaze me with it's counterintuitive nature.
The discourse around Bryson DeChambeau and his golf game leading into this tournament feels like it reached a breaking point. In the past few weeks, Bryson DeChambeau has been making YouTube videos including one at the lovable, shaggy Northwood Golf Club. Ahead of the tournament Brandel Chamblee said on Live From, "Probably one of the biggest surprises of the year is Bryson DeChambeau, it's almost like he went from chasing Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy to chasing Grant Horvat. It's like he wants to outdo every YouTuber in the game of golf instead of outplay everybody in the game of golf."
https://x.com/JoshACarpenter/status/2077173034054471888?s=20
Through 16 holes Bryson sits at -3 and squarely in the mix. He looked sharp, confident and ready to contend in round one. It was easy to be skeptical of DeChambeau's chances at the Open after he missed the cut at the first three majors of 2026 and his track record of struggles at the Open. I myself was critical but as we recorded the Shotgun Start on Tuesday, I found myself thinking the discourse had gotten so negative that he was probably going to surprise people.
Golf works that way. Right when you think you know what will happen, its very likely the opposite will. Everything about the sport is counter-intuitive. If you are struggling with a slice, feeling like you are swinging to the right not the left will help your game. If you want to play well, being able to let go of expectations will help you more than trying really hard. In DeChambeau's case, maybe doing a different type of prep relaxed him and prepared him for this week's pressure and attention.
Who knows if his strong play will hold but a baked out Birkdale with minimal wind is a good recipe for the two time U.S. Open Champion to contend and thrive.
Not Open Championship related, but just wanted to bring attention to the work Seamus Power Tracker is doing this morning. Live tweeting the 213th-ranked player in the world at an opposite (to a major) field event is true dedication to the game.
Enjoyed this from Mateo Pulcini, the Argentinian amateur who struggled to a 75 (+5) today but is keeping a good attitude.
The morning marquee groups are about to hit the new par-3 15th hole, one that I will charitably call "controversial" this week. It can push toward 250 yards with the idea that some of the ground can be used in front of it. Do not call it a redan or anything like that, they may say. But the shaping there, with some uphill climb in front, may not permit the run-ons as much as desired. If it's downwind, and a front pin, there likely is not other choice than to try and play short and run it on.
But today, they have set it up very short in the "186-yard teeing area" and listed as 206 yards on the card. There is a theory that this may just become the setup for the week in order to avoid some of that controversy and player critique. We shall see -- three more days to go. But that would then undercut one of the missions of the new hole -- the club possessing and boasting of four par-3s of varying lengths and directions. This one was supposed to be the beast of the quartet.
There is also a significant shaped fall-off on the right side of the green, and if you miss there, it is real trouble with the green running away from you. Here's a picture I took for amusement of our colleague Geoff Shackelford making content that I'll drop here simply for a quick sense of reference of fall-off (Geoff is a taller human!).
Viktor Hovland, to the commentator's surprise, just "went the high route" from that area right of the green. But I had one putting coach walk off there yesterday and tell me putting is simply not an option there because of the steepness of the hill and fall off. A short game option taken away?
Cigarette Minute with Dan Brown
Bobby Mac on Royal Birkdale:
"It's a grind. It's one of the hardest links courses I've ever played just for the sheer fact of the positions of the pot bunkers on certain holes with the length of the hole.
"You've just got to -- someone is going to stand up there and smash driver on the golf course and could potentially get away with it, but it could switch the other way. It's the same for me; I could go play and play the same way I did and make three bogeys on the long holes. I'm having to hit a longer club in because I'm trying to stay out of them pot bunkers."
Ducking into the media center for a second after walking the front nine with Spieth, Tommy and Rahm, and my main takeaway from this morning on the ground is just how little wind there is right now. The flags on the top of the grandstands are fluttering, but the flags on the greens (which often sit down in the dunes) are barely moving. I watched Rahm hit a couple shots that he struck really well hoping the wind would pull them toward the flag and the ball just didn't move at all. Today is the day for scoring. I'm not sure the rest of the days will be as benign.
Brendan Porath talked about the potential for players to hit driver on No. 10 and attempt to hit the green (or right up near it) up and over the dogleg left. Well, Bryson DeChambeau just pulled driver and put it right next to the green, in prime position to make birdie.
Lots of variety off the tee so far at Royal Birkdale, one of its best attributes.
Are we set up for a runaway?
Maybe it's Scottie out hot, but the combination of firm and fast conditions, the lack of wind, and a golf course that's "right in front of you" makes it feel like we're set up for someone, or a small group of players, to run away from the field. If you're dialed in, these conditions should really allow you to separate.
Commentary like this from Sam Torrance as Bobby Mac's ball trickles into the bunker is why we love the Open Championship:
"No, no, no, don't be silly... Oh, you stupid ball."
They are not quite ready to discuss the golf in England today.
The coffee is brewed, the golf (and ads) are on.
Life is good.
Hello from England! As a visitor, I may be the only person using exclamation points following the heartbreak last night on the pitch (soccer term). Tough scenes around here.
But we’re on to the lads on the links! Based on some conversations around here, and semi-obvious expectations for how these things go, today should be the day to really go low and get it. The greens will be as soft as they will be for the rest of the championship as the grounds crew works to keep them alive before pushing things closer to the edge for the final rounds and with no rain expected between now and Sunday night. Come Sunday, we could have this running like concrete.
In honor of the early commercial load on Peacock (it's very, very heavy), here are my five favorite Rolex references:
Explorer II 16570
Not that I can afford any of them.
And a 2:30 a.m. ET delight: I believe Henrik Stenson is wearing a big-letter hat.
Allow me to christen the inaugural Open Championship tournament live blog with a 2:20 am ET surprise and delight:
Robert MacIntyre has taken issue with a drone on the first tee!