Few people earn their keep more at the Open Championship 2026 than David Lancaster. He’s the first tee announcer, taking over the job from legendary Ivor Robson in 2016. If things go to schedule, Lancaster will arrive at his post this week at Royal Birkdale shortly before 6:30 a.m. on Thursday and Friday and remain Read more…
Every year around Open Championship week fans and players alike obsess over the draw and the weather that comes with it. But does teeing off early or late actually decide the outcome? We looked at two decades of major championship data to measure just how much the luck of the draw really matters at golf’s oldest major, and why Padraig Harrington’s 2008 win at Birkdale might be the greatest example of overcoming it.
Some finishes fade with time. This one hasn’t. Nine years after Jordan Spieth’s extraordinary final round at Royal Birkdale, we look back at the bizarre, brilliant 13th hole sequence that could have ended his 2017 Open dream and instead ignited the most electric run of his career. From a horror drive into the dunes to a 22-minute rules odyssey and a heroic bogey, it remains one of the strangest and most captivating stretches in major championship history.
With its tall dunes, flat lies and lack of blind shots, Royal Birkdale is often described as the fairest course on the Open rota. Here’s a hole-by-hole breakdown of what to expect at this year’s championship.
The R&A revealed the 12 players overnight, a diverse group of golfers representing various paths to The Open and backgrounds. Here’s a quick introduction to each.
To get you ready for the major, we offer this Open Championship primer, answering some of the frequently asked questions about golf’s oldest major championship.
Kobori joins Ryan Fox and Daniel Hillier as Kiwis in the field at Royal Birkdale in his third major appearance after missing cuts at the PGA Championship and The Open in 2024.
Overnight, the R&A announced the eligibility for the qualifier, putting into picture the criteria for how the governing body is going to select the 12 players who will play in the 18-hole competition at Royal Birkdale.
The Australian Open has landed a new major naming rights sponsor in Crown Resorts ahead of the 121-year-old event being held at Royal Melbourne Golf Club from December 4–7.
With the seven-shot victory over fellow LIV golfer Peter Uihlein, 22-year-old Northern Irishman Tom McKibbin earned exemptions into the 2026 Masters and Open Championship.
Thailand’s Pongsapak “Fifa” Laopakdee has a ritual during tournaments where he sings songs to calm the nerves. There were plenty on Sunday during the final round of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, where the Arizona State college golfer won a dramatic playoff at the Emirates Golf Club to punch his ticket to the 2026 Masters and 154th Open Championship.
Australian Golf Digest
