Golfing greats past and present will gather at Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Southport, from Thursday 16 to Sunday 19 July, when an enthralling men’s major season concludes at The Open. Another chapter in the 166-year history of golf’s original championship is set to be written on this famous links course on the north-west coast of England. Its immaculate fairways and greens will once again offer a severe test shaped by nature as the world’s leading players take on the elements with the Rolex clocks keeping time as the action unfolds.
Arnold Palmer
Rolex Testimonees Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Jordan Spieth are among those who have proven their skill at Royal Birkdale on the 10 occasions The Open has previously been staged there. Palmer famously triumphed at the course 65 years ago, in 1961, earning a permanent stone plaque marking the location of an extraordinary recovery shot from the rough towards the end of his final round. Watson’s exceptional short game enabled him to become a master of links golf and a five-time winner of The Open, a feat he completed at Birkdale in 1983.
Jordan Spieth
Spieth, the 2017 champion, will hold fond memories on his return to the venue this year, having staged a dramatic comeback during the last five holes to secure a three-stroke victory. The American became one of only two golfers to claim three legs of the career Grand Slam before the age of 24 – the first being Rolex legend Jack Nicklaus.
Spieth says: “I have always loved playing links golf and the imagination that is needed. I fell in love with it when I was 14 years old when I came over to England for the first time, so I’m looking forward to continuing to try to be more successful over there.”
Scottie Scheffler
The field of 156 players will be aiming to produce displays of precision and perseverance as they strive for victory beneath the Rolex clock. The Swiss watchmaker is a Patron of The Open, and has been a partner of The R&A since 1981, recognising the excellence required to win and be crowned The Champion Golfer of the Year. Scottie Scheffler displayed these winning qualities to the galleries at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland last year, capturing The Open for the first time and a fourth major title since joining the Rolex family in 2022. The World No. 1 from the United States of America will try to become the first player since 2008 to win this championship back-to-back. He will no doubt take inspiration from the closing stages 12 months ago, when he entered the final round with a commanding four-shot lead.
“Being able to walk up 18 with the tournament in hand is a tough thing to describe,” Scheffler says. “It was a cool feeling. I have a lot of gratitude towards being able to accomplish something like this. This was one of my best performances mentally.”
Ludvig Åberg
His fellow Rolex Testimonees Ludvig Åberg, Matt Fitzpatrick, Hideki Matsuyama, Jon Rahm and Justin Thomas will continue their quest to have their names engraved on the Claret Jug. Åberg, seeking his first major victory at the age of 26, understands the significance of the occasion:
“The Open is the most traditional golf event that we play. Rolex and The Open have a long-standing legacy in the sport, and the event naturally aligns with the brand’s history of tradition and elegance. It is the perfect match. As a Rolex Testimonee, I look forward to competing at Royal Birkdale and to the continued challenge this game presents every day.”
A gruelling test awaits for all between the towering sand dunes, whether it be the challenges presented by the course, such as the notorious ‘donut bunker’, or the sudden breezes sweeping in from the Irish Sea. Patience and a respect for this unpredictable natural terrain will be critical as the endless quest for perfection continues at Royal Birkdale.
