The Open Championship: How It All Began
The Open Championship stands alone amongst all the Majors. The Championship was first played in 1860 at Prestwick, where it remained for 10 years. It then began its rotation to the trophy links courses like St Andrews, Carnoustie, Lytham, Hoylake, Portrush and Royal Birkdale, where this year’s Open is held. Hopefully, Portmarnock will be on the rota in the future. The "Champion Golfer of the Year” announcement, before the cherished Claret Jug winner presentation, has remained one of the most sought-after titles of the game, especially for Europeans.
A Major for the True Golf Fan
It is truly the people’s Open, as demonstrated by the R&A's introduction of The Open Camping Village in recent years. The official pop-up campsite offers various tent options located just a short walk from the golf course. The campsite at 70 pounds a night provides a great, affordable, and unique atmosphere for true golf fans and especially the younger ones who want to see their golfing heroes.
There won’t be any of the obscene abuse hurled at the players like at the Ryder Cup and the recent US Open at Shinnecock. Players will be rewarded with applause at a volume equal to the quality of their shots. The spectators themselves at The Open would not tolerate the type of behaviour that has become an embarrassment to the integrity of the game.
Unforgettable Open Moments at Birkdale
Several things spring to mind when The Open at Royal Birkdale is mentioned: the long blond hair of the fearless Johnny Miller cruising to a six-shot victory in 1976. That same Championship offered a glimpse of what was to come from Seve, a flamboyant and charismatic 19-year-old Spaniard who spoke little English at the time. His cheeky shot between the bunkers on the final hole helped him tie with Jack Nicklaus for second place. In 1998, Justin Rose introduced himself to the golfing world at Birkdale as a 17-year-old amateur, chipping in at the 72nd hole to win the amateur silver medal, which my father won twice. And of course Pádraig’s second Open win in 2008 against Greg Norman, who was back then the same age as Pádraig is now!
Miller’s victory proved to be his final major title, while the same Championship introducted the wider golfrring world to Ballesteros. Twenty-two years later Birkdale provided a similar stage for Rose. Now at the age of 45, Rose continues to shine and has been in contention in recent Majors, as does Pádraig, who still believes at 54 that he can win another Major coming off his third US Seniors Open win earlier this month.
The other big-name winners at Birkdale, like Palmer, Trevino, Watson and Spieth, suggest that it is a test that brings the cream to the top regardless of the conditions. The players love Birkdale, and it’s rated among the top three on The Open rotation.
Royal Birkdale: The Course
The course designed by Hawtree and the great JH Taylor is considered hard but fair. The fairways are threaded through the mighty dunes, and wayward shots will be punished by the surrounding buckthorn and dwarf willow scrub and gorse. The iconic clubhouse designed by a local architect in 1935 stands like a majestic ship overlooking the 18th green.
(Royal Birkdale, 2nd Hole)
It will be hard and fast this week, similar to the way it was in 1976, and will suit the two best players in the world at present McIlroy and Scheffler. The local boy Tommy Fleetwood will be the crowd favourite, and I wonder if the golfing gods will grant this genuinely nice and humble gentleman his dream of winning his first Major in his hometown. Fitzpatrick, on his recent form, should be in contention if his putter starts working on the links greens. Shot makers like Gotterup and Reed could have the best chance of the other Americans, but a real outsider like Eric Cole can do something his father Bobby came so close to doing at Carnoustie when Watson beat him.
The LIV boys, with their tour on life support, will be bursting their boilers to win, which would give them automatic qualification for future Majors. The anticipated end of this ill-conceived and disruptive tour is good news for golf. The game can now settle down again, and all the best players in the world can compete together as we will witness at Royal Birkdale.
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