The Open will be held for the 11th time at Royal Birkdale this week. However, the Southport course is not the same as it was back in 2017. The players have had their say on the changes.

Royal Birkdale has undergone significant changes. A new par-3, a long par-5, and a transformed 18th await the players.

“When you’re in the States, you hear players say a strong, fair test. That’s like the ultimate compliment. Here you hear it’s a proper links, and that’s what I keep hearing over and over again,” said a Golf Channel broadcaster.

As world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler heads to Royal Birkdale to defend his title, he’ll find a completely different closing stretch than Jordan Spieth did in 2017.

The previous 15th hole has been made the 14th this time around. The 15th has been transformed into a long par-5. That’s going to be a big talking point this week.

“I think 15 is going to be a big talking point. You have the very narrow throat into the green. You have huge fall-offs on either side. It was described to me by some players yesterday as ‘An abomination, it sticks out like a sore thumb, and this is a prime example why you don’t need a par three to be long to make it interesting,” the broadcaster added on Golf Channel.

Some players have questioned whether the redesigned hole fits naturally within a traditional links layout. Elsewhere, the par-3 7th presents its own challenge, while the 18th now features a bunker-lined fairway that is markedly different from what players faced in 2017.

No player has a stronger connection to Royal Birkdale's previous layout than Jordan Spieth, who shared his thoughts on returning to a course that has undergone significant changes since his 2017 triumph.

Jordan Spieth on the transformed Royal Birkdale

However, the holes where Jordan Spieth produced some of his most memorable shots during his 2017 Open triumph no longer exist in their original form.

“Maybe the best shot and the best putt I’ve ever hit don’t exist anymore, which is a little unusual,” said Spieth, as per Golf Channel. “In some regard, it’s kind of nice. It was like a walk-off. I go back and try to do it again and I don’t hit as good of a shot, then it’s not as cool. Yeah, it was interesting to see because the hole is still there. The tee boxes are still there. … You could play 19 holes here, it seems. It kind of flows nicely.” 

Spieth praised the new routing despite losing the 14th and 15th holes, where he made a birdie and an eagle during his 2017 Open victory.

Spieth finished at 12-under 268, three strokes ahead of runner-up Matt Kuchar. The 32-year-old has not won a title on the PGA Tour since 2022 and will look to end his slump at the new Royal Birkdale.

What are your thoughts on the changes to Royal Birkdale? Share them in the comments.

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Written by

Avishek Sarkar

Edited by

Pulkit Prabhav