The 154th Open tees off at Royal Birkdale, Liverpool City Centre 2026

Key Points

• The first day of The 154th Open Championship has begun at Royal Birkdale Golf Club, with the world’s leading golfers starting their bid for the Claret Jug.
• Local favourite Tommy Fleetwood, World No.1 Scottie Scheffler, reigning Open champion Xander Schauffele and Northern Irish great Rory McIlroy are among the main contenders aiming to lift the trophy on Sunday.
• Glorious sunshine greeted fans at Royal Birkdale as a spell of warm weather continued across the UK, creating ideal conditions for spectators.
• Thousands of spectators have descended on the region for the highly anticipated championship, with many travelling from across the UK and overseas.
• After following the action on the course, many fans enjoyed the atmosphere in Liverpool city centre, where the Liverpool Echo captured images of golf supporters celebrating with drinks.
• The Liverpool Echo will be present at The 154th Open throughout all four days, providing readers with the latest news, pictures and video from Royal Birkdale and locations across the region, supported by a dedicated live blog.
• Official Open Championship information confirms that Royal Birkdale is staging The Open for the 11th time, with play running from Thursday 16 July to Sunday 19 July 2026.

Liverpool City Centre (Liverpool standard) July 16, 2026 – The first day of The 154th Open got under way at Royal Birkdale as the world’s biggest names in golf began their bid for the coveted Claret Jug, with thousands of spectators descending on the region and local and international media documenting both the action on the links and the celebrations in uk/local/liverpool-city-centre/">Liverpool city centre. As reported by Liverpool Echo journalists in their picture gallery and live blog, glorious sunshine greeted fans at Royal Birkdale, matching the anticipation around one of the sport’s most historic championships and ushering in a four‑day festival of golf on the Sefton Coast.

How did Royal Birkdale host the opening day of The 154th Open?

Royal Birkdale Golf Club, situated near Southport on the Merseyside coastline, is staging The Open for the 11th time, underscoring its status as one of the championship’s most regular venues outside St Andrews. Official information from The Open confirms that the 154th edition runs from 12–19 July 2026, with Championship play beginning on Thursday 16 July and continuing across four days until the Champion Golfer of the Year is crowned on Sunday 19 July.

As reported by the Liverpool Echo in its “18 pictures” gallery from opening day, the course and surrounding infrastructure have been prepared to welcome thousands of visitors, with spectator areas, hospitality facilities and transport links designed to support sustained crowds throughout the tournament. Echo photographer coverage has shown the classic links landscape bathed in sunshine, with fans lining fairways and greens as groups made their way around the course.

Which leading players began their bid for the Claret Jug?

The field at Royal Birkdale brings together many of the world’s top golfers, reflecting the standing of The Open as one of the sport’s four majors. As highlighted in Liverpool Echo reporting on visitors and preparations, local favourite Tommy Fleetwood is among those teeing off in front of home support, joined by World No.1 Scottie Scheffler, reigning Open champion Xander Schauffele and Northern Irish great Rory McIlroy.

Royal Birkdale’s official tournament page notes that the Champion Golfer of the Year will be confirmed on Sunday after four days of play, with the Claret Jug awarded to the player who best navigates the demanding links layout under changing coastal conditions. The presence of Fleetwood, Scheffler, Schauffele and McIlroy adds significant interest for spectators on site and watching remotely, with each already established as a major‑level contender ahead of the opening round.

How did weather and conditions shape the spectator experience?

Glorious sunshine and warm temperatures have been central to the atmosphere reported on day one, with the Liverpool Echo describing how sunshine greeted fans at Royal Birkdale as the UK’s warm spell continued. Photographic coverage from the Echo shows spectators in light clothing and caps, making the most of clear skies and bright conditions while following play from tee boxes, fairways and grandstands.

Earlier Echo coverage on preparations explained that parks and areas in Merseyside had been readied to welcome visitors ahead of The 154th Open, anticipating large numbers and sustained demand for facilities. Combined with clear weather on the opening day, these measures appear to have supported a positive experience for many attending fans, as buses, rail services and local roads carried spectators between Royal Birkdale, nearby towns and Liverpool city centre.

How did fans continue the celebrations in Liverpool city centre?

After spending the day tracking the opening rounds at Royal Birkdale, many supporters moved into Liverpool city centre to continue the celebrations. As reported and pictured by Liverpool Echo journalists, golf fans were photographed enjoying celebratory drinks and socialising in bars and outdoor spaces, creating a lively evening atmosphere that extended the championship beyond the boundaries of the course.

Echo coverage has framed these scenes as part of a wider regional occasion, with The 154th Open drawing visitors into Merseyside and contributing to hospitality and tourism activity. Previous Echo articles have noted how people from across the world are travelling to local towns for the event, emphasising that the world’s eyes are on Royal Birkdale and its surrounding communities during Open week.

How is the Liverpool Echo covering The 154th Open across its platforms?

The Liverpool Echo has committed to covering The 154th Open throughout all four days of the tournament, with reporters and photographers positioned at Royal Birkdale and across the region. As stated in the Echo’s gallery and live‑blog entries, the outlet will bring readers “the latest updates, pictures, and video from in and around Royal Birkdale”, providing a mix of competition reporting and human‑interest stories.

As reported by the Echo, a dedicated live blog titled “The Open Royal Birkdale live – tee times, parking and map” has been established to deliver real‑time information, including tee times, transport details and practical guidance for fans attending the championship. This blog sits alongside photographic features such as the “18 pictures” piece, which offers visual coverage of both the course and fan experiences as the tournament unfolds.

What local impacts and logistical issues have been highlighted?

The arrival of The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale is having a broader impact on local infrastructure, including public transport. As reported by Liverpool Echo journalist coverage of rail services, The Open could cause changes to Merseyrail timetables for commuters more than 30 miles away, with services in areas such as Cressington potentially adjusted due to the volume of fans travelling to the tournament.

Another Echo article has documented rows of tents at a park in Merseyside, noting that the space is set to welcome visitors ahead of the championship and underlining the scale of preparations required to host thousands of spectators. Echo reports on people from across the world travelling to Merseyside towns for The 154th Open emphasise both the logistics and the economic significance of the event, as accommodation providers and local businesses prepare for increased demand.

Background of The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale

The Open Championship, commonly known as The Open, is golf’s oldest major and is organised by The R&A, with the 154th edition reaffirming its position as a cornerstone of the sport’s calendar. Royal Birkdale’s official tournament history notes that the Southport links is staging The Open for the 11th time, with this 2026 championship continuing a relationship dating back to the club’s first hosting in 1954.

According to pre‑tournament Liverpool Echo coverage, the 154th Open Championship has brought “superstars of the sport” to Royal Birkdale, with first‑round tee‑offs scheduled for Thursday 16 July. Preparatory reporting by the Echo has detailed how parks, transport networks and local services were organised to handle thousands of visitors, including the setting up of tented areas and the communication of rail timetable changes linked to fans attending the tournament.

Prediction: How could the opening day’s developments affect golf fans, local businesses and Merseyside communities?

The combination of star players, favourable weather and strong local media coverage on the first day of The 154th Open is likely to encourage continued high attendance and engagement from golf fans over the remaining rounds. With the Liverpool Echo providing live updates, pictures and video from Royal Birkdale and across the region, supporters who cannot attend in person still have multiple ways to follow the tournament, potentially broadening interest among casual followers and younger audiences.

For local businesses and communities in Merseyside, the reported influx of visitors from across the UK and overseas suggests continued demand for hospitality, accommodation and transport services throughout Open week. If the pattern of spectators spending the day on the course and evenings in Liverpool city centre persists, as captured by the Echo’s opening‑day images, this development could deliver short‑term economic benefits and reinforce the region’s reputation as a host for major international sporting events. In the longer term, the scale and visibility of the championship at Royal Birkdale may encourage further investment in facilities and infrastructure, supporting both local residents and future visitors beyond The Open itself.