British Open to return to 'tough but fair' Royal Birkdale in 2026

The 2026 British Open will be staged at Royal Birkdale, tournament organisers announced on Tuesday.

The Southport venue has hosted the British Open 10 times, with Jordan Spieth lifting the Claret Jug on the most recent visit in 2017.

READ | 'Good conscience': PGA board member resigns over 'serious concerns' in LIV deal - report

That victory gave former Masters and US Open champion Spieth the third leg of a career grand slam and saw him join the likes of Peter Thomson, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Padraig Harrington in winning the Open at Royal Birkdale.

R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said: "Royal Birkdale is a world-class championship venue and its outstanding links will once again provide the world's best men's professional golfers with a tough but fair test of their talents and capabilities as they compete for the Claret Jug.

"It has produced many memorable moments that are woven into the story of this historic Championship, including a dramatic final round in 2017 when Jordan Spieth won for the first time.

We look forward to another special occasion in three years."

The 2026 British Open, which will be the 154th Championship, is set to be held from July 16-19.

This year's British Open gets under way at Royal Liverpool next week, with Royal Troon hosting in 2024 and Royal Portrush in 2025.