Our preview to the The Open, Royal Birkdale 2026 is on sale now

Tiger Woods called it the ultimate achievement in golf, Seve Ballesteros described it as the greatest moment of his life and Jack Nicklaus believes a career is not truly complete unless it happens.

Since Old Tom Morris stood on the 1st tee at Prestwick, all those years ago, the great and the good, the professionals and the amateurs and even the duffers and the no-hopers, have all dreamt of winning The Open.

Thousands have tried, but only 91 have succeeded in the 166 years since.

And as the latest edition heads to Royal Birkdale, we have produced a stunning 48-page unofficial preview of what is set to be a thrilling four days of action on the famous links course.

Fair but demanding, dramatic and spectacular, the course is best-known for the menacing sand dunes that guard the fairways and snarl at those on the tee.

Only the very best win here. Peter Thomson (twice), Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Johnny Miller, Tom Watson and Jordan Spieth – the list of Birkdale champions contains some of the all-time greats.

The Masters may be revered for its azaleas and magnolias, and its meandering streams and babbling brooks, but check out the view from the 11th tee box at Birkdale, with a 360 panoramic of the dunes and the Irish Sea, and ask if it gets any better.

“If you ask anybody playing this week that’s been here before they’ll say it’s one of the best courses in the world,” said local hero Tommy Fleetwood, who was born three miles up the road, and used to sneak in as a kid to hit balls while members were in the bar.

“It is very arguably the best Open venue.”

There has been no repeat champion since Ernie Els won his second title in 2012 – 10 years after his first – with the subsequent 12 winners all first-timers.

Scottie Scheffler