# Golfers Face Tough Test at Royal Birkdale

- Topic: sports
- Source: Hindustan Times
- Published: 2026-07-15
- Original: https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/others/a-toasted-royal-birkdale-looks-set-to-provide-a-tasty-treat-for-golf-fans-101784061575819.html
- Language: en
- Image: https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-img/img/2026/07/14/1600x900/logo/HT-NL-154Open-JordanSpieth_1784061687838_1784061707645_11b05744-da8c-4c09-8a3e-2dd7cb6a06bd.jpg

The 154th Open Championship is set to begin at Royal Birkdale, with golfers facing a challenging course due to the extreme heat. The course is expected to be dry and hard, making it difficult for players to navigate. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler will be looking to bounce back from a rare miss cut in the previous tournament.

## Key takeaways

- Scottie Scheffler aims to defend his title after a rare miss cut.
- Rory McIlroy's high ball flight may give him an advantage on the firmer course.
- Tommy Fleetwood seeks to win his first major title in front of home fans.

> Summary by Daily Read Bytes. Read the original at https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/others/a-toasted-royal-birkdale-looks-set-to-provide-a-tasty-treat-for-golf-fans-101784061575819.html