Planning Your Trip to The Open Championship
Tickets
The R&A handles ticketing for The Open through theopen.com. For 2026 at Royal Birkdale, tickets went through a ballot (lottery) system that has already closed. If you didn't get tickets through the ballot, your options are The Open Experiences packages (premium hospitality through the official site) or verified resale tickets. Practice day tickets (Monday-Wednesday) may still be available through the official site and are a great way to experience the atmosphere without the championship-day crowds.
One thing that surprises first-time Open attendees: the atmosphere during practice days is completely different from American tournaments. The R&A has added unique events to each practice day, including a 12-player qualifying contest and short-form challenges featuring top players. These are worth attending on their own.
Where to Stay
Royal Birkdale is in Southport, a seaside town on England's northwest coast. Southport itself has some hotels and B&Bs, but inventory is limited and books up fast during Open week. Your three main options:
Southport (walking distance or short drive to the course): The most convenient but sells out quickly. If you find availability, take it. Small hotels and B&Bs are the norm here — don't expect big-chain luxury properties. Many locals also rent their homes through Vrbo or Airbnb during Open week.
Liverpool (about 20 miles south, 30-40 min by train): This is where most American visitors stay, and honestly it might be the better choice. Liverpool has a major international airport, plenty of hotel inventory at every price point, incredible restaurants, world-class nightlife, and cultural attractions like the Albert Dock, Beatles history, and Anfield stadium if you're a football fan. The train from Liverpool to Southport runs frequently and takes about 45 minutes.
Manchester (about 40 miles east, 1-1.5 hours by train): Manchester has the larger international airport with more direct flights from the US, so it's worth considering if your flight options into Liverpool are limited or expensive. Hotels are plentiful and generally cheaper than Liverpool during Open week.
Whichever you choose, book early. Open Championship week fills up the entire region.
Getting There
This is an international trip, so plan accordingly. Be sure to grab your passport and make sure it's not expired. If it is getting close, renew it asap.
Flights: From the US, you can fly into Liverpool John Lennon Airport (smaller, fewer direct routes from the US), Manchester Airport (larger, more transatlantic options), or London Heathrow/Gatwick (most flight options but requires a 3-4 hour train ride north). Manchester is the best balance of flight availability and proximity to Southport.
Trains: The UK rail network is your best friend for this trip. Trains run from Manchester and Liverpool to Southport regularly. Buy tickets in advance through Trainline for better prices. You do NOT need a rental car — parking near Royal Birkdale will be extremely limited, UK roads are narrow, and you'll be driving on the left side. The train is genuinely easier and less stressful.
From Southport station, the course is about a 20-minute walk or a short taxi ride. During Open week, shuttle buses typically run from the station to the course entrance.
A few important international travel notes: Make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel date. US citizens do not need a visa for short visits to the UK but you may need an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) — check the latest requirements before booking. Your cell phone will need an international plan or a UK SIM card — check with your carrier about international roaming rates before you go or you could come home to a brutal phone bill.
Travel insurance is worth considering for an international trip of this cost. If your flight gets cancelled or you have a medical issue abroad, travel insurance covers expenses that your regular health insurance probably won't.
Saving Money on an International Trip
An Open Championship trip from the US can easily run $3,000-$6,000+ depending on how you book it. A few ways to reduce that:
Use a credit card with no foreign transaction fees. Many cards charge 3% on every purchase made in a foreign currency. Over a week-long trip, that adds up. Cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Capital One Venture, and most Amex cards waive this fee entirely.
Book flights with points if you have them. Transatlantic flights from the US to Manchester or Liverpool typically run $800-$1,500 in economy. If you have credit card travel points or airline miles, this is one of the best uses for them.
Consider booking your hotel and train tickets in advance rather than waiting. UK hotel prices and train fares increase as dates get closer, especially for a major event like The Open. Booking 3-6 months out typically saves 20-40% compared to last-minute pricing.
What to Bring
Links golf weather is unpredictable. Royal Birkdale is on the coast, and conditions can shift from sunny and calm to rainy and windy within a single round. Pack for all of it.
A waterproof jacket is essential — not just a windbreaker, proper waterproof. You can buy one in the UK if you don't own one, but don't assume July in England means warm and dry. Layers are critical: a light base layer, a mid-layer fleece or sweater, and the waterproof shell on top. Comfortable waterproof walking shoes or hiking shoes (the terrain is dunes and uneven ground). A hat, sunglasses (for when the sun does come out), and sunscreen (the coastal UV is stronger than you'd expect).
UK electrical outlets use a different plug type (Type G, three rectangular prongs). Bring a universal travel adapter for your phone charger and any other electronics. A portable phone charger is just as essential here as it is at any American tournament.
Where to Eat and What to Do Beyond Golf
On-course, The Open has a range of food and beverage options but they're not included with your ticket. Expect typical UK event pricing. The beer selection is usually solid since local breweries get involved.
In Southport, the town center has a good selection of pubs and restaurants within walking distance of most accommodations. It's a charming English seaside town worth exploring on its own.
In Liverpool, the food scene is genuinely excellent. The Albert Dock area, Bold Street, and the Baltic Triangle neighborhood all have diverse restaurant options. Liverpool is also culturally rich — the Beatles Story museum, the Walker Art Gallery, and the Royal Albert Dock are all worth your time if you have a rest day or arrive early.
For golfers who want to play: England's Golf Coast is packed with world-class courses near Royal Birkdale. Royal Lytham & St Annes, Hillside Golf Club (literally next door to Birkdale), Formby Golf Club, and Southport & Ainsdale are all within a short drive.
Green fees at these courses range from about $100-$400 depending on the club and time. If you're flying across the Atlantic for golf, playing at least one of these courses makes the trip significantly more worthwhile. Book tee times well in advance since they fill up during Open week.
About The Open Championship
The Open Championship is the oldest of golf's four major championships, first played in 1860 at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland. Organized by The R&A, it is the only major played outside the United States and is always contested on a links course in the United Kingdom.
The winner receives the famous Claret Jug and the title of "Champion Golfer of the Year." While Americans often call it "The British Open," the tournament's official name is simply The Open — because it was the first open championship in golf and technically open to any golfer in the world, professional or amateur.
2026 Open Championship Dates
The 154th Open Championship will be held from Thursday, July 16 to Sunday, July 19, 2026. Practice rounds and qualifying take place July 12-15. The full event week runs July 12-19 at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England.
Championship rounds tee off as early as 6:35 AM local time (BST), which is 1:35 AM Eastern Time for those watching from the US. Yes, that's the middle of the night. The real action for US viewers starts around 4-5 AM ET when the marquee groups go out, and the leaders usually finish around 2-3 PM ET in the afternoon.
Defending Champion: Scottie Scheffler
Scottie Scheffler won his first Claret Jug at the 2025 Open Championship, shooting a dominant 17-under 267 at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland. He won by four strokes over Harris English and led by as many as seven shots during the final round before a double bogey at the 8th briefly let the field dream. That dream lasted about three holes before Scheffler reasserted control.
The victory was Scheffler's fourth career major and his second of the 2025 season (after also winning the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow). At 29, Scheffler joined Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, and Gary Player as players to win a Masters, PGA Championship, and Open Championship before turning 30. He needs only a U.S. Open to complete the career Grand Slam.
About Royal Birkdale Golf Club
Royal Birkdale is one of the most respected links courses in the world. Founded in 1889 in Southport on England's northwest coast, the club earned its "Royal" designation in 1951. The 2026 Open will be the 11th time Royal Birkdale has hosted the championship, making it one of the most experienced venues on The Open's rotation of courses (known as "the Rota").
The course sits in a stretch of coastline known as "England's Golf Coast," flanked by other famous links courses including Royal Lytham & St Annes, Hillside, Formby, and Southport & Ainsdale. If you're making the trip, you could play a different world-class links course every day of the week.
Royal Birkdale is known for its towering sand dunes that create natural amphitheaters for spectators, giving fans some of the best views of any Open venue. The course was originally designed by Frederick Hawtree and Open champion J.H. Taylor, with significant renovations over the decades. The layout is demanding but widely considered fair — professionals often describe it as their favorite course on the Rota because it rewards good shots without gimmicks.
Fun fact: Branden Grace made history at Birkdale in 2017 by recording the first round of 62 in men's major championship history.
Previous Open Champions at Royal Birkdale
Royal Birkdale has produced a legendary list of champions across its 10 previous Opens:
- Peter Thomson (1954, 1965)
- Arnold Palmer (1961)
- Lee Trevino (1971)
- Johnny Miller (1976)
- Tom Watson (1983)
- Ian Baker-Finch (1991)
- Mark O'Meara (1998)
- Padraig Harrington (2008)
- Jordan Spieth (2017)
Each championship at Birkdale has produced memorable moments. Arnold Palmer's iconic second shot on the 15th hole in 1961 is commemorated by a plaque that still sits in the dunes — it's considered one of the greatest shots in Open history. Jordan Spieth's 2017 victory featured a wild drive on the 13th hole of the final round that ended up on a completely different part of the course, followed by a miraculous recovery that's still hard to believe even on replay.
What Makes The Open Special
Links golf is unlike anything players face the rest of the year. The courses are exposed to coastal wind, the turf is firm and bouncy, and the weather can change dramatically within a single round. Players need to hit creative shots they rarely use on the PGA Tour: low runners, bump-and-runs, punch shots under the wind, and even the occasional putt from 40 yards off the green.
The ball behaves completely differently on links turf compared to the manicured parkland courses most American tournaments are played on. It's common to see world-class players struggle with the adjustment, which is part of what makes The Open so compelling. A player can be 5 under through 12 holes and then the wind shifts and they come home in 4 over. That volatility creates drama you don't get anywhere else.
The atmosphere is also unique. Crowds packed into grandstands and lining the dunes, pint in hand, create one of the most electric environments in all of sports. And because the tournament is in England, the fans are right on top of the action in a way that American events rarely match.
The Time Zone Factor for US Viewers
One thing that makes The Open distinctive for American fans is the schedule. Because Southport is 5 hours ahead of Eastern Time (6 hours ahead of Central), the early coverage starts before dawn in the US. Here's roughly what to expect:
Early featured groups go out around 1:30-2:00 AM ET. The main broadcast window starts around 4:00-5:00 AM ET. The leaders typically tee off around 9:00-10:00 AM ET (2:00-3:00 PM local). The final putt usually drops around 2:00-3:00 PM ET.
Many golf fans treat the early weekend rounds as an event — setting alarms at 4 AM, making coffee, and watching from the couch before the rest of the house wakes up. It's become its own tradition.
How to Watch
In the United States, NBC and USA Network broadcast The Open Championship, with Peacock providing streaming coverage. The R&A also provides live streaming of featured groups and featured holes on TheOpen.com. For the full experience, the early morning coverage is worth waking up for — the course looks incredible on camera at that time of day and the conditions are often at their most dramatic.
Quick Facts
- Founded: 1860 (oldest major championship in golf)
- Course: Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Southport, Merseyside, England
- Edition: 154th Open Championship
- 2025 Champion: Scottie Scheffler (-17, 4-stroke victory at Royal Portrush)
- 2025 Purse: $17 million (Winner: $3.1M)
- Trophy: The Claret Jug
- Winner's Title: Champion Golfer of the Year
- Field: 156 players (professionals + qualified amateurs)
- Times Hosted at Royal Birkdale: 11th Open
- Nearest City: Liverpool (~20 miles south)
- Nearest Airport: Liverpool John Lennon Airport or Manchester Airport
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