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Nick Faldo was at Royal Birkdale on Thursday getting in prep for his work as a commentator for Sky Sports ahead of the 2026 Open Championship.
He wasn't the only major champion from the UK prepping with three weeks to go until the final men's major championship of the year.
Rory McIlroy, fresh off a T-32 appearance in the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, was also on site Thursday in Southport, England, getting in early practice at Birkdale, which is hosting the British Open for the first time since 2017. Faldo ran into McIlroy during his round and did a bit of video with the world No. 2.
"It's good. A little bit different from 2017, the last time we played an Open here," McIlroy said. "Some different green complexes, different holes. The fifth hole I just played is completely different."
The fifth is a drivable par 4 that McIlroy said he likes. And depending on the wind conditions next month could lead to some interesting club choices off the tee.
Their conversation continued, with McIlroy saying he thought Birkdale was one of the best venues on the Open rota. This will be the 11th time the course has hosted the Open, with Jordan Spieth winning the latest edition. Other champions at Birkdale include Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Padraig Harrington and Johnny Miller.
McIlroy, who won his lone British Open at Royal Liverpool in 2014, has won the Masters in consecutive years but is hoping to have the Claret Jug back in his possession. Getting in some early reps at Birkdale surely won't hurt his chances.
"It's good to get up here and play early," McIlroy told Faldo. "I've been trying to do that at every major championship, which is working out for me. Try to play a bit of links golf, get used to these conditions again."
McIlroy will tee it up in the Genesis Scottish Open before heading to Birkdale next month.
Faldo, 68, then shared a story with McIlroy, saying he made his first Open start 50 years ago at Royal Birkdale. He would go on to win the Open three times; his other three major victories came at the Masters.
The 154th Open Championship is set for July 16-19.
Cameron Jourdan is an assistant editor of Golfweek, covering college and amateur golf, the PGA Tour and plenty more. Follow Cameron on X/Twitter (@Cam_Jourdan) or Instagram (@GolfweekJourdan).
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Rory McIlroy prepping early at Royal Birkdale for British Open 2026
Continue reading...
He wasn't the only major champion from the UK prepping with three weeks to go until the final men's major championship of the year.
Rory McIlroy, fresh off a T-32 appearance in the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, was also on site Thursday in Southport, England, getting in early practice at Birkdale, which is hosting the British Open for the first time since 2017. Faldo ran into McIlroy during his round and did a bit of video with the world No. 2.
"It's good. A little bit different from 2017, the last time we played an Open here," McIlroy said. "Some different green complexes, different holes. The fifth hole I just played is completely different."
The fifth is a drivable par 4 that McIlroy said he likes. And depending on the wind conditions next month could lead to some interesting club choices off the tee.
Their conversation continued, with McIlroy saying he thought Birkdale was one of the best venues on the Open rota. This will be the 11th time the course has hosted the Open, with Jordan Spieth winning the latest edition. Other champions at Birkdale include Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Padraig Harrington and Johnny Miller.
McIlroy, who won his lone British Open at Royal Liverpool in 2014, has won the Masters in consecutive years but is hoping to have the Claret Jug back in his possession. Getting in some early reps at Birkdale surely won't hurt his chances.
"It's good to get up here and play early," McIlroy told Faldo. "I've been trying to do that at every major championship, which is working out for me. Try to play a bit of links golf, get used to these conditions again."
McIlroy will tee it up in the Genesis Scottish Open before heading to Birkdale next month.
Faldo, 68, then shared a story with McIlroy, saying he made his first Open start 50 years ago at Royal Birkdale. He would go on to win the Open three times; his other three major victories came at the Masters.
The 154th Open Championship is set for July 16-19.
Cameron Jourdan is an assistant editor of Golfweek, covering college and amateur golf, the PGA Tour and plenty more. Follow Cameron on X/Twitter (@Cam_Jourdan) or Instagram (@GolfweekJourdan).
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Rory McIlroy prepping early at Royal Birkdale for British Open 2026
Continue reading...
