The Open Championship 2026 Royal Birkdale

[I'll Bee Damned]

Birkdale looking amazing but mixed feedback on some of the alterations.

Looks like the weather is going to be a little benign and consistent across the 4 days, which is a bit of a shame, but looking forward to some great golf and the odd calamity.

Who do we fancy for the title? A lot of good players in decent form.

Would love to see Fleetwood win and not just to rebuild some pride in English sport.

 

[WarrenBee]

Macintyre has just played a cracking 2nd shot on the 2nd hole, and is now leading on -2.

 

[ziggys_human]

justin rose for the claret jug

 

[Banana]

justin rose for the claret jug

Well he needs an exception round tomorrow for sure. 8 bogies today.

 

[ziggys_human]

Well he needs an exception round tomorrow for sure. 8 bogies today.

yep, wouldn't wanna be his handkerchief!
agreed, not looking too rosy right now

 

[Andy_Mc_is_God]

Would love to see Fleetwood win and not just to rebuild some pride in English sport.

Would be the perfect antidote
And a reasonable start at -1
Good to see his bed partner Francesco Molinari showing some form too

 

[Banana]

Good to see his bed partner Francesco Molinari showing some form too

I thought Tommy was happily married.

 

[Andy_Mc_is_God]

I thought Tommy was happily married.

Ssshhh
Those Italians can get a bit fiesty …

 

[Banana]

I have just seen Rory hit the worst wedge shot ever in professional golf*


*well, maybe

 

[Banana]

Tune in for a bizarre bunker shot

 

[Banana]

DeChambeau in big cheat mode. Clearly improves his lie. By stomping on vegetation interfering with his backswing.

 

[nick logan]

DeChambeau in big cheat mode. Clearly improves his lie. By stomping on vegetation interfering with his backswing.

Probably argie gran

 

[Lionel Bart-At]

DeChambeau in big cheat mode. Clearly improves his lie. By stomping on vegetation interfering with his backswing.

Jury’s out. Suspicious looking footwork, I’d concede, but not actually sure he impacted the path of his downswing with his actions.

Sounds like he’s going to be penalised. Sounds like he’s considering his attendance over the next two days. We’ll find out very soon.

 

[Banana]

Jury’s out. Suspicious looking footwork, I’d concede, but not actually sure he impacted the path of his downswing with his actions.

It certainly did.

 

[Banana]

Score updated

 

[Lionel Bart-At]

It certainly did.

Well I’ve been watching the coverage just like you have, and I see him trample grass where he will be standing, not where his club will be swinging. I may be wrong of course. This has happened occasionally on previous occasions. Perhaps you could also elaborate your thoughts?

Edit: the ruling is that he improved his lie. So different train of thought!

 

[longtimeagobee]

This ball on the range is going to get some hammer

 

[Banana]

Well I’ve been watching the coverage just like you have, and I see him trample grass where he will be standing, not where his club will be swinging. I may be wrong of course. This has happened occasionally on previous occasions. Perhaps you could also elaborate your thoughts?

He trampled down the tall grass that would have otherwise interfered with his backswing.

 

[Lionel Bart-At]

He trampled down the tall grass that would have otherwise interfered with his backswing.

See my edit above.

 

[Banana]

Edit: the ruling is that he improved his lie. So different train of thought!

Improving a lie includes removing a tree (say) from impeding your backswing.

 

[Lionel Bart-At]

See my edit above.

Further edit: INADVERTENTLY altered the path of his swing. So @Banana ’s interpretation is correct! Certainly didn’t look like this to me! Whaddo I know!

 

[Banana]

R&A rules official Grant Moir said: "Bryson has been penalised two strokes for inadvertently improving the area of intended backswing on fifth hole."

Moir said it broke rule 8.1 - and is basically what Graeme Storm told us a little earlier. Bryson did not intend to improve the line of his backswing, but he did and that is breaking the rules.

 

[Banana]

View: https://x.com/SkySportsGolf/status/2078221700106191359?s=20

 

[Andy_Mc_is_God]

He trampled down the tall grass that would have otherwise interfered with his backswing.

Spot on, ‘inadvertently’ my @rse.
He’s a cheating Tuesday, got caught and paid the penalty.

 

[BEEcool]

The R&A have been very generous with the use of ‘inadvertently’. BD should be be very grateful rather than trying to throw his weight around by threatening not play. What a wally.

A bit of drama no bad thing for The Open now and again however. So long as it doesn’t become a circus.

 

[ziggys_human]

threatening not play

offer accepted

 

[malvernbee]

Two stroke penalty all day long. What's next when talking to their caddie on the first tee. ' So we've got 14 clubs & you've remembered the chainsaw '.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

Cheating, plain and simple


View: https://x.com/i/status/2078219754762903570

 

[gbems92]

Rory didn't hold back on his thoughts on Brysons situation. Would love to see them paired up tomorrow

 

[aawharris]

I picked Sam Burns at the start of the week (i pick him for most tournaments), but obviously didnt back him.
Was happy to see him +3 after the firat day, not so much now

 

[Banana]

Rory didn't hold back on his thoughts on Brysons situation. Would love to see them paired up tomorrow

or his htoughts on Bryon

 

[BEEcool]

Staggered at how many times I’ve seen near misses during this tournament with balls flying past marshalls, cameramen and commentators etc stood at the side of fairways looking slightly unaware of what’s going on around them

 

[ziggys_human]

most of sunday's pins are almost missing the greens...far trickier for elite players, for me it'd be beneficial as most of my shots miss the greens too

 

[Lionel Bart-At]

Cheating, plain and simple


View: https://x.com/i/status/2078219754762903570

Nothing wrong with this. In cricket, we call it “gardening”. In gardening, as well.

 

[Lionel Bart-At]

Staggered at how many times I’ve seen near misses during this tournament with balls flying past marshalls, cameramen and commentators etc stood at the side of fairways looking slightly unaware of what’s going on around them

One of the BBC commentators was struck in the thigh. Pay attention ffs!

 

[Banana]

Long time practicing by Cameron Young . About 2 hours wasn't it

Great home stretch by Fox (son of All Black legend Grant Fox) and fully deserved.

 

[longtimeagobee]

100/1 winner for me

 

[Banana]

Never been a top-ten finisher in majors before.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

The Open seems to throw up these surprises, other majors don't seem to so much.

 

[Andy_Mc_is_God]

Brilliant finish.
Well played, sir

 

[maddogging]

winning genes.

 

[Hullbee]

Never been a top-ten finisher in majors before.

Won Wentworth though so has one big

 

[Hullbee]

I loved how he just said f*** get this done no arsing around and was aggressive

 

[Banana]

The Open seems to throw up these surprises, other majors don't seem to so much.

Different golf innit.

All the others are target golf. Hit the ball exactly 287.45yards etc.

 

[Hullbee]

Different golf innit.

All the others are target golf. Hit the ball exactly 287.45yards etc.

I wouldn’t say US open is target golf more a mental strain to take on such hard courses

 

[ppobee]

Can't believe how quickly Ryan Fox plays - really refreshing!

 

[Banana]

The Open seems to throw up these surprises, other majors don't seem to so much.

1. More luck involved in playing links with good shots hitting a lumpy fairway and ending up in a pot bunker. And vice versa
2. Ground game matters a lot more, there's many ways to play a hole depending on wind direction etc. Unlike the other 3 majors
3. Driving is less involved as it's a ground game so shorter players stay in the mix
4. Age matters less because distance counts for less. Classic case in Tom Watson. Norman led in his 50s too.
5. Open qualifying brings in plenty of links experts rather than names being invited a la Masters

 

[Banana]

After DeChambeau returned to the scene of the incident, where he was seen in a heated debate with R&A rules officials, the American delayed signing his scorecard and requested Trump’s involvement. This led to tee-time processing being delayed until nearly midnight.

The request to involve President Trump was denied and so was his appeal against the penalty.

 

[JANORAK]

View attachment 67380

After DeChambeau returned to the scene of the incident, where he was seen in a heated debate with R&A rules officials, the American delayed signing his scorecard and requested Trump’s involvement. This led to tee-time processing being delayed until nearly midnight.

The request to involve President Trump was denied and so was his appeal against the penalty.

What a complete dollop!

 

[aawharris]

View attachment 67380

After DeChambeau returned to the scene of the incident, where he was seen in a heated debate with R&A rules officials, the American delayed signing his scorecard and requested Trump’s involvement. This led to tee-time processing being delayed until nearly midnight.

The request to involve President Trump was denied and so was his appeal against the penalty.

If this is true, he deserves to be banned from any PGA tour events moving forward.
Let him rot in LIV with their 60 fans and bankruptcy