Royal Birkdale, host venue of The 154th Open, can now be played on virtual golf at Toptracer-powered facilities around the world. The range technology company also said it is partnering with The R&A to stage The 154th Open Global Challenge from July 13–19, a closest-to-the-pin contest played on the course’s new 241-yard par-3 15th hole.
Royal Birkdale will host The Open for the 11th time when championship play begins on July 16. The venue last staged the event in 2017, when Jordan Spieth won the Claret Jug. Its addition to Toptracer’s virtual course lineup gives golfers a preview of a layout that has undergone several changes since then, including the new 15th.
The New 15th
The hole at the centre of the Global Challenge is the longest par 3 on the course, built on the site of the old 14th. The Open’s course guide says it has a narrow entrance and a green that looks smaller from the tee than it really is, while wind and run-off areas make ball control difficult. Toptracer said the hole should have a major role during championship week.
Every shot hit through Toptracer during the competition period will count toward a global leaderboard, with players competing for prizes from The Open. The grand prize is two Sunday tickets to The 155th Open at St Andrews in 2027, plus the opportunity to play the Old Course the following day.
“One of the things that makes golf special is the connection golfers feel to the venues that host the game’s biggest championships,” said Scott Blevins, President and GM of Toptracer. “Royal Birkdale is one of the most recognisable and respected courses in the world and we’re thrilled to give golfers the opportunity to experience it through Toptracer.”
Course Changes for 2026
Royal Birkdale’s 2026 setup includes several other changes. The Open has outlined a redesigned 14th (previously the 15th), a reworked 5th, a redesigned 7th that now plays as a shorter par 3, and adjustments to the 18th tee position. At 7,223 yards and par 70, the course will be 67 yards longer than in 2017. Bunker count has been cut from 127 to 108.
How to Take Part
Any golfer at a participating Toptracer range anywhere in the world during the July 13–19 window can enter the challenge. Toptracer says it operates at more than 1,450 sites across 38 countries, and golfers can find their nearest location HERE.
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Simon Bale
Simon Bale is the publisher of Golf Today. A low single-figure handicap golfer, he was previously a major shareholder and course reviewer for Top100GolfCourses.com for over a decade, starting in 2010. Through this role, he developed extensive knowledge of golf course design and architecture while playing more than 300 courses worldwide.