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McIlroy Says Heatwave Has Changed British Open Challenge at Royal Birkdale

Posted : 16 July 2026

Rory McIlroy believes the unusually hot weather ahead of the 2026 British Open has transformed Royal Birkdale into a very different test, with the firm and fast conditions creating both opportunities and challenges for the world's leading golfers. The former Open champion described the impact of the UK heatwave as a "double-edged sword" as players prepare for the season's final major.

McIlroy explained that the prolonged dry spell has baked the fairways, allowing tee shots to travel significantly farther than usual. While that could benefit players looking to gain extra distance, he noted that the rough has also become less punishing than it was during practice rounds a few weeks earlier, encouraging a more aggressive approach off the tee.

The reigning Masters champion believes avoiding Royal Birkdale's deep fairway bunkers will be more important than ever. He suggested many competitors may choose to hit driver more frequently, accepting a lie in the lighter rough rather than risking the strategically placed bunkers that can quickly derail a round.

Defending champion Scottie Scheffler echoed McIlroy's assessment, saying the baked-out course presents a unique strategic puzzle. The world No. 1 said golfers must carefully decide whether to attack with the driver or play more conservatively with irons, as the fast-running fairways make it much harder to predict where the ball will finish.

Scheffler arrives at Royal Birkdale seeking to defend the Claret Jug despite suffering an unexpected missed cut at last week's Scottish Open, ending a streak of 78 consecutive made cuts. Even so, he believes the additional preparation time has allowed him to study the course's challenging conditions before the championship begins.

Royal Birkdale is expected to provide a very different examination from the weather-affected edition held in 2017. Along with firm fairways and reduced rough, competitors will also contend with redesigned holes and the traditional demands of links golf, where precision and course management are expected to outweigh sheer power.

 

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