The 154th Open Championship
16–19 July 2026
Royal Birkdale, Southport
Watch on the BBC
The Links · Chapter 01
Welcome to the morning before the round
Niblickbay is a UK editorial site for the long, slow, weather-beaten sport of links golf. From the gorse and dunes of Royal Birkdale through the bagpipes of Carnoustie to the autumn flagstones of Wentworth, we write about every round as though the wind, the cold and the patience all mattered — because, on links, they always do.
Long-form previews, fixture coverage and responsible-play guidance, written for adult readers who like a thinking pause between shots. Adults only. 18+.
Par
72
Yards
7,158
Record
63
Age
18+
UK operators we trust
Founded 1934. One of Britain’s oldest bookmakers. Licensed by the UK Gambling Commission.
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Irish-British bookmaker with strong UK Majors coverage. Licensed by the UK Gambling Commission.
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Part of the Flutter group. Strong UK golf coverage on Sky Sports Golf. Licensed by the UK Gambling Commission.
Visit course →The card — six holes ahead
Senior Open presented by Rolex
23–26 July 2026
Gleneagles, Scotland
Watch on Sky Sports Golf
AIG Women’s Open
29 July–2 August 2026
Royal Lytham & St Annes
Watch on Sky Sports Golf
BMW PGA Championship
10–13 September 2026
Wentworth Club, Surrey
Watch on Sky Sports Golf
The 155th Open Championship
15–18 July 2027
St Andrews, Old Course
Watch on the BBC
British Masters
27–30 August 2026
The Belfry, Sutton Coldfield
Watch on Sky Sports Golf
The four numbers we read by
−1
Birdie
One stroke under par. The smallest unit of professional achievement, and the heartbeat of every round.
−2
Eagle
Two strokes under. The number that turns a steady round into a moment, often on a par-five second shot.
−3
Albatross
Three under. Once a year, in any tournament, on any course in the world. The rarest shot you will ever see.
−4
Condor
Four under. Five ever recorded. None in a major. The number that exists more in scoring tables than on courses.
Trust the yardage book, not the eye. The wind on links lies twice — once at your face, once at the green.
A caddie’s whisper, back nineSix hazards on every links
A round of golf is a round of choices — and so is a session of predictions. Read our six-hazard guide to playing responsibly.
1
Bunker
2
Gorse
3
Water
4
Out-of-Bounds
5
Rough
6