Rory McIlroy says Royal Birkdale no longer plays like a traditional links course after finishing a disappointing week at the 2026 Open Championship.
The six-time major champion struggled to challenge for the Claret Jug and ended the tournament with a one-over-par 71 in the final round. His performance left him tied for 40th after a frustrating weekend.
McIlroy said changes made to Royal Birkdale before this year’s championship have changed the way the course plays, making it feel different from the classic links courses that have traditionally hosted The Open.
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McIlroy Questions Royal Birkdale’s New Look
McIlroy started the final round too far behind the leaders to make a serious charge. While several players produced low scores over the weekend, he could not build any momentum and finished at even par over the final two rounds.
Rory McIlroy on the changes made to Royal Birkdale:
“I feel like with a lot of the changes they made, the greens were raised up and a lot of the fall-offs and stuff, it didn’t play like a traditional links course.”
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After his round, the Northern Irishman shared his thoughts on the course setup. He said many of the recent changes have taken away some of the traditional links features that players usually expect at The Open.
“I feel like with a lot of the changes they made, the greens were raised up and a lot of the fall-offs and stuff, it didn’t play like a traditional links course,” McIlroy said.
He explained that players usually have the option to play low running shots into greens on links courses. At Royal Birkdale, however, he felt many approach shots had to be played through the air instead.
“I didn’t feel like you could run the ball up to a lot of greens,” he added. “There was a lot of stuff where you still had to fly the ball on.”
The course underwent several changes before this year’s championship as organizers redesigned a number of holes to keep pace with the modern game while preserving Royal Birkdale’s challenge.
McIlroy In Disappointing Finish to Another Open Campaign
McIlroy arrived at Royal Birkdale after a top-10 finish at the Genesis Scottish Open and was among the favorites to win the Claret Jug. However, he never managed to put together the type of run needed to challenge for the title.
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Three players shot rounds of 62 during the weekend, but McIlroy could not match that pace and gradually slipped down the leaderboard. After his final round, he also confirmed that he will not play another tournament before the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis.
McIlroy’s week was also marked by his strong comments about Bryson DeChambeau following the American’s two-shot penalty in the second round. He said he was “not particularly fond of” DeChambeau and criticized the way the LIV Golf star handled his rules dispute with R&A officials.
McIlroy will now turn his attention to the FedEx Cup Playoffs after another disappointing Open Championship, hoping to bounce back following a week in which he questioned both his performance and the changes made to one of golf’s most iconic venues.
Main Photo Credit: © Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
