'Weird stuff is going to happen' - Scheffler and McIlroy on sun-baked Birkdale

Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler have won four of the seven majors contested since the start of 2025 By Matt Gault BBC Sport NI senior journalist Published 7 minutes ago The Open Championship has, so often down the years, been as much a battle with the elements as it has the swing for the world's top golfers. Recent Royal Birkdale Opens have been no different. When the Southport venue last staged the game's oldest championship in 2017, play was briefly suspended during the second round because of heavy wind and rain. In 2008, at the end of a week largely dominated by horrendous weather, Padraig Harrington prevailed with a winning score of three over par, four shots clear of Ian Poulter. This week, however, it is shaping up to be a much different test, with firm and fiery conditions expected at a sun-baked Birkdale. "The course is primed for an amazing week. It's as linksy as links gets," 2014 champion Rory McIlroy told BBC Sport's Iain Carter. "It's a lot different than when I was here a few weeks ago [for a practice round]. It's not quite as green, the rough isn't quite as juicy - it's still long, the fescue, but it's a little thinner because of the weather we've had." With the rough having been "burnt out" by the sun, McIlroy - who shot 73-64 over the weekend to finish tied seventh at last week's Scottish Open - is approaching the week with an attacking mindset. "I think I can play the course a little more aggressively than I could, so I'm excited by that possibility, but it's a great test," added the six-time major winner, who finished joint fourth at Birkdale in 2017. "The changes they've made to the golf course over the last few years, I think it's going to be a great golf tournament that tests all aspects of the game." Why it's time for The Open to crown an English winner Published 9 hours ago 'I didn't think I'd live to this age' - Howard's inspiring journey to The Open Published 4 hours ago Could England cause the Open final round to move? Published 5 hours ago Scottie Scheffler, the world number one and defending champion who comes into this week after a rare missed cut at the Scottish Open, seemed similarly upbeat about the set-up. "There are some extreme conditions," said Scheffler, who finished 17 under to triumph at Royal Portrush last year. "The wind direction is going to change as the tournament starts, but overall getting some extra rest going into a major championship is never the worst thing, but I really hate missing cuts, too. "It's very interesting. A lot of thinking. You're going to get some weird bounces, some weird stuff is going to happen, but a lot of thinking off the tee and going into the greens and it's been a lot of fun to prepare for." Since Jordan Spieth's victory in 2017, Birkdale has undergone a renovation, with the changes including redesigns on the fifth, seventh, 14th and 15th holes. "The one thing I found interesting is it's so obvious as to which holes had been red