151st Open Championship - Tournament Preview
Some say that the Royal Liverpool layout is the blandest on the open rotation, however, healthy rough new bunkers and tees for this championship combined with an average weather outlook things won’t be easy!
Founded in 1869 the course has hosted 12 previous Open Championships, most recently in 2006 (Tiger Woods) and 2014 (Rory McIlroy). Significant changes have been made since Rory McIlroy won by 2 shots from Rickie Fowler and Sergio Garcia in 2014 though. The most noticeable changes are the newly created 17th hole while the tenth hole has become a par four (previously a five). The new par three 17th named Little Eye looks both beautiful and grewsome from the tee with the green nestled in between huge bunkers and Dee estuary. Short in length at around 125 meters (think Royal Troon's Postage Stamp 8th) this hole could swing the tournament late on Sunday.
Like most Open Championships accuracy, wind play, scrambling and taking advantage of the par fives will be crucial to success.
Date: 20-23 July, 2023
Course: Royal Liverpool, Hoylake, Merseyside, England
Length: 6,750 meters
Par: 71
Greens: Bent Grass
Defending Champion: Cam Smith
Key Course Stats
- Par 5 Scoring
- Strokes Gained: Off the Tee
- Total Driving
- GIR
- Strokes Gained: Approach
- Proximity: 200+ Yards
- Scrambling
- Putting Average
- Birdie Average
- Strokes Gained: Putting
- Three-Putt Avoidance
- Bogey Avoidance
Key Correlation Courses
- The Renaissance Club
- Alfred Dunhill Links Courses
- TPC Sawgrass
- TPC Scottsdale
- Jumeirah Golf Estates
Our Thoughts
Brooks Koepka: There is no player outside of Tiger Woods with a better majors record this century. Since 2017, Koepka has won five majors and finished runner-up four times with another five Top 10s. He has won at Phoenix, has a great Open record and has dominated the key LIV stats. Great bet.
Patrick Cantlay: Not the most fashionable player but profiles a treat. Cantlay leads the Tour in Par 5 Scoring and Total Driving while he ranks Top 4 in Birdie Average, Bogey Avoidance and Strokes Gained: Off the Tee. Huge runner.
Tyrell Hatton: There is probably no better links golfer in the world. Won the Alfred Dunhill twice, has a great record at the Open and the Scottish Open while he finished runner-up at the Players this year and DP Tour Championship last year. Putting at an elite level.
Tony Finau: Quality wind player who has never finished worse than 29th at the Open. Won four times in the last 12 months. Ranks 5th in Par 5 Scoring, 5th in Birdie Average and 6th in Strokes Gained: Approach.
Adrian Meronk: Underrated DP World Tour player who leads that Tour in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee while ranking 2nd in Par 5 Scoring, 3rd in GIR and 8th in Birdie Average. Solid form on the correlating courses.