Erskine, the club’s then-secretary of 35 years—who many credit with bringing the Open to Portrush—was waiting for a defining moment. Some visual cue from the universe to signify the accomplishment that Portrush, after decades of political turmoil on the island of Ireland before a peace in 1998, had enticed the R&A back to this part of the world.

Set the coffee pot for the wee hours of the morning, because we’re heading to Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland for the British Open this week. It’s going to be an early start for fans in the United States, but it should be well worth it with all of the drama and the fantastic return to links-style golf that should excite golf fans far and wide.

Bryson DeChambeau is open to ideas as he bids to improve his poor record at the British Open, where handling the fickle weather can be the key to success.

Royal Portrush is not only open to visitors, but its yearly membership dues are what the average American golfer spends on public tee times.

The final major championship of the golf season will be the British Open on July 17-20 at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland.

The Open Championship began in 1860 when Willie Park Sr. defeated seven other golfers at Prestwick in Scotland. When the “British Open” began is a little less clear.

Zach Johnson of the United States , left and Scottie Scheffler of the United States wait on the 9th tee to play as rain falls during a practice round for the British Open golf championship at the Royal Portrush Golf Club, Northern Ireland, Tuesday, July 15, 2025. Credit: AP/Jon Super

For all his scientific precision and analytical approach to golf, Bryson DeChambeau has encountered one variable that defies his calculations: the wind. It's a struggle that reached its nadir last year at Royal Troon,