Pros united in declaring Royal Birkdale ‘as good as it gets’’

Royal Birkdale’s reputation as the fairest of all The Open Championship challenges on the rotation is well deserved.

Nestled among the imposing dunes at Southport, one of Britain’s great golfing meccas, Birkdale is one the finest links anywhere, with an extremely demanding opening hole made more difficult when the wind blows in off the Irish Sea. With few consecutive holes playing in the same direction it is a true test of links golf, rewarding accurate ball-striking and Shane Lowry was an instant convert to its charms when he played here for the first time in practice this week.

“It’s a proper golf course. It’s as good as it gets really,” Lowry said. “Possibly one of the best courses I’ve ever played.