Phil Mickelson Praises Royal Birkdale’s Fair Test Ahead of The Open Return

Phil Mickelson has called Royal Birkdale a ‘very fair test’ where good shots get rewarded as The Open returns to the historic course for the first time since 2017.

The Open Championship heads back to Southport for the 11th time in its history, with the last edition at Royal Birkdale played in 2017. That year, Jordan Spieth won his third major to move within one of the career grand slam.

What did Phil Mickelson say about Royal Birkdale?

In 2008, Mickelson called the layout a ‘very fair test’ where ‘good shots get rewarded.’ He added: “You get much more consistent bounces, so the well-struck shots are rewarded and typically end up about where you would anticipate. There’s also a good mixture of holes that move both ways. The bunkers are perfectly placed for strategy, and it just seems to use every club in your bag.”

Nine years later, Sergio Garcia echoed the praise. “I think Birkdale is a great golf course,” Garcia said. “It’s probably one of the toughest, other than Carnoustie and maybe Muirfield, one of the toughest Open venues we play.”

Why does Royal Birkdale matter now?

The Open returns to Royal Birkdale on 18-21 July 2024, the first time since Spieth’s 2017 victory. The course has undergone changes since then, with updates to several holes. Reigning champion Scottie Scheffler said he likes the alterations and called the layout “pretty obvious” in its improvements.

Scheffler, the world No. 1, spoke before this year’s championship. “First impressions were really good,” he said. “I think it’s pretty obvious: the one thing I found interesting is it’s so obvious as to which holes had been redone. They look like they’re not even on the same golf course.”

How have past winners rated the course?

Mickelson’s 2008 comments came after he tied for second at Royal Birkdale that year. Padraig Harrington won the Claret Jug in 2008, while Spieth claimed it in 2017. Both Spieth and Garcia praised the course’s difficulty and strategic design.

Dustin Johnson, making his Open debut in 2008, also backed Mickelson’s view. “I really like the golf course,” Johnson said. “But it’s like any Open Championship: you’ve just got to control your golf ball.”

What’s next for The Open at Birkdale?

With the course updated and technology pushing drives farther, Royal Birkdale faces its latest test. Scheffler and others will look to control their ball as they chase the Claret Jug.

The weather will play a role, as Garcia noted in 2017. “All depending on weather,” he said. “But it is a solid golf course and I’ve managed to play it twice.”