The Open: What’s new ahead of Royal Birkdale: Bonus events, course changes, different features and all you need to know | Golf News

The world’s best players head to Royal Birkdale for The Open, with plenty of new additions – on and off the course – to look out for during one of the biggest events in the sporting calendar.

A record-breaking crowd is expected in Merseyside for the final men’s major of the year, with over 300,000 fans across tournament week, as Scottie Scheffler returns as defending champion after last year’s win in Northern Ireland.

Scheffler could become the first back-to-back winner of The Open since Padraig Harrington, which also came at Royal Birkdale in 2008, while Rory McIlroy is among the favourites to claim a second major victory of the season.

Tommy Fleetwood will aim to end England’s 34-year wait for a winner at The Open, in his hometown and at a venue hosting this historic event for an 11th time – more than any venue other than St Andrews.

Ahead of a star-studded field battling it out to be crowned Champion Golfer of the Year, live on Sky Sports, we pick out five new features that makes this year’s Open Championship different to any other…

Royal Birkdale witnessed the first ’62 round’ in men’s major history when it last held The Open in 2017, with the course since undergoing significant changes ahead of this year’s edition.

The spot on the practice area where Jordan Spieth took a drop – and rescued a brilliant bogey – during his 2017 win is no longer a playable spot, while the par-three 14th – which he birdied during his final round – has been removed completely.

The previous 15th hole is now the 14th as a long par-five, with the next hole a new 240-yard par-three described by McIlroy as one that is ‘going to be a big talking point’, while other changes included the fifth being shortened to make it a driveable par-four.

A smaller green has been added to the par-three seventh and the 18th hole tee box has been moved to make an iconic finish more challenging. An improved Birkdale is ready to welcome the world’s best.

The field for The Open is usually set on a Sunday evening, once the Genesis Scottish Open and that week’s PGA Tour event in the United States is complete, but there’s a new last-minute opportunity for one lucky player to secure a major spot.

The inaugural Last-Chance Qualifier will see 12 players battle it out on Monday morning for the final place in the field, with Wesley Bryan – one half of the popular Bryan Bros YouTube channel – among those competing.

All those in action either narrowly missed out in Final Qualifying, impressed at the Amateur Championship or fell just outside of the qualification cut-off via the world rankings, with the lowest score over 18 holes then completing the 156-man field.

Expect drama and excitement, with a play-off used – if required – to decide who takes that spot.

The inaugural Heroes Classic will see past Champion Golfers of the Year and European Ryder Cup stars compete alongside stars from other sports and entertainment in a special new team contest.

Scheffler will be joined in the field by Spieth and Harrington, the previous two winners of The Open at Royal Birkdale, with English pair Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose also set to feature.

AIG Women’s Open Champion Miyu Yamashita, past Women’s Amateur Champion Paula Martín Sampedro and G4D Open Champion Brendan Lawlor are among the others invited, including rugby legend Bryan Habana.

The event will be played in teams of three and across three holes at Royal Birkdale on Tuesday afternoon, live on Sky Sports, with the first, second and ninth holes used and a Texas Scramble format – where the best shot from each team is used – in operation.

Players regularly praise UK golf fans for their behaviour and understanding of golf, but spectators this week will have to follow a new code of conduct to avoid any crowd disturbances.

Brian Harman received some jeers from fans during his Open win at Royal Liverpool and Scheffler faced similar at Royal Portrush, while Wyndham Clark faced a hostile reception from the New York crowd during last month’s US Open victory.

The Open Commitment encourages everyone attending to ‘play their part in protecting the traditions’, with signage around the course telling fans to respect the players, respect the links, respect each other, be aware and enjoy responsibly.

Spectators have been warned they are risk of being removed from the course for serious or repeated breaches of the commitment, although the R&A hopes the new rules will keep The Open a ‘welcoming, inclusive and memorable experience’ for all.

Sky Sports is once again the exclusive home of The Open in the UK and Ireland, with over 75 hours of live coverage from across the seven days of tournament week and new ways to follow the action.

As well as the usual Live at the Range feeds and Featured Group coverage during the tournament, this year’s edition will have a new ‘player feed’ to follow a marquee player through every shot and moment of a round.

One player in the first and second rounds will be the focus of the new player stream with coverage available from around 3pm on Thursday and Friday on Sky Sports+. A chance to be closer than ever to one of the biggest names in the game.

There will be at least 15 hours of action on both the first two rounds, with bonus feeds available on Sky Sports+ or the Sky Sports App, with extended coverage then starting at 9am on Saturday July 18 and 8am on Sunday July 19.

Watch The 154th Open Championship, from Royal Birkdale, live on Sky Sports from July 16-19. Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream golf without a contract through NOW.