Birkdale's new challenge

Royal Birkdale's clubhouse (Pictures: Mark Newcomber/Visionsingolf.com)

The Open at Royal Birkdale in 1998: I remember the opening day 65 by Tiger Woods, the little-known Brian Watts hanging on for a play-off and the dignity of Mark O'Meara in victory.

But most of all I remember the roar that went up when a young amateur Justin Rose holed his 90 yard-approach shot to secure a tie for fourth place and secure the amateur silver medal.

So what will Woods and Rose make of the Birkdale links ten years on (July 17-20), now that the R&A has not so much tinkered with the course, but re-designed it, altering all but two holes including a complete re-modelling of the 17th green.

They have also lengthened it by 155 yards, nipped and tucked a few fairways and added 20 new bunkers.

Re-modelled green at 17 and pushed back 25 yards

At 7,173 yards, it's not that much longer than when Mark O'Meara won but with 16 fairway bunkers and four greenside traps, plus the significant mounding that has been added to seven greens, it will call for a greater variety of imaginative recovery shots.

And crucial to the modern-day players' course management will be changes to the lines of play on the third, ninth, 11th, 16th and 17th holes, says the R&A.

The ninth fairway has been moved 25 yards to the left while the par-5 17th, somewhat controversially, has a new elevated green, pushed 25 yards further back to make the approach in two blows even more challenging.

Commenting on the changes, Peter Dawson, The R&A's Chief Executive, comments that the climate between now and July will be a determining factor in the exact nature of the changes.

“Tiger's course management is not for me to second guess [at Hoylake in 2006 he only once used his driver]. He will, of course, do as he sees fit but I don't think he will be able to accuse the course of being short. Royal Birkdale is very popular with the players. What you see is what you get and it is very fair."

Distinctive circular bunker at the par-3 7th

“We are looking for hard, fast links conditions. We always do. But we're always in the lap of the gods with the weather. ”

Visitors to The Open will experience a several more vantage points. Sand dunes have always provided many natural viewing spots, and further new mounds have been added on five holes to provide even better opportunities to observe the action.

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