The 154th Open begins Thursday at Royal Birkdale, with golfers facing a unique challenge. The dry and firm conditions will make the ball run forever, according to Scottie Scheffler, the defending champion.

Links Golf Challenges

Links golf is known for its unpredictable bounces, and this week’s conditions will make it even more challenging. Justin Rose said, “You can’t judge every single bounce perfectly… You have to accept the nature of a links golf course.”

Rory McIlroy noted that the rough, although still thick in some patches, is more burned and wispy than it was a few weeks ago. He said, “The big thing, especially off the tee here, is the fairway bunkers and avoiding those.”

Course Changes

The course has undergone some changes, including the redesigned fifth hole, which now plays 321 yards. The hole is no longer a blind shot from the tee, and players can see a pond and a row of pot bunkers leading to the green.

The wind is also coming from a different direction than usual, making the 393-yard 16th hole play downwind and fast. Most players were hitting no more than 5-iron off the tee to avoid the bunkers.

Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.