Spieth returns to Royal Birkdale at 2026 Open, shot barred

Jordan Spieth returns to Royal Birkdale this week for the 2026 Open Championship, the site of his dramatic 2017 victory, with a renewed belief that his best golf is still ahead of him. The 32-year-old American, who has not won a major since that triumph nine years ago, expressed confidence in his current form despite a lack of recent wins, citing improved mechanics and consistency.

Spieth's 2017 win was secured through a remarkable and controversial sequence on the back nine. After pushing his drive far right into the dunes on the par-4 13th hole, he consulted with officials for approximately 20 minutes before taking an unplayable drop on the adjacent driving range. He then hit a utility iron onto the green and salvaged a bogey, a pivotal moment that sparked a birdie-eagle-birdie-birdie-par finish to claim the Claret Jug by three strokes over Matt Kuchar.

That specific scenario cannot be repeated this year due to significant course changes. The driving range has been relocated to a neighboring facility, and the area where Spieth dropped his ball is now the main spectator village, which is classified as out of bounds. If a player finds their ball unplayable in the same rough,...