When Tommy Fleetwood speaks about The Open Championship returning to Royal Birkdale, he thinks less about trophies and more about the teenager in the crowd who might be watching their first major. "If we can create a memory that inspires someone to be involved in the game and dream big, that is a wonderful thing," said Fleetwood, a Southport native whose career was itself sparked by watching golf's greatest tournament as a child.
This summer, that opportunity expands to more people than ever before. The R&A announced that this year's Open, returning to Royal Birkdale in Southport from July 12-19, will draw a record crowd exceeding 300,000 spectators across the week. Over one million ticket applications have come in for the championship in recent years, leaving organizers at capacity on championship days. To meet that enthusiasm, they've introduced new initiatives designed to make the event more accessible and memorable.
Among them: a "Last-Chance Qualifier" on Monday, July 13, where 12 players will compete over 18 holes for the final spot in the 156-player field. On Tuesday, a "Heroes Classic" will bring together past champions and local favorites — including Jordan Spieth, Padraig Harrington, Fleetwood, and Justin Rose — in a three-hole team format designed to give amateur spectators something to cheer.
Rose, who shot to fame as a teenage amateur at Birkdale in 1998, finishing joint fourth and winning the Silver Medal, called the return "something I'm excited about." "The Open in 1998 was a special moment and brings back so many fond memories," he said.
The week will also feature reigning AIG Women's Open champion Miyu Yamashita, G4D Champion Brendan Lawlor, and R&A ambassadors including South African rugby great Bryan Habana and actress Kathryn Newton.
With a record-breaking attendance expected and new ways for fans to engage, the 2025 Open isn't just celebrating golf's history — it's investing in the next generation of fans.