Royal Birkdale is listed with a par of 70 for the 2026 Open Championship. In golf, par is the score a highly skilled player is expected to need for a round, based on the designated par of each hole.
Royal Birkdale’s par has varied across its Open history as the course’s length and setup changed. The venue was listed as par 70 for the 2017 Open, when Jordan Spieth won with a four-round total of 268, or 12 under par. It was also par 70 for the 2008, 1998 and 1991 championships, while earlier Opens at the course used pars ranging from 71 to 73.
That history explains why older scorecards can produce different answers. Par is not a permanent label for every championship played at a course; organizers can alter tees, hole lengths and course setup. The 2026 listing uses 70, matching Royal Birkdale’s recent Open configuration.
The 2026 tournament will be Royal Birkdale’s eleventh Open, following its previous hosting in 2017.