Which golf magazine ranked Royal Birkdale 18th outside the U.S. in 2007?

Golf Digest ranked Royal Birkdale 18th among the best golf courses outside the United States in its 2007 rankings. The listing reflected the course’s international reputation as one of England’s premier links.

Royal Birkdale is a seaside course in Southport, Merseyside, where large coastal dunes shape the fairways and create a demanding but fair championship test. The club was founded in 1889, moved to its current site in 1894, and received royal status in 1951.

Its ranking is sometimes confused with tournament results because Birkdale has hosted many major events. The course staged its first Open Championship in 1954 and later hosted the Ryder Cup in 1965 and 1969. It has also held the Amateur Championship, Curtis Cup, Walker Cup and Senior Open Championship.

Golf Digest’s ranking concerned the quality and global standing of the course, not the winner of a particular tournament or a world ranking of individual golfers.