Weather conditions often tell the story of links golf tournaments as much as the course or the golfers do. This week's British Open weather forecast expects a hot, mostly dry championship week with temperatures reaching the low 80s, winds in the 5-15 mph range, and limited rainfall.
And while that may make things easier for tournament organizers, the firm and fast-running fairways and greens at Royal Birkdale will provide a stiff test for this 156-golfer field.
We give you all the information you'll need before making your British Open predictions below.
British Open forecast overview
Weather forecast via AccuWeather.
Thursday, July 16: Round 1
- ☀️ Sunny and warm
- 🔥 High of 82°F
- ☁️ Minimal chance of rain
- 💨 8-14 mph winds with gusts up to 20 mph
Friday, July 17: Round 2
- ⛅ Cooler temperatures
- 🔥 High of 77°F
- ☁️ Slight chance of showers
- 💨 8-14 mph North winds
Saturday, July 18: Round 3
- ☁️ Cloudy skies
- 🔥 High of 75°F
- ☔ 20% chance of showers
- 💨 8-14 mph North winds
Sunday, July 19: Final Round
- ☁️ Cloudy skies
- 🔥 High of 73°F
- ☁️ Slight chance of showers
- 💨 8-14 mph Northwest winds
Why British Open weather conditions matter
Tough weather makes any golf course more challenging, but that's especially true for links-style courses like Royal Birkdale that rely on coastal winds to keep scoring down.
Winds staying relatively tame this week make scoring easier, but limited rain and hotter temperatures will have an inverse effect. A sunny Round 1 with a high of 82°F will jumpstart the drying-out process at Royal Birkdale, and if rain never comes, quality scoring chances will be harder to come by as the week goes on.
With the ball rolling out on almost every shot, fairways and greens will be harder to hit, giving an edge to the elite ball-strikers like Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Viktor Hovland, and Collin Morikawa. It also forces a more cautious approach on the greens to avoid costly three-putts.
British Open winning score odds
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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