For the first time since 2017, Royal Birkdale hosted the Open Championship and brought together the best golfers from across the globe. Mersey Sport Live’s Alfie Bugg was there across the four days and found out what the players thought of the historic venue and Merseyside.
Over this past week the eyes of the golfing world have settled on Southport as the sport’s oldest and most prestigious major championship came to Royal Birkdale.
Four days of intrigue, calamity, history and suspense followed as a new king was crowned Champion Golfer of the Year, and Merseyside was pinned firmly on the map as the golfing capital of Britain.
Some of the sport’s biggest names took to the links and went on record to show their appreciation to the region and its people.
Nobody was a bigger supporter of Merseyside and its people than Southport local Tommy Fleetwood. His consistent rounds of 69,67,69, and 68 saw him finish in a tie for fourth as he completed his second home Open.
Reflecting on the week, Fleetwood could not have been prouder of the place he calls home.
“It was just very, very special”, he said. “That was beyond the stuff I’ve dreamt of.
“The crowds made it the most special weekend ever for me, and I can’t thank them enough.”
European Ryder Cup teammate Rory McIlroy also had high praise for the Birkdale support.
The Grand Slam winner, who won the 2014 Open at Royal Liverpool but finished in a tie for 40th this year, can’t wait for the championship to return to the area.
He said: “It was amazing. I think there’s a reason that The Open keeps coming back to the northwest.
“Obviously Royal Liverpool a couple years ago, here, and just announced Lytham again. The crowd show up, and they show up in their big numbers.
“It’s been an amazing atmosphere this week”.
Yorkshireman Alex Fitzpatrick competed in his second-ever Open Championship this week and has fond memories of Royal Liverpool in 2023.
“It was super special to play in The Open Championship,” he said. “It was something I dreamed of as a kid.”
A disappointing weekend saw him drop out of contention early in the final round, but the 27-year-old still has positives to take away from Birkdale.
He said: “I would have liked to have played better, but it is what it is. The fans were great. The first two days were really cool playing with Rickie Fowler and Bobby Mac.
“It’s nice playing in front of a home crowd.”
Fellow Englishman Marco Penge, on the other hand, rallied on Championship Sunday to record his best-ever major finish at T18. Living just an hour away from the links course, the PGA Tour player continued to praise the people supporting him.
He said: “A lot of the locals from my area have come over, and I think the support you get being an English player is just unbelievable, and even the support for the other guys that aren’t from the UK.
“I’ve been used to the U.S. crowds the last kind of six months, and it’s a lot nicer playing in front of my home crowd than over there.
“Yeah, they’re the best.”
Featured image by Stuart Franklin/R&A/R&A via Getty Images
