Golf at The Open is often a battle against the elements — but fans heading to Royal Birkdale this week may need to pack sunscreen rather than waterproofs.
The 154th Open Championship tees off on Thursday, July 16, and the forecast for championship week is about as good as anyone could have hoped for on the Sefton coast in mid-July.
The R&A's own weather page for Royal Birkdale describes the week as set to be "very hot and sunny", with conditions in keeping with the prolonged heatwave that has gripped much of the UK in recent weeks.
Links golf purists will be licking their lips, especially given how dry the last couple of months have been, meaning fast, firm and burnt out fairways to test the world's best, while also praying for windy conditions of over 15mph to make the test even tougher.
Here is the day-by-day breakdown, based on Met Office data for Royal Birkdale:
Tuesday, July 14 (practice day)
A warm, sunny day.
Temperatures peak at 26°C with a low of 13°C overnight.
East-north-easterly winds at 10–16mph throughout the day, gusting to around 25mph by the afternoon.
The chance of rain remains below five per cent.
A high pollen alert is in force, so hayfever sufferers should come prepared.
Wednesday, July 15 (practice day/final preparations)
Temperatures rise to a high of 28°C with clear skies expected throughout.
East to east-north-easterly winds of around 11mph, gusting to 22mph.
Another virtually rain-free day with very good visibility.
Thursday, July 16 — Round One
The opening round looks settled.
The Met Office forecasts highs of 25°C — warm enough to feel more like the south of France than a links course on the West Lancashire coast.
Winds ease slightly compared with earlier in the week at around 7–11mph, gusting to around 20mph.
There is no meaningful chance of rain.
Pollen levels are forecast to be very high, so allergy sufferers should plan accordingly.
Friday, July 17 — Round Two
Still dry and sunny.
Temperatures of around 22°C are slightly cooler than earlier in the week.
Winds continue to ease to around 5–10mph with gusts of 19mph, potentially offering some of the calmest conditions of the week and the chance to go low.
A 10 per cent chance of rain around lunchtime is the only slight caveat, but is unlikely to affect play.
Saturday, July 18 — Round Three
Forecast confidence naturally decreases slightly heading into the weekend.
Temperatures fall to around 20–21°C, still comfortable for spectating, while a 10 per cent chance of rain persists throughout the day with gentle south-westerly winds of around 9mph.
It will feel cooler than earlier in the week, so a light layer would be wise.
Sunday, July 19 — Final Round
The final day follows a similar pattern to Saturday.
Highs of around 21°C with south-westerly winds at 8–9mph.
A 10 per cent chance of rain, very good visibility and a UV index of 7 mean sunscreen will still be worthwhile if you're spending the day on the course.
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What should I wear?
Based on the forecast, the R&A's advice is straightforward: dress for summer at the start of the week, but bring a light layer for the weekend.
Easterly winds can feel sharp even in warm temperatures on an exposed links course, so a windproof top is sensible regardless of the sunshine.
Crucially, sunscreen is a must all week, with UV levels reaching 7 (rated "High" by the Met Office) during peak afternoon hours, plus a hat and even sun sleeves if you have very fair skin.
Pollen counts are forecast to be high to very high throughout the week, so those with hay fever should come prepared.
The R&A updates its official weather forecast daily at TheOpen.com.
