British Open 2026: 18 enjoyable behind-the-scenes moments from Sunday at Royal Birkdale | Golf Information and Tour Information

The Open Championship has a number of traditions. One that has change into a favourite of mine is “Inside The Open”, a behind-the-scenes video collection that runs every day of match week. Posted to the R&A’s YouTube channel, the collection has no host or commentary, letting the visuals and entry do the speaking. It takes you behind the scenes, exhibiting a variety of attention-grabbing and emotional moments that don’t even make it to the tv broadcast.

I watch it anxiously every night of Open week. Here’s the 18 greatest moments from the ultimate episode on Sunday evening.

Not certain how typically Rory McIlroy misplaces his Trackman however there’s no likelihood of complicated gadgets with anybody else within the area at The Open. The Masters champion has a nametag on it, from Augusta National in fact, along with his identify “Rors” on it.

If you ever go to knowledgeable occasion and spend time on the short-game space, you’ll little question be amazed on the management the very best participant’s on this planet have with a wedge of their palms. That explains this second. Jon Rahm warming up for his last spherical along with his airpods in chipping balls over Kazuma Kobori within the bunker. While the Spaniard is locked in, Kobori appears much less certain this can be a good thought.

Spoiler: Rahm does hit the shot and, in fact, flies it over the Kiwi and onto the inexperienced.

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire was on-site throughout Sunday’s last spherical. In addition to creating a few TV appearances and watching Tommy Fleetwood, the 33-year-old acquired a tour of the gamers’ clubhouse at Royal Birkdale. In this second, he takes word of the very fact the gamers have their very own barber store inside the locker room.

I believe the very best moments in “Inside The Open” are the intimate ones. This is a good instance. Just earlier than he walks out in entrance of the gang to start getting ready for the ultimate spherical of The Open, in his hometown, Fleetwood walks arm-in-arm along with his brief recreation coach, Graham Walker.

It was undoubtedly a memorable and emotional week for Fleetwood. The Englishman grew up steps from Royal Birkdale and was a transparent crowd favorite all week. Dealing with that stage of help, strain and expectation isn’t straightforward. Fleetwood spoke to the media about it a number of occasions. In Sunday’s “Inside The Open”, a digicam picked up this second as he sat along with his ideas moments earlier than strolling by way of the tunnel to the primary tee.

Seconds earlier than being introduced onto the primary tee, Fleetwood stood on the bridge from the clubhouse, swinging a membership with the intention to get a few final minute swings and feels. His caddie, Iain Finnis, sat looking to the primary tee earlier than the pair acquired their last spherical underway.

One of the primary occasions we see eventual winner Ryan Fox in Sunday’s episode is on the primary tee. One of the nice elements of the collection is the thought-about and creative angles they can seize. Here, Fox tees off within the last group as his “fox” headcover rests on his bag. Tip of the cap to the cameraman right here.

I adopted Cameron Young all through his last spherical. It was very almost the most effective rounds in Open historical past. On a difficult day, he was seven underneath par for his spherical standing on the 18th tee tied for the lead. He would go on to bogey the outlet and this was the second he walked off the inexperienced and turned to take one final look.

Was he considering what may have been? Was he simply taking within the last second of one other shut name at a significant championship? We’ll by no means know, however seeing the second stay after which once more within the “Inside The Open” video actually caught with me.

After signing his card and speaking to media, Young returned to the gamers’ clubhouse and commenced the ready recreation to see if his rating can be ok for a playoff. Here, cameras picked him up watching the protection within the firm of Mike Thomas, Justin’s father. While Thomas senior loved a pint, Young was hydrating with water solely as he waited almost two hours for the ultimate teams to complete.

The driving vary at The Open is likely one of the greatest spots to see gamers hit and work together. Thousands of followers lined this vary all through the week to see gamers put together. However, when Young returned late on Sunday evening, getting ready in case there was a playoffp, there wasn’t a single fan there. Again, an incredible second captured by the R&A’s video crew.

Fox’s successful birdie will go down as the most effective last holes in main historical past. From 12 ft, he rolled in simply the fifth birdie of the day on the difficult closing gap, successful The Open by one shot. While the published cameras picked up a number of angles of the putt, I liked this one captured over the shoulders of the photographers and with hundreds of followers within the background becoming a member of in Fox’s celebration.

An Open Championship is a memorable second for any participant. Also, for his or her caddie. Dean Smith has been on Fox’s bag for 5 years and shared in lots of highs and lows with the 39-year-old. After leaving the scoring space on Sunday, Fox met with household and his caddie as soon as once more. Smith patting Fox on the again aspect and saying to him “what have you done?” A terrific second, to which Fox replied “I don’t know Deano.”

When a participant wins a significant, there’s so much they need to do within the aftermath: trophy shows, scoring protocol, tv interviews, questions from media, sponsor meet and greets. At this second, R&A employees greet Fox earlier than going by way of the in depth strategy of what comes from successful an Open.

Fox explains to at least one official that the second hasn’t sunk in but. The official places his hand on Fox’s shoulder and says “I think it might sink in after a couple of glasses of red.” Fox places his head in his hand and jokes “a couple of bottles maybe!” Then including “can’t think of a better thing to drink it out of either,” referring in fact to the claret jug.

After getting the claret jug in his palms for the primary time, Fox walked off the 18th inexperienced and was met by his crew. His caddie locked eyes on the trophy and asks Fox “Can I touch it?” Foxobliges, and the pair share in a second of seeing their week etched on the sport’s most coveted silverware.

As Fox is led by way of the procession of obligations after his successful birdie, there are lots of people ready to congratulate him. In this second, Fox almost walked proper previous two of the R&A’s media crew that labored with Fox all through the week, who have been ready by the media middle. Foxeventually notices them and gave every a hug.

Soon after leaving the 18th inexperienced ceremony, Fox is escorted to the participant’s clubhouse by R&A CEO Mark Darbon. He’s led upstairs to the restaurant space the place he’s greeted by employees, fellow gamers, caddies, managers and a ready standing with a tray of two drinks: a beer for his caddie and a well-earned glass of purple wine for the Champion Golfer of the Year.

One of the gamers ready for Fox was his pal, Min Woo Lee. Upon seeing that Fox is holding each a glass of purple wine and the claret jug, the Australian says “you’ve got to drink it out of it,” pointing on the trophy. Fox would later admit to Golf Channel that he did fill it up right here however needed to pour out the purple wine earlier than taking extra official images with the claret jug.

Another admirable side of The Open Championship is how a lot they worth and take care of caddies. They have their very own space of the gamers’ clubhouse, physios, rehab and rest areas. In this second, R&A captain Dennis Watson presents Smith with the precise pin flag from the 18th gap.

You can watch the full episode of “Inside The Open” here on the R&A’s YouTube web page. There are seven episodes in whole from Royal Birkdale. I completely advocate watching all of them.