Five of Birkdale’s Best

Royal Birkdale differs slightly from many of Britain’s great links courses in that its holes run between the sand dunes, not over them. The fairways are therefore relatively flat, meaning unanticipated kicks from the short grass into the rough (fairly thick this year due to 50% more rain in the last two months than is usual) will be few. But this is a major championship, of course, so although it measures only 7,180 yards from the back tees, Birkdale will be anything but easy. And if the wind blows anywhere near as strongly as it did during 1998’s third round, when Tiger Woods ballooned to a seven-over 77, the following five holes will play well above their par, and 280 — even par for 72 holes — could be good enough to win.