353: Open Championship Preview: Hole-by-Hole Breakdown + Heat Wave at Royal Birkdale
353: Open Championship Preview: Hole-by-Hole Breakdown + Heat Wave at Royal Birkdale  
Podcast: The Smylie Show
Published On: Wed Jul 15 2026
Description: Smylie Kaufman joins Charlie Hulme for a major championship preview edition of The Smylie Show, this time reporting on-site from Royal Birkdale ahead of the 154th Open Championship. Smylie's fresh off practice-round scouting with Scottie Scheffler, Sam Burns and Tommy Fleetwood, and the two break down how a UK heat wave has left the course baked out, brown, and playing firmer and faster than usual — with wind direction doing wild things to distance and club selection all week.Plus: a full hole-by-hole walkthrough of Royal Birkdale using the R&A's course guide and Padraig Harrington's notes on each hole, including the redesigned par-3s and the new 13th where Jordan Spieth made his iconic bogey in 2017. They close it out with contender picks for the week & dark horse names to watch out for.Before all that: Charlie cranks the office heat and a fan to "simulate" Birkdale conditions, and Smylie details a rough night of jet lag getting into town.Don't forget to like, comment, subscribe, and follow us on socials @thesmylieshow!Chapters0:00 Intro: heat wave banter & simulating Birkdale conditions2:23 Smylie's practice round report (Scheffler, Burns, Fleetwood)3:34 Course strategy: wind, firmness & club selection6:46 UK heat wave, dry conditions & Open Championship ice cream8:36 Hole 110:41 Hole 212:30 Hole 314:48 Hole 417:53 Hole 522:14 Hole 625:00 Hole 726:53 Hole 828:12 Hole 931:57 Hole 1033:52 Hole 1137:08 Hole 1239:18 Hole 1343:06 Hole 1447:15 Hole 1550:43 Hole 1654:14 Hole 1756:06 Hole 1857:28 Course wrap-up: what to watch for at Royal Birkdale59:41 Open Championship picks & dark horses1:09:56 Sign-off & what's coming this week#golf #theopen #royalbirkdale #smylieshow #smyliekaufman #golfrecap #pgatour