THIS year, for the first time in a decade, the Open Golf Championship was held in Royal Birkdale. The last time the Open was staged on this magnificent course was in 1998, when American Mark O’Meara triumphed. Royal Birkdale, situated on the southern edge of Southport, Merseyside, is one of the finest golf clubs in Britain and one of the best in the world. As well as being the host for eight previous Opens, it has been the setting for two Ryder Cups, the Walker and Curtis Cups and the Women‘s British Open.