Matthew Baldwin, a Royal Birkdale member from Southport, tees off to begin the 154th Open at Royal Birkdale. Multiple reports say he starts the tournament on his home course after receiving the ceremonial honor, with play getting under way early in the morning under near-ideal conditions. The course is described as sunlit, with a gentle easterly breeze and generally favorable scoring conditions. Baldwin, 40, is making his first major appearance since 2019. He earns his place in the field by coming through final qualifying. He tees off at 6:35 a.m. local time (0535 GMT) and is met with a strong crowd response as he goes out first at the start of the event. The coverage emphasizes the combination of local representation and the calm weather at the start of The Open, while focusing on Baldwin’s return to major championship competition after qualifying for this year’s tournament.