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THE STUNNING SEVENTH GREEN AT ROYAL BIRKDALE DURING A PRACTICE ROUND. (PHOTO BY MICHAEL REAVES/GETTY IMAGES)

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THE PAR-3 SEVENTH HOLE AT ROYAL BIRKDALE DURING A PRACTICE ROUND. (PHOTO BY ANDREW REDINGTON/GETTY IMAGES)

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THE "WELCOME TO THE 154TH OPEN" MESSAGE GREETS PLAYERS AND FANS ON THE 18TH-HOLE SCOREBOARD DURING A PRACTICE ROUND AT ROYAL BIRKDALE. (PHOTO BY WARREN LITTLE/GETTY IMAGES)

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ROBERT MACINTYRE, RICKIE FOWLER AND ALEX FITZPATRICK WALK THE COURSE DURING THE FIRST ROUND OF THE 154TH OPEN AT ROYAL BIRKDALE. (PHOTO BY MICHAEL REAVES/GETTY IMAGES)

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RORY MCILROY, XANDER SCHAUFFELE AND MATT FITZPATRICK FINISH THEIR ROUND ON DAY ONE OF THE 154TH OPEN AT ROYAL BIRKDALE. (PHOTO BY MICHAEL REAVES/GETTY IMAGES)

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TYRRELL HATTON PUTTS ON THE 15TH GREEN DURING THE FIRST ROUND OF THE 154TH OPEN AT ROYAL BIRKDALE. (PHOTO BY ANDREW REDINGTON/GETTY IMAGES)

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FANS FOLLOW JASON DAY DURING THE FIRST ROUND OF THE 154TH OPEN AT ROYAL BIRKDALE. (PHOTO BY ANDREW REDINGTON/GETTY IMAGES)

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MATT FITZPATRICK PLAYS HIS APPROACH TO THE 10TH GREEN DURING THE FIRST ROUND OF THE 154TH OPEN AT ROYAL BIRKDALE. (PHOTO BY RICHARD HEATHCOTE/GETTY IMAGES)

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RORY MCILROY, XANDER SCHAUFFELE AND MATT FITZPATRICK FINISH THEIR ROUND ON DAY ONE OF THE 154TH OPEN AT ROYAL BIRKDALE. (PHOTO BY MICHAEL REAVES/GETTY IMAGES)

THE STUNNING SEVENTH GREEN AT ROYAL BIRKDALE DURING A PRACTICE ROUND. (PHOTO BY MICHAEL REAVES/GETTY IMAGES)

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THE PAR-3 SEVENTH HOLE AT ROYAL BIRKDALE DURING A PRACTICE ROUND. (PHOTO BY ANDREW REDINGTON/GETTY IMAGES)

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THE "WELCOME TO THE 154TH OPEN" MESSAGE GREETS PLAYERS AND FANS ON THE 18TH-HOLE SCOREBOARD DURING A PRACTICE ROUND AT ROYAL BIRKDALE. (PHOTO BY WARREN LITTLE/GETTY IMAGES)

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ROBERT MACINTYRE, RICKIE FOWLER AND ALEX FITZPATRICK WALK THE COURSE DURING THE FIRST ROUND OF THE 154TH OPEN AT ROYAL BIRKDALE. (PHOTO BY MICHAEL REAVES/GETTY IMAGES)

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RORY MCILROY, XANDER SCHAUFFELE AND MATT FITZPATRICK FINISH THEIR ROUND ON DAY ONE OF THE 154TH OPEN AT ROYAL BIRKDALE. (PHOTO BY MICHAEL REAVES/GETTY IMAGES)

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TYRRELL HATTON PUTTS ON THE 15TH GREEN DURING THE FIRST ROUND OF THE 154TH OPEN AT ROYAL BIRKDALE. (PHOTO BY ANDREW REDINGTON/GETTY IMAGES)

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FANS FOLLOW JASON DAY DURING THE FIRST ROUND OF THE 154TH OPEN AT ROYAL BIRKDALE. (PHOTO BY ANDREW REDINGTON/GETTY IMAGES)

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MATT FITZPATRICK PLAYS HIS APPROACH TO THE 10TH GREEN DURING THE FIRST ROUND OF THE 154TH OPEN AT ROYAL BIRKDALE. (PHOTO BY RICHARD HEATHCOTE/GETTY IMAGES)

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RORY MCILROY, XANDER SCHAUFFELE AND MATT FITZPATRICK FINISH THEIR ROUND ON DAY ONE OF THE 154TH OPEN AT ROYAL BIRKDALE. (PHOTO BY MICHAEL REAVES/GETTY IMAGES)

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Royal Birkdale roars: best snapshots from The Open

Experience the atmosphere of The 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale through this selection of epic Getty Images shots, capturing packed galleries, iconic holes, practice-round anticipation and the excitement as golf's oldest major gets underway.