The 2026 Open Championship is here, with Royal Birkdale hosting the final men’s major of the season, as the world’s best players battle for the Claret Jug.
Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood lead a stacked field, with plenty of storylines set to unfold over four days of links golf.
The Golfing Gazette has all the important information ahead of the Open Championship, including the tee times, how to watch, and the venue.
- READ MORE: Bryson DeChambeau has not done LIV Golf any favors after what he has done before The Open Championship
Is Scottie Scheffler more likely to win The Open or miss the cut at Royal Birkdale?
Scottie's worst Open finish is T23, but he did miss the cut at last week's Scottish Open
Where and when is the Open Championship?
The 2026 Open Championship will be held at Royal Birkdale from July 16-19. It is the 11th time the golf course has hosted the event.
Royal Birkdale
- Location: Southport, England
- Established: 1889
- Architect: George Lowe
- Par: 70
- Yardage: 7,223
Which players are in the Open Championship field?
Defending champion Scottie Scheffler arrives as the pre-tournament favourite, while Rory McIlroy will be looking to add another Open Championship to his major tally.
English hopes will likely rest with Tommy Fleetwood, who grew up just a short drive from Royal Birkdale, and former US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick.
Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa are also among the leading contenders in another stacked field.
Open Championship tee times
The tee times for the first two rounds of the Open Championship have been confirmed. Here are the featured groups:
Round One (ET)
- 4:58 am: Scottie Scheffler, Tyrrell Hatton, Bryson DeChambeau
- 5:09 am: Jordan Spieth, Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm
- 9:53 am: Shane Lowry, Aaron Rai, Brooks Koepka
- 10:04 am: Cameron Young, Wyndham Clark, Ludvig Aberg
- 10:15 am: Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Matt Fitzpatrick
Round Two (ET)
- 4:47 am: Shane Lowry, Aaron Rai, Brooks Koepka
- 4:58 am: Cameron Young, Wyndham Clark, Ludvig Aberg
- 5:09 am: Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Matt Fitzpatrick
- 10:04 am: Scottie Scheffler, Tyrrell Hatton, Bryson DeChambeau
- 10:15 am: Jordan Spieth, Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm
Find the full list of tee times on the PGA Tour website.
How to watch the Open Championship
Television coverage of the Open Championship will be split across Peacock, USA Network and NBC in the United States.
| Day | Channel (ET) |
| Thursday | Peacock (1:30 am – 4 am); USA (4 am – 3:30 pm) |
| Friday | Peacock (1:30 am – 4 am); USA (4 am – 3:30 am) |
| Saturday | USA (5 am – 7 am); NBC (7 am – 3 pm) |
| Sunday | USA (4 am – 7 am); NBC (7 am – 2 pm) |
How would you feel about a major taking place in Australia?
A major in Australia would be 🔥
What is the payout at the Open Championship?
The total prize money at this week’s Open Championship at Royal Birkdale is $17.75 million.
The winner will take home $3.2 million, while the runner-up and third-place finishers will earn $1.84 million and $1.18 million, respectively.
Open Championship expert picks
The Golfing Gazette experts have made their picks for this week’s Open Championship.
Charlie Walker: It’s written in the stars for Justin Rose. At the place where he became a household name all those years ago, he’ll finally claim the Claret Jug at a place that’s well suited to his iron play and putting. It’s his time.
James Shearman: Chris Gotterup is an obvious pick. He finished third in his Open Championship debut last year and has played really well in the last two Scottish Opens (1st in 2025 and T11 in 2026). Having won three PGA Tour events this year, Gotterup is undoubtedly one of the best players in the world.
Jordan Harris: It was a surprise that Matt Fitzpatrick did not have that extra gear at the Scottish Open, but I have a feeling he will find it at Royal Birkdale. He is the best iron player on the PGA Tour this year and is playing the golf of his life.
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