The 154th Open Championship begins Thursday morning at Royal Birkdale in England, marking the final major of the 2026 season. The championship, which serves as the host venue for the 11th time, is described as “firm, fast and fiery” as it prepares to test the field of 156 players. This group includes open qualifiers, past champions looking to recapture previous form, and the elite of the professional game, all competing for the Claret Jug, the title of Champion Golfer of the Year, and a substantial check.
Royal Birkdale Hosts the 154th Open Championship
Royal Birkdale has a reputation for crowning major names in golf. Past winners at the venue include Peter Thomson, who won twice, and Australian Ian Baker-Finch. The course has also seen victories from Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Johnny Miller, and Tom Watson. More recent history at the course includes wins by Mark O’Meara and Padraig Harrington, followed by Jordan Spieth’s victory in 2017, the last time the tournament was held at the venue. According to GolfChannel.com writer Ryan Lavner, the course’s history is significant, as “all but one of the past champs here already had a major on their CV.”
Peacock and USA Network Broadcast Round 1
For viewers in the United States, the tournament requires an early start. Peacock will kick off streaming coverage at 1:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, with featured group coverage available throughout the day. USA will provide television coverage from 4 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET, and that telecast can also be streamed via Golf Channel Mobile.
The field is headlined by Rory McIlroy, who is seeking his second Open title and seventh major championship. McIlroy, who last won the Claret Jug in 2014, has seen a resurgence in recent years with back-to-back victories at the Masters. He finished T7 last season, T6 in 2023, and solo third in 2022 at St. Andrews. He faces a challenge from a field that includes reigning Champion Golfer of the Year Scottie Scheffler.
Scottie Scheffler Remains a Focus for Analysts
Despite a missed cut in Scotland last week, Scheffler remains a focus for analysts. Rex Hoggard of GolfChannel.com noted that while the missed cut might cause concern, “that narrative ignores one very important fact — he’s still really good at golf.” Hoggard pointed out that Scheffler has recorded one victory, four runner-up finishes, and 14 top-25 showings this year, and he has never finished worse than 23rd at The Open. Brentley Romine added that Scheffler is “back to being the best ball-striker on the planet.”
Other players face different expectations. Ryan Lavner pointed to Matt Fitzpatrick as a contender, citing his current form and his status as a major winner. Conversely, analysts expressed doubt regarding Bryson DeChambeau and Ludvig Åberg. Hoggard noted that DeChambeau has three missed cuts in eight starts at The Open and is currently 0-for-3 in Grand Slam starts this year. Lavner suggested that Åberg may face a difficult week, noting that while traveling to Scotland, the player broke his driver and launch monitor, which led to his first missed cut since January.
Matthew Baldwin and Francesco Molinari Tee Off Early
The first round features several notable tee times, including the following: 1:35 a.m. ET for Matthew Baldwin, Thomas Detry, and James Nicholas; 2:19 a.m. ET for Robert MacIntyre, Rickie Fowler, and Alex Fitzpatrick; 2:41 a.m. ET for Sungjae Im, Daniel Brown, and Fifa Laopakdee (a); and 3:03 a.m. ET for Francesco Molinari, Tom McKibbin, and Lev Grinberg (a). The tournament will span four rounds, concluding on Sunday, when the winner will earn the title of Champion Golfer of the Year, a designation they will hold until July 2027.
Find more reporting in our Sports section.
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