British Open Kicks Off at Royal Birkdale

Opening Day at Royal Birkdale

The 2026 major season wraps up this week as the British Open tees off at Royal Birkdale on Thursday. Golfers have been on a roughly 100‑day sprint, and now there’s just nine months until the next major cycle begins. Fans are gearing up for what may be the final chance at a major title this year.

Top‑ranked Scottie Scheffler enters as the betting favorite, despite a tough stretch that includes a missed cut at the Genesis Scottish Open. It’s his first missed cut since 2022, and the news adds intrigue to the field. Rory McIlroy, another former champion, is riding a top‑10 finish in Scotland and will be looking to pick up momentum. The duo’s early vibes at Birkdale have been oddly subdued, with reports of them discussing their “inevitable demise,” adding a quirky subplot to the competition.

Key Players and Their Form

Scheffler and McIlroy will start together in the early morning wave, playing off at around 5 a.m. ET with Bryson DeChambeau joining the group. McIlroy is paired with Xander Schauffele and Matt Fitzpatrick in the afternoon slot at 10:15 a.m. ET. Both players bring recent experience—Scheffler’s recent cut miss and McIlroy’s solid finish in Scotland—making their early rounds a focal point of the day.

LIV Golf’s Late‑Season Battle

Fifteen players affiliated with LIV Golf are in the field, with Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau representing the most recognizable names of that venture. Both are set to tee off in the early morning brackets, and a strong performance from either could be a lifeline for LIV’s 2026 campaign. A win or even a solid run for the Claret Jug would send a powerful signal about the league’s viability. The presence of these players adds extra drama to an already charged week on the PGA Tour.

Tee Times for Thursday

• 2:19 a.m.: Robert MacIntyre, Rickie Fowler, Alex Fitzpatrick
• 4:36 a.m.: Russell Henley, Justin Rose, Viktor Hovland
• 4:47 a.m.: Justin Thomas, Alex Noren, Jason Day
• 4:58 a.m.: Scottie Scheffler, Tyrrell Hatton, Bryson DeChambeau
• 5:09 a.m.: Jordan Spieth, Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm
• 9:31 a.m.: Chris Gotterup, Sam Burns, Adam Scott
• 9:42 a.m.: Collin Morikawa, JJ Spaun, Nicolai Hojgaard
• 9:53 a.m.: Shane Lowry, Aaron Rai, Brooks Koepka
• 10:04 a.m.: Cameron Young, Wyndham Clark, Ludvig Aberg
• 10:15 a.m.: Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Matt Fitzpatrick

For the full list of tee times, click here.

How to Watch

Thursday’s coverage starts at 1:30 a.m. ET on Peacock, shifting to USA Network for the remainder of the day’s play. Fans can also follow live updates and highlights on Yahoo Sports throughout the round. Set your clocks for the early wave, as the action gets underway before most North American viewers wake up.

Live Blog Update

It’s 1:30 a.m. on the east coast of the United States. Naturally, that means it’s time to watch some golf. The British Open is underway with Matthew Baldwin, Thomas Detry and James Nicholas set to tee off at Royal Birkdale. The race for the Claret Jug is officially on.