Sam Burns Holds Lead as Open Championship Final Round Kicks Off

The 2026 PGA Tour season is wrapping up a hectic weekend on Sunday, July 19, with the final round of The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England. Sam Burns sits comfortably atop the leaderboard at 10‑under, while Ryan Fox and Si Woo Kim share second place a couple of strokes behind at 8‑under. The champion will walk away with a $3.2 million prize, part of a record $17.75 million total purse for the event.

Bryson DeChambeau adds drama to the mix after a controversial two‑stroke penalty left him sitting at 6‑under. He’ll need to outplay the leaders to close the gap, and his post‑penalty behavior has become a hot topic since Rory McIlroy called out his “performative” reaction to the ruling.

Sunday’s action begins at 4:00 a.m. ET on USA Network, before moving to NBC for the latter portion of the round. Fans can stream the coverage live on Peacock. The field will tee off in 44 groups, with times ranging from 2:40 a.m. to 9:20 a.m. ET.

Key Contenders and Their Strokes

Sam Burns leads the pack at 10‑under after three rounds, setting the early tempo. Ryan Fox and Si Woo Kim sit tied for second at 8‑under, while Bryson DeChambeau hovers three strokes back at 6‑under following the penalty controversy. The prize for the champion is $3.2 million, making this a record‑breaking payout in the Open’s history.

Bryson DeChambeau’s Penalty Fallout

DeChambeau’s penalty has become a focal point of the tournament. After a disputed ruling, he fell from contention and now faces an uphill climb. His interactions with a rules official have drawn criticism, notably from Rory McIlroy, who labeled the reaction “performative.” The drama adds an unexpected layer to what was shaping up as a straightforward final round.

Final Round Tee Times and Pairings

• 2:40 a.m. – Jesper Svensson & Keegan Bradley
• 2:50 a.m. – Matthew Southgate & Laurie Canter
• 3:00 a.m. – Jack McDonald & Ben Griffin
• 3:10 a.m. – Peter Uihlein & Kazuki Higa
• 3:20 a.m. – Sepp Straka & John Parry
• 3:30 a.m. – Andy Sullivan & Aldrich Potgieter
• 3:40 a.m. – Marcus Plunkett & Ryo Hisatsune
• 3:50 a.m. – Min Woo Lee & Tyrrell Hatton
• 4:00 a.m. – Nick Taylor & MJ Daffue
• 4:15 a.m. – Eugenio Chacarra & Rickie Fowler
• 4:25 a.m. – Naoyuki Kataoka & Thomas Detry
• 4:35 a.m. – J.J. Spaun & Victor Perez
• 4:45 a.m. – Chris Gotterup & Patrick Cantlay
• 4:55 a.m. – Michael Brennan & Kurt Kitayama
• 5:05 a.m. – Brooks Koepka & Bud Cauley
• 5:15 a.m. – Alex Fitzpatrick & Pierceson Coody
• 5:25 a.m. – Corey Conners & Johnny Keefer
• 5:40 a.m. – Patrick Reed & Adam Scott
• 5:50 a.m. – Michael Thorbjornsen & Shaun Norris
• 6:00 a.m. – Marco Penge & Alex Noren
• 6:10 a.m. – Russell Henley & Matt Wallace
• 6:20 a.m. – Francesco Molinari & Collin Morikawa
• 6:30 a.m. – Jordan Smith & Rory McIlroy
• 6:40 a.m. – Hennie du Plessis & Sahith Theegala
• 6:50 a.m. – Casey Jarvis & Kristoffer Reitan
• 7:05 a.m. – Cameron Young & Robert MacIntyre
• 7:15 a.m. – Nico Echavarria & Sungjae Im
• 7:25 a.m. – Jacob Bridgeman & Justin Thomas
• 7:35 a.m. – Max Homa & Alex Smalley
• 7:45 a.m. – Jose Luis Ballester Barrio & Scottie Scheffler
• 7:55 a.m. – Jon Rahm & Shane Lowry
• 8:05 a.m. – Cameron John & Daniel Brown
• 8:15 a.m. – Hideki Matsuyama & Kazuma Kobori
• 8:30 a.m. – Eric Cole & Xander Schauffele
• 8:40 a.m. – Tommy Fleetwood & Rasmus Neergaard‑Petersen
• 8:50 a.m. – Jackson Suber & Bryson DeChambeau
• 9:00 a.m. – Ludvig Åberg & Lucas Herbert
• 9:10 a.m. – Ryan Gerard & Si Woo Kim
• 9:20 a.m. – Ryan Fox & Sam Burns

The final round promises high‑stakes golf as Sam Burns tries to seal his first major title, while a field of stars including Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler, and a returning Bryson DeChambeau look to make a late charge. With a record purse on the line and worldwide eyes on Royal Birkdale, July 19 could become a defining moment for the 2026 PGA Tour season.