Open Championship Round 3 Schedule Released as Herbert Leads at Royal Birkdale
Official pairings confirm Bryson DeChambeau’s penalty-adjusted start and highlight the challenge facing Lucas Herbert as he seeks to maintain his two-stroke advantage.
The third round of the 2026 Open Championship is set for Saturday at Royal Birkdale, marking the pivotal Moving Day of the season’s final major. Official tee times and pairings have been released, outlining a schedule that runs from 4:10 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. ET, with significant attention focused on the leaders and those navigating penalties.
Lucas Herbert enters the weekend with a two-stroke advantage after shooting a second-round 62 on Friday. He is scheduled to close out the day in the final pairing alongside Jackson Suber, starting at 10:50 a.m. ET. Despite his current position, the pairing is described as inexperienced, and historical performance data suggests caution; Herbert’s best major finish is a tied 13th, and his highest Open placement was a tied 15th in 2022.
World number one Scottie Scheffler will begin his round at 9:45 a.m. ET alongside 2018 Open champion Francesco Molinari. They are scheduled to tee off just 10 minutes after Jon Rahm and local favourite Tommy Fleetwood, who kick off their day at 9:35 a.m. ET.
Rory McIlroy, who recovered from a difficult first round to return to red figures on Friday, will start at 7:20 a.m. ET with Jacob Bridgeman. His earlier start reflects his need to gain ground after a lacklustre opening round.
A key storyline involves Bryson DeChambeau, who is scheduled to play at 10:30 a.m. ET with Sam Burns. DeChambeau was assessed a two-stroke penalty in Round 2 for improving his lie and swing path on the par-4 5th hole, which moved him out of the final group. Uncertainty remains regarding his participation, as he had previously indicated he might not play.
The full schedule sees a mix of established stars and rising players across the day. Notable early groups include Jack McDonald and Russell Henley at 4:10 a.m., while Brooks Koepka is paired with Peter Uihlein at 4:50 a.m. The middle of the card features high-profile matchups such as Justin Thomas and Hideki Matsuyama at 6:45 a.m., and Collin Morikawa with Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen at 8:10 a.m.
As the field trickles onto the course, the focus will remain on whether Herbert can sustain his lead and how DeChambeau responds to his penalty. The day’s outcomes will likely set the tone for the final round, with betting models already advising against backing Herbert despite his current standing.
