R&A announces 2026 Open Championship tee times as Scheffler and McIlroy head Royal Birkdale field
The governing body has released the complete schedule for the final major of the 2026 season, with play commencing Thursday morning at the English venue.
The R&A has released the complete schedule and groupings for the first round of the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. The 156-man field begins play on Thursday, with the tournament serving as the final major of the 2026 golf season. The event concludes a nine-month cycle of major championships, marking the end of the calendar year’s premier golfing contests.
The first notable group to tee off is scheduled for 2:19 a.m. ET, featuring Robert MacIntyre, Rickie Fowler, and Alex Fitzpatrick. The early morning marquee group tees off at 4:58 a.m. ET, comprising reigning champion Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau, and Tyrrell Hatton. Another prominent early group includes Jordan Spieth, Tommy Fleetwood, and Jon Rahm at 5:09 a.m. ET.
The field includes 15 members of LIV Golf, such as Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau. CBS Sports experts have released predictions, narrowing the field to nine golfers most likely to win the Claret Jug. The tournament serves as the 156th edition of the competition, hosted at Royal Birkdale in England.
Coverage for US audiences is available via live streaming on Peacock starting at 1:30 a.m. ET and television coverage on USA Network. The late wave features marquee groups including Cameron Young, Wyndham Clark, and Ludvig Åberg at 10:04 a.m. ET, followed by Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, and Matt Fitzpatrick at 10:15 a.m. ET.
The complete list of pairings confirms the structure of the opening round, with the earliest starters including Matthew Baldwin, Thomas Detry, and James Nicholas at 1:35 a.m. ET. The schedule ensures that the majority of the top-ranked players are distributed across the early and late waves to maximise viewership and competitive balance.
