The Open Championship Kicks Off at Royal Birkdale with Defending Champion Scheffler in the Field

Golf’s final major of the year, The Open Championship, is underway at the historic Royal Birkdale Golf Club. Scottie Scheffler, the defending champion, leads a field of top golfers vying for the coveted Claret Jug.

This marks the 11th time Royal Birkdale has hosted The Open since 1954, with the most recent occasion being in 2017. The Southport, England links course has undergone renovations, including the addition of three new holes: the rebuilt seventh, and new 14th and 15th holes. The course measures 7,223 yards with a par of 70.

Por que importa

Scheffler comes into the tournament as the reigning champion. The year’s previous major winners include Rory McIlroy (Masters), Aaron Rai (PGA Championship), and Wyndham Clark (U.S. Open). All will be looking to add The Open to their major championship tally for 2026.

Key facts
| Fact | Detail |
| :——————- | :———————————————————————- |
| Tournament | The Open Championship |
| Venue | Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Southport, England |
| Defending Champion | Scottie Scheffler |
| First Round Start | 1:35 a.m. ET (US East Coast) / 6:35 a.m. BST (UK) |
| Broadcast (US) | Peacock (early wave), USA Network (late wave) |
| Broadcast (UK) | Sky Sports |

Contexto

The tournament’s opening round tee times began at 1:35 a.m. ET on the East Coast of the United States, corresponding to 6:35 a.m. BST in the UK. For viewers in the US, coverage is available on Peacock for the initial wave of play, with USA Network taking over for the later matches. In the UK, Sky Sports will broadcast the event.

Royal Birkdale’s location along the Irish Sea means coastal winds are expected to be a significant factor throughout the championship, potentially influencing players’ strategies and scores. The course’s rich history and challenging layout promise an exciting four days of competition.

The parity seen in recent Opens, with no golfer winning multiple times in the past 11 years, adds another layer of intrigue. Whether Scheffler can break this trend or if a new champion will emerge remains to be seen.

The Athletic will provide live coverage throughout the four days of the tournament. Readers are encouraged to share their expectations and insights by emailing [email protected].

Source: The Athletic – The Open 2026 live updates: Round 1 latest including today’s tee times, latest news (https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/live-blogs/the-open-2026-live-updates-round-one-leaderboard-times/5bJuC9X2WcpI/)

Datos clave