The Open 2026: Royal Birkdale history, contenders, and how to watch
Golf's oldest major returns to the Lancashire coast this month, with the Claret Jug up for grabs at a course that's hosted more Opens than almost anywhere else in England. Here's the history, who's fancied to win, and exactly how to watch — wherever you are.
Golf's oldest major, back at Royal Birkdale
The Open Championship is the oldest of golf's four majors by some distance, first played in 1860 at Prestwick and still the only major staged outside North America. This year's edition, the 154th, runs from Thursday 16 to Sunday 19 July at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport — the course's 11th time hosting, a total beaten only by St Andrews.
Birkdale last held The Open in 2017, when Jordan Spieth produced one of the great final-round recoveries to beat Matt Kuchar after a wayward tee shot on the 13th. The course has changed since then: the old par-3 14th is gone, the par-5 15th has shifted to become the new 14th, and a fresh par-3 15th has been added on the back nine.
This year's contenders
Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler share favouritism at the top of the market. McIlroy is chasing a second Claret Jug since his 2014 win, has course form at Birkdale too (tied fourth here in 2017), and arrives off the back of completing his own career Grand Slam at the 2025 Masters.
The story worth watching, though, is Tommy Fleetwood. He's from Southport — Royal Birkdale is literally his home course — and he's still chasing a first major after a runner-up finish at The Open in 2019. A home win here would be one of the sport's great local stories.
Scheffler returns as defending champion after his win at Royal Portrush last year, and a victory at Birkdale would make him the first player to defend the Claret Jug since Tiger Woods in 2005–06. All three of the names below sit inside the world's top rankings — a system that also decides who even qualifies for a major like this one.
With 156 players teeing off on Thursday, only the leading scorers make it through to the weekend — here's how the cut line at a major actually works if you're new to following golf.
Where to watch — UK
Sky Sports holds exclusive live UK coverage of The Open. Thursday and Friday's play starts at 6.30am on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event; Saturday's coverage begins at 9am (Main Event from 11am) and Sunday's final round starts at 8am (Main Event from 10am). Non-Sky viewers can follow via a NOW Day or Month pass without a full subscription.
If you don't fancy paying for Sky, BBC Radio 5 Live carries live commentary throughout the week — a genuinely free way to follow every shot, even without the pictures.
Track every round on your schedule — open Watchsport
Open Watchsport →Where to watch — USA
NBC and USA Network share the US broadcast, with Golf Channel providing build-up coverage from the Monday before, and Peacock streaming every round in full — including featured group and hole-by-hole feeds for viewers who want more than the main broadcast. As with the UK, Thursday and Friday carry the most coverage given the size of the field before Saturday's cut.