​It’s time for the season’s final major championship: The British Open Championship, also known as The Open, is this week at Royal Birkdale in England, where the iconic Claret Jug awaits a new owner. After ending his cut streak last week at The Renaissance Club, top-ranked Scottie Scheffler will attempt to defend his title from last year. He sits among the favorites, joined by Rory McIlroy, who is coming off a top-10 finish at the Scottish Open but hasn’t won The Open in more than a decade. Yet, as always with links golf, the competition can unfold in surprising ways, and the Claret Jug remains within reach for any competitor this week.
Here is everything you need to know about The British Open Championship. This season’s Open is being played at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, Merseyside. The course sits along the coast about 17 miles north of Liverpool, offering the distinctive seaside challenge that defines links golf. Royal Birkdale last hosted The Open in 2017, when Jordan Spieth captured the trophy. The first round is scheduled to begin on Thursday, July 16, with tee times for Round 1 to be released in the coming days.
Future Open venues are already planned: The event will return to The Old Course at St. Andrews in 2027, followed by a stop at Royal Lytham & St. Annes in 2028. The R&A uses a nine-course rotation for The Open. In addition to Royal Birkdale, the rotation includes Royal Portrush, Royal Troon, Royal St. George’s, Muirfield, Carnoustie, and Royal Liverpool, among others.
Scottie Scheffler claimed his first British Open title last season at Royal Portrush in dominant fashion, finishing 17-under for the week and winning by four strokes ahead of Harris English and the rest of the field. The victory marked the fourth major championship win of Scheffler’s career and his second of 2025. Looking back at recent winners, the last decade has produced a wide range of champions: 2025 Scottie Scheffler, 2024 Xander Schauffele, 2023 Brian Harman, 2022 Cameron Smith, 2021 Collin Morikawa, 2020 was not contested, 2019 Shane Lowry, 2018 Francesco Molinari, 2017 Jordan Spieth, 2016 Henrik Stenson, and 2015 Zach Johnson.
As of Sunday night, Scheffler and McIlroy are among the favorites heading into this week’s Open. According to BetMGM, the current odds are: Scheffler at +750, McIlroy at +800, Matt Fitzpatrick and Tommy Fleetwood at +1800, Jon Rahm at +2200, and Xander Schauffele at +2500, among others.
The British Open will be televised across NBC, USA Network, and Peacock this week. All times listed are in Eastern Time. For Thursday, July 16, Peacock will carry coverage from 1:30 a.m. to 4:00 a.m., followed by USA Network from 4:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. On Friday, July 17, Peacock again shows 1:30 a.m. to 4:00 a.m., with USA Network from 4:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, July 18, sees USA Network coverage from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m., and NBC/Peacock from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Finally, Sunday, July 19, includes USA Network from 4:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. and NBC/Peacock from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Open purse and payouts are to be announced later in the week, continuing the tournament’s tradition of offering a substantial prize.