​If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.The Open Championship (also known as the British Open) returns for its 154th year on Thursday, July 16, 2026. Considered the oldest major in golf, the tournament will take place at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, Merseyside, England.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMore from Rolling StoneAmazon Alternatives: 22 Places to Shop Online Other Than Amazon’KPop Demon Hunters’ Takes on Blind Box Trend With New Mystery ‘Ramen Cups’If you want to watch the event, which runs through Sunday, July 19, 2026, coverage begins on USA Network at 4 a.m. ET. Fans with Peacock can start watching even earlier, with streaming coverage beginning at 1:30 a.m. ET. Once the weekend arrives, all coverage after 7 a.m. ET will air on NBC.Channel: Peacock (starting at 1:30 a.m. EST), USA Network (starting at 4 a.m. EST), NBC (on Saturday and Sunday starting at 7 a.m. EST)Date, time: Thursday, July 16 to Sunday, July 19, 2026 starting at 1:30 a.m. ESTStream: DirecTV, Sling, Hulu + Live TV, Peacock watch for free For fans without a cable subscription, you can tune in for free with a trial to either DirecTV or Hulu + Live TV to see your favorite groups. If you’d rather avoid signing up for free trials, more permanent options like Sling or Peacock offer affordable streaming packages.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSome of the biggest names in golf will be competing, with Scottie Scheffler returning to defend his title. Scheffler is scheduled to tee off at 4:58 a.m. ET. He recently made headlines after missing the cut at the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, according to ESPN — the first time the American has failed to make a cut in four years.Other notable players include Rory McIlroy, who won the 2026 Masters Tournament, along with Matt Fitzpatrick, Tommy Fleetwood (a local favorite), and Jon Rahm. The golfers could benefit from favorable weather this week, as forecasts for the tournament call for relatively calm conditions compared to the usual English wind and rain.If you’re looking to watch The Open Championship 2026 without paying, the best option is a free trial to DirecTV. It’s consistently one of our editors’ top picks and provides enough trial time to cover the entire tournament. Hulu + Live TV is another solid choice, though its free trial is shorter. For a longer-term streaming solution, Sling and Peacock both offer competitive packages that make it easy to watch The Open and other major sporting events year-round.The Open Championship 2026: Free Live Stream Guide, How to Watch OnlineEDITOR’S PICKAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement get free trial ➤ $44.99/month (best plan)➤ Five-day free trial➤ Up to 185+ channelsStreaming The Open Championship 2026 is easy through DirecTV, which carries USA Network and NBC across several plan options, including its MySports a