​Royal Birkdale Golf Club will once again host The Open Championship, with Scottie Scheffler back in the field to defend his title. The 156-player field will include 41 competitors making their Open debut and 15 others who already own a Claret Jug. This marks Royal Birkdale’s 11th hosting of the tournament, the first time since 2017, and it remains one short of the all-time hosting record held by St. Andrews in Scotland.
Scheffler, currently the world’s top-ranked player, eyes a rare back-to-back win at The Open. He would become the first player to defend the title since Padraig Harrington accomplished the feat at Royal Birkdale in 2008, following his championship at Carnoustie the year prior.
As for the schedule, here is the complete lineup for the 154th Open Championship. The tournament’s coverage can be streamed via GolfChannel.com, the Golf Channel mobile app, and Peacock, in addition to traditional television broadcasts. All times listed are Eastern.
– February 8: Chris Gotterup raises the trophy after winning the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale.
– Coverage: Peacock streams the Open Championship from 1:30 to 4:00 a.m., followed by USA Network from 4:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Live From The Open from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. The schedule repeats with subsequent blocks: 1:30–4:00 a.m. Peacock, 4:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. USA Network, 3:30–5:30 p.m. Live From The Open, and so on.
– Additional channels: NBC/Peacock broadcasts from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with Live From The Open airing from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The final blocks include USA Network and NBC/Peacock coverage, followed by Live From The Open.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY. For 2026, The Open’s schedule has been updated to enhance search engine visibility, ensuring fans can easily locate essential dates, broadcast windows, and channel assignments across the tournament week. The Open Championship promises to deliver the drama, skill, and enduring appeal that has long defined golf’s oldest major, with Royal Birkdale providing a challenging and storied backdrop for the world’s best players. As the field arrives, anticipation builds for who will seize the Claret Jug, who might create fresh headlines with debut appearances, and whether Scheffler can etch his name into the record books by joining the select group of back-to-back champions.