Open Championship Returns to Royal Birkdale for 154th Edition

The 154th Open Championship will be played at Royal Birkdale starting July 16. Scottie Scheffler won the 2025 Open at Royal Portrush by four strokes over Harris English. Rory McIlroy enters the week seeking a second major title of the year. Local favorite Tommy Fleetwood is positioned as the first English winner since 1992.

Schedule and Broadcast First-round coverage begins at 1:30 a.m. ET on July 16.

Featured groups will be shown on the same platform from 4:03 a.m. ET onward. A par-3 channel will also be available starting at 3 a.m. ET. Second-round coverage follows the same early-morning pattern on July 17. Third-round play is scheduled for 5 a.m. ET on July 16 on the primary broadcast network.

The last time the Open was held at Royal Birkdale, the winner lifted the Claret Jug on the 18th green. Organizers have released pre-tournament rankings of the top 25 favorites for this edition. Last-chance qualifying events will determine the final field before the first round. "The Claret Jug on the 18th green at Royal Birkdale." — Oisin Keniry/R&A/R&A via Getty Images, July 13, 2026 (ESPN)