R&A Releases Open Tee Times Pairing Scheffler with DeChambeau at Royal Birkdale

The R&A released first- and second-round tee times Monday for the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler will play the opening two rounds with Bryson DeChambeau and Tyrrell Hatton. Rory McIlroy was paired with Xander Schauffele and Matt Fitzpatrick.

M. local time Thursday before moving to an afternoon wave Friday.m.

The split keeps the two headline groups on the course at different times. Scheffler enters as world No. 1 and defending Open champion after his 2025 victory at Royal Portrush. He missed the cut at last week’s Scottish Open, ending a streak of 78 consecutive made cuts.

DeChambeau missed the cut at the 2026 Masters, PGA Championship and U.S. Open. McIlroy, ranked world No. 2, completed the career Grand Slam with his 2025 Masters win. He finished tied for seventh at the Scottish Open and has made the cut in all 10 events played this season.

Fitzpatrick, tied for the PGA Tour lead with three wins in 2026, adds a home-nation element as an Englishman. Additional groups include Chris Gotterup, Sam Burns and Adam Scott in an afternoon wave, Brooks Koepka with Shane Lowry and Aaron Rai, and Jon Rahm alongside Tommy Fleetwood and Jordan Spieth.

Justin Thomas, Alex Noren and Jason Day tee off immediately before Scheffler’s group, while Cameron Young, Wyndham Clark and Ludvig Aberg form a late wave.

Clark won his second U.S. Open title earlier this year. Royal Birkdale is hosting the Open for the first time since Jordan Spieth’s 2017 victory there. Favorable weather is forecast for the opening rounds.