The 154th Open Championship is officially underway at the historic Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England. With a $17.75 million total prize purse on the line, the world’s best golfers are battling for a $3.2 million winner’s share and the iconic Claret Jug. Action begins early Thursday morning, with the first group teeing off at 1:35 a.m. ET.
For fans watching in the United States, keeping up with the transatlantic schedule requires setting a few alarms. NBC holds the exclusive broadcast rights for the weekend. Television coverage splits between the USA Network and NBC, but early risers will need to log online. To catch the first drives, fans must turn to a comprehensive TV schedule covering daily streaming details, full Round 1 tee times, and the official purse breakdown.
Scottie Scheffler arrives at Royal Birkdale looking to defend the Claret Jug following his 2025 victory at Royal Portrush. He is trying to become the first back-to-back Open winner since Padraig Harrington accomplished the feat in 2008. The defending champion faces serious questions this week, entering the tournament looking to bounce back after surprisingly missing the cut at the Scottish Open. His attempt to repeat is a central storyline for the NBC broadcast breakdown detailing his historical back-to-back context.
Managing the broadcast requires shifting platforms throughout the four days. The viewing schedule breaks down into three distinct phases:
- Early Morning Coverage: The Peacock streaming service handles exclusive early-morning coverage and featured groups.
- Morning to Afternoon: Traditional cable television coverage picks up on the USA Network.
- Weekend Finales: The flagship NBC network broadcasts the decisive Saturday and Sunday afternoon rounds.
The tournament returns to Royal Birkdale for the first time since 2017. European fans are desperate for a home victory. Four of the last five Open winners have come from the United States. Bookmakers are heavily backing reigning Masters champion Rory McIlroy and local English favorite Tommy Fleetwood to break that American grip on the championship. Fans can track all the shifting momentum through the official PGA Tour guide on how to follow the championship, including SiriusXM radio broadcast programming.
The Verdict: Golf fans should prepare for an intense, unpredictable weekend at Royal Birkdale. With Scheffler trying to shake off a missed cut and McIlroy poised to reclaim European glory on familiar soil, the stakes easily justify the early morning wake-up calls. Lock in your Peacock subscription and set your alarms for 1:35 a.m. ET.