2026 Open Championship TV Schedule: How to Watch Every Round Live

The Open Is Back, and Yes, You'll Need to Wake Up Early

The 2026 Open Championship — golf's oldest major and the year's last shot at a Grand Slam winner — is here, and the TV/streaming setup follows the format fans have gotten used to in recent years: early US start times, split coverage across cable and streaming, and a Sunday finish that can stretch into the afternoon depending on weather and playoff drama.

Why the Early Tee Times

Because the tournament is played in the UK, first tee times typically hit around 1:30-2 a.m. ET, meaning US coverage kicks off well before sunrise on the East Coast. If you're on the West Coast, this is actually one of the rare majors where you can watch live coverage over morning coffee instead of setting an alarm for midnight.

Where to Watch

Recent Open Championships have used a mix of cable news and streaming to cover the full day of play:

• **USA Network** typically carries early morning coverage during the first two rounds.
• **NBC** takes over for weekend coverage (Saturday and Sunday), including the marquee afternoon window as leaders make their move.
• **Peacock** streams extended coverage, including featured groups, marquee holes and alternate feeds for fans who want more than the traditional broadcast window.
• **The R&A's official app and website** also typically offer supplemental streaming options for out-of-market viewers.

If you don't have cable, a live TV streaming service with USA Network and NBC in its lineup (think Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, or YouTube TV) is your best bet for watching without missing coverage.

What to Expect Round by Round

Thursday and Friday coverage tends to run longest, since the entire field is playing and early risers can catch marquee groups teeing off in the pitch-black morning hours stateside. Weekend coverage narrows to the contenders, with NBC's afternoon window built around the final groups making their charge down the closing holes — including the Road Hole-style pressure that's decided Opens for over a century.

The Bottom Line for Viewers

If you want to catch every shot, plan on streaming through Peacock or the tournament's digital options during the early hours, then flipping to NBC for the marquee weekend windows. Casual fans can simply tune into NBC's weekend windows and catch the business end of the tournament without setting any alarms.

Whichever way you watch, the Open's mix of quirky bounces, brutal wind and centuries-old tradition makes it one of the most watchable majors on the calendar — even if the start times ask a little extra of American fans.