Alexis Mikulski Ruiz
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The Open Championship (also known as the British Open) returns for its 154th year on Thursday, July 16, 2026. Considered the oldest major in golf, the tournament will take place at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, Merseyside, England.
If you want to watch the event, which runs through Sunday, July 19, 2026, coverage begins on USA Network at 4 a.m. ET. Fans with Peacock can start watching even earlier, with streaming coverage beginning at 1:30 a.m. ET. Once the weekend arrives, all coverage after 7 a.m. ET will air on NBC.
At a Glance: How to Watch The Open Championship 2026 Online for Free
- Channel: Peacock (starting at 1:30 a.m. EST), USA Network (starting at 4 a.m. EST), NBC (on Saturday and Sunday starting at 7 a.m. EST)
- Date, time: Thursday, July 16 to Sunday, July 19, 2026 starting at 1:30 a.m. EST
- Stream: DirecTV, Sling, Hulu + Live TV, Peacock
For fans without a cable subscription, you can tune in for free with a trial to either DirecTV or Hulu + Live TV to see your favorite groups. If you’d rather avoid signing up for free trials, more permanent options like Sling or Peacock offer affordable streaming packages.
Some of the biggest names in golf will be competing, with Scottie Scheffler returning to defend his title. Scheffler is scheduled to tee off at 4:58 a.m. ET. He recently made headlines after missing the cut at the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, according to ESPN — the first time the American has failed to make a cut in four years.
Other notable players include Rory McIlroy, who won the 2026 Masters Tournament, along with Matt Fitzpatrick, Tommy Fleetwood (a local favorite), and Jon Rahm. The golfers could benefit from favorable weather this week, as forecasts for the tournament call for relatively calm conditions compared to the usual English wind and rain.
Where to Watch The Open Championship 2026 Online for Free
If you’re looking to watch The Open Championship 2026 without paying, the best option is a free trial to DirecTV. It’s consistently one of our editors’ top picks and provides enough trial time to cover the entire tournament. Hulu + Live TV is another solid choice, though its free trial is shorter. For a longer-term streaming solution, Sling and Peacock both offer competitive packages that make it easy to watch The Open and other major sporting events year-round.
editor’s pick DirecTV
get free trial➤ $44.99/month (best plan) ➤ Five-day free trial ➤ Up to 185+ channels
Streaming The Open Championship 2026 is easy through DirecTV, which carries USA Network and NBC across several plan options, including its MySports and MyEntertainment Genre Packs as well as Signature Packages. Plans start at $44.99 per month, and new subscribers can take advantage of a five-day free trial to watch the entire tournament at no cost.
Sling
sign up now➤ $45.99/month ➤ Short-term passes available ➤ Up to 50+ channels
For a great cable alternative, fans can watch The Open Championship 2026 on Sling. USA Network and NBC are included with Sling Blue and Sling Orange + Blue, with plans starting at $45.99 per month. While Sling doesn’t offer a free trial, new subscribers can save 50% on their first month, making it one of the most budget-friendly ways to stream the tournament live.
Hulu + Live TV
get free trial➤ $89.99/month ➤ Three-day free trial ➤ 100+ channels
You can never go wrong with Hulu + Live TV, which allows you to easily stream The Open Championship 2026. The service includes USA Network and NBC in its channel lineup, plus an on-demand library, Disney+, and ESPN+. New subscribers can take advantage of a three-day free trial.
Peacock
get peacock➤ $10.99/month ➤ No free trial ➤ 50+ channels
While Peacock no longer offers a free trial, it’s a solid pick to watch The Open Championship 2026. The streaming service provides early coverage before the main broadcast begins on USA Network, plus later coverage on NBC, making it a great option if you want to catch the opening tee times and follow the tournament from the very start.
Peacock offers two subscription plans: Premium for $10.99 per month or $109.99 per year, and Premium Plus for $16.99 per month or $169.99 per year.
The Open Championship 2026 Start Date, Time
The Open Championship begins on Thursday, July 16, starting at 1:30 a.m. ET on Peacock. Beginning at 4 a.m. ET, live coverage moves to USA Network. Over the weekend, Saturday and Sunday coverage starts on USA Network before going to NBC, beginning at 7 a.m. ET.
The Open Championship 2026 Odds
156 players will compete in The Open Championship 2026, with Scottie Scheffler predicted to win the tournament for the second year in a row. Scheffler is listed as the “+600 favorite.” Other odds include:
- Rory McIlroy (+780)
- Jon Rahm (+1550)
- Matt Fitzpatrick (+2150)
- Tommy Fleetwood (+2150)
- Xander Schauffele (+2200)
- Chris Gotterup (+2900)
- Cameron Young (+2900)
- Collin Morikawa (+3100)
- Ludvig Aberg (+3200)
