British Open 2026 Returns to a Redesigned Royal Birkdale

The dunes at Royal Birkdale are ready, the Claret Jug is waiting, and one of golf's deepest fields is preparing for four days on England's northwest coast. The 154th Open Championship begins Thursday, July 16, with defending champion Scottie Scheffler facing Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and 153 other players. For US viewers, coverage starts before sunrise and runs through Sunday afternoon on USA Network, NBC and Peacock.

How Events Unfolded

Royal Birkdale will host The Open for the 11th time, making it one of the championship's most familiar venues. The tournament runs from July 16 through July 19, with a field scheduled to reach 156 players after one final berth is awarded through an 18-hole Last-Chance Qualifier on Monday, July 13.

Scheffler arrives as the reigning Champion Golfer after winning by four strokes at Royal Portrush in 2025. He is attempting to become the first player since Padraig Harrington in 2008 to win consecutive Open titles. The challenge includes McIlroy, the 2026 Masters winner; Aaron Rai, the PGA Championship winner; and Wyndham Clark, the US Open winner.

The field also includes 15 former Open champions, among them Spieth, Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, Brian Harman, Shane Lowry and Cameron Smith. Ten amateurs have qualified, while 41 players will make their Open debut, accounting for more than one-quarter of the field.

US viewers can follow the complete broadcast schedule. Thursday and Friday coverage begins at 1:30 a.m. ET on Peacock before moving to USA Network at 4 a.m. Weekend coverage shifts to NBC and Peacock from 7 a.m. ET.

Digging Deeper

This will not be the same Royal Birkdale that Spieth conquered in 2017. A renovation project that began in May 2024 touched every hole, rebuilt most tees, adjusted fairway bunkers and addressed drainage problems. The course will play at 7,223 yards and a par of 70, only 67 yards longer than the 2017 layout but strategically different.

The fifth hole has been remade as a potentially drivable 320-yard par 4, giving players a clear risk-reward choice between attacking the green and laying up. The former 14th hole has been removed from the championship routing, while the old 15th has become a 602-yard par 5.

The biggest talking point may be the new 240-yard par-3 15th. Course architect Tom Mackenzie said it was designed to encourage shots landing short or on the front edge and releasing toward the back. McIlroy questioned whether several hole locations could make the hole excessively demanding if players are forced to hit long irons.

What People Are Saying

There may be a couple of holes locations on the green where the hole is a little bit too long for those hole locations.

McIlroy described the new 15th as a likely focus of discussion during tournament week. His comments matter because players must decide whether the hole rewards precision or places too much emphasis on raw distance, especially when the wind changes.

It is now a genuinely drivable short par 4, compared to a hole that was previously forgettable and widely recognised as the weakest on the course.

Mackenzie's description of the fifth captures the renovation's wider purpose: create more visible decisions and more dramatic consequences without simply adding length.

Putting It in Perspective

Royal Birkdale has produced wildly different winning conditions. Harrington finished at three over par in fierce winds in 2008, while Spieth reached 12 under in 2017 and set a course championship record of 268. That range shows why forecasts and wind direction can reshape the tournament faster than pre-event rankings.

Betting markets list Scheffler at +750 and McIlroy at +850, with Tommy Fleetwood at +1800 and Matt Fitzpatrick and Jon Rahm at +2000. Those prices identify the expected contenders, but Royal Birkdale's redesigned short holes and exposed links conditions could give longer hitters and creative shot-makers different paths to contention.

For American fans, the practical effect is an early alarm. The opening rounds begin at 1:30 a.m. ET, while the final round starts at 4 a.m. ET before NBC and Peacock take over at 7 a.m.

Looking Ahead

The Last-Chance Qualifier on July 13 will determine the final place in the field. Practice and on-site coverage continue through Wednesday, followed by the first round Thursday morning. The cut will be made after Friday's second round, with the Claret Jug decided Sunday, July 19.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the 2026 British Open start?

The first round begins Thursday, July 16, at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England.

How can I watch the British Open in the United States?

Peacock carries early coverage Thursday and Friday, followed by USA Network. NBC and Peacock broadcast the main weekend windows.

Who is defending the Open Championship title?

Scottie Scheffler is the defending champion after winning the 2025 Open at Royal Portrush by four strokes.

What changed at Royal Birkdale?

Every hole received work, including a redesigned drivable fifth hole, a new 240-yard par-3 15th and rebuilt tees and bunkers.

Who are the leading favorites?

Scheffler and Rory McIlroy have the shortest listed odds, followed by Tommy Fleetwood, Matt Fitzpatrick and Jon Rahm.