LIV Golf league stars Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton have officially entered the 156-man field at the 2026 Genesis Scottish Open, marking a historic milestone as active breakaway tour members compete in a co-sanctioned PGA Tour event for the first time. The highly anticipated tournament tees off at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland, serving as the ultimate links golf tune-up ahead of next week's 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. Rahm's return follows a resolution to his standoff with the DP World Tour in May, while Hatton and five other LIV competitors secured conditional releases to participate.

What We Know So Far

The co-sanctioned event brings together a powerhouse international field, featuring world number one Scottie Scheffler and number two Rory McIlroy alongside current US Open champion Wyndham Clark and US PGA winner Aaron Rai. Defending champion Chris Gotterup also enters in sensational form, fresh off a come-from-behind victory at the John Deere Classic on Sunday where he erased a 5-stroke deficit in the final round to secure his third PGA Tour win of the season.

The field will face a newly modified layout at The Renaissance Club, which plays host for the eighth consecutive year. While the course retains its par 70 designation and 7,282-yard distance, organizers have swapped the order of the first seven holes on the front and back nines to build a more compelling closing stretch. This structural pivot moves the fan-favorite, stadium-style sixth hole—now rebranded as 'The Thistle'—into the final four holes as a par three.

Unpredictable coastal weather remains the defining variable for player performance along the Firth of Forth. Forecasters expect moderate westerly winds during Thursday's opening round before a shift to northeasterly winds for the remainder of the weekend, with daytime highs struggling to eclipse 70 degrees. Proximity to the massive, undulating greens will be heavily tested; last year's field averaged just 48.26% of fairways hit, the lowest clip recorded on the PGA Tour circuit all season.

What People Are Saying

While excitement builds over his return, Rahm has not ruled out personally investing in the breakaway circuit to ensure its long-term survival, as Saudi Arabia prepares to pull its central funding at the end of the season.

They haven't asked me to put my money in yet. Something I've learned in life, never say never. I'm not going to say absolutely no to anything that can happen in the future.

Defending champion Gotterup expressed his enthusiasm for returning to the unique environment of North Berwick as he begins a demanding stretch of tournament golf.

I really do enjoy coming over here. I'm on my fourth week in a row, but I was saying to people, I feel like when I come over here it's a fresh start because it's so different from what we are used to.

European Ryder Cup star and world number 13 Viktor Hovland also backed the strategic routing adjustments implemented by course designers for the 2026 edition.

Having a short par four kind of drivable and then 15, the short par three, it makes sense to have those on the back nine leading up to the finish of this great event.

How This Affects You

For sports fans stateside, the coastal time difference means elite live golf will stream directly into morning routines. Television and digital coverage will require an early start, with early rounds beginning live at 2 a.m. ET on Thursday and Friday. Broadcast windows are split between early morning digital streaming on PGA Tour Live and late-morning linear broadcasts on the Golf Channel, providing golf enthusiasts in the US a clear look at how the world's top players handle links layouts before placing any final wagers or setting fantasy rosters for the upcoming major championship next week.

Coming Up

Tournament play officially commences on Thursday, July 9, with consecutive morning rounds establishing the weekend cut line. Top-tier groupings will draw maximum gallery eyes, notably a box-office trio featuring hometown hero Robert MacIntyre, Rory McIlroy, and Chris Gotterup paired together for the first two days. Weekend coverage transitions to premium network broadcast slots, with live afternoon television coverage shifting directly to CBS and Paramount+ starting at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday and Sunday.

At a Glance

• Active LIV Golf players, including Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, are competing in a PGA Tour event for the first time due to co-sanctioning rules.
• Defending champion Chris Gotterup enters the week immediately following his victory at the John Deere Classic.
• The Renaissance Club has modified its routing, swapping the first seven holes of the front and back nines to create a higher-drama finish.
• The field features a star-studded lineup headlined by world leaders Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy.
• Live tournament coverage begins at 2 a.m. ET on Thursday, July 9, via digital and network broadcasts.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can fans in the United States watch the 2026 Scottish Open?

US fans can watch early morning coverage on PGA Tour Live starting at 3:15 a.m. ET on Thursday and Friday, followed by the Golf Channel from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET. On Saturday and Sunday, main network coverage airs from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET on CBS and streams on Paramount+.

Why are LIV Golf players allowed to play in the Scottish Open?

Because the tournament is co-sanctioned by both the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour, active LIV members who maintained or resolved their status with the DP World Tour were granted conditional releases to join the 156-man field.

What specific course changes were made to The Renaissance Club this year?

The overall par 70 structure and 7,282-yard distance remain identical, but the routing sequence has altered. The original holes 1 through 7 have swapped positions with holes 10 through 16 to create a more dramatic back-nine finish for television and spectators.

Who won the Scottish Open last year?

Chris Gotterup is the defending champion. He arrived in Scotland in top form after securing a dramatic, come-from-behind victory at the John Deere Classic just last Sunday.