The Open Championship 2026 will bring golf’s oldest major back to Royal Birkdale, one of the classic links venues in the championship rota.
Played from July 16–19, 2026, the 154th Open will be the final men’s major of the year and the 11th time Royal Birkdale has hosted the championship. It also marks the first Open at the Southport course since 2017, when Jordan Spieth produced one of the most memorable final rounds in recent major history.
For bettors, The Open always comes with a different feel from the other majors. Links golf asks questions that do not show up every week on the PGA Tour: awkward bounces, wind that changes by the hour, deep bunkers that behave like small prisons, and weather that can turn a good tee time into a survival exercise.
In this article, we look at what you need to know about The Open Championship 2026, from dates and venue details to the field, prize money, players to watch, and how betting fits into the week.
Contents
- 1 What is The Open Championship?
- 2 When and where is the 2026 Open Championship?
- 3 Who is the defending Open Championship champion?
- 4 Open Championship prize money 2026
- 5 Open Championship Field 2026 and Format
- 6 Players to watch at The Open 2026
- 7 About Royal Birkdale
- 8 How to watch The Open 2026
- 9 How to Bet on The Open Championship 2026
What is The Open Championship?
The Open Championship is golf’s original major championship, organized by The R&A. It is also the only men’s major played outside the United States, which gives it a very different identity from the Masters, PGA Championship and U.S. Open.
The Open is built around links golf. That means firm fairways, coastal wind, uneven lies, and a premium on imagination. Players need more than power. They need flight control, patience, and the ability to accept that a perfectly struck shot can still take one weird bounce and disappear into a bunker with bad intentions.
The winner becomes the Champion Golfer of the Year and lifts the Claret Jug, one of the most recognizable trophies in sport.
When and where is the 2026 Open Championship?
The Open Championship 2026 dates are July 16–19, with practice days beginning Sunday, July 12. Royal Birkdale will stage the championship for the 11th time, with official championship play running from Thursday through Sunday.
| Detail | Information |
| Tournament | The 154th Open Championship |
| Venue | Royal Birkdale Golf Club |
| Location | Southport, England |
| Championship dates | July 16–19, 2026 |
| Practice days | July 12–15, 2026 |
| Organizer | The R&A |
| Previous Open at Royal Birkdale | 2017 |
The Claret Jug returns to Royal Birkdale for the first time since Spieth’s 2017 win over Matt Kuchar. Practice week also has a new look, with The R&A introducing themed practice days, including a Last-Chance Qualifier on Monday, July 13.
Open Championship 2026 tee times for the first two rounds are usually confirmed closer to tournament week. Once released, they will be especially important from a betting angle because early and late waves can face very different conditions on a links course.
Who is the defending Open Championship champion?
Scottie Scheffler is the defending Champion Golfer of the Year after winning the 2025 Open at Royal Portrush by four shots.
Scheffler’s victory was his fourth major title and moved him within one leg of the career Grand Slam, with only the U.S. Open missing from his major resume.
That makes his Royal Birkdale title defense one of the main storylines of the week. Scheffler has the control, patience, and ball-striking profile that travels well, but defending an Open is never simple. The course changes daily, the draw can matter, and the weather has a habit of reminding everyone that spreadsheets don’t hit knockdown 5-irons into a crosswind.
Open Championship prize money 2026
The Open Championship prize money 2026 figure has not yet been confirmed by The R&A. For context, the 2025 Open prize fund was around $17 million, with Scheffler earning approximately $3.1 million for winning at Royal Portrush.
| Prize category | Latest information |
| 2026 total prize money | To be confirmed |
| 2025 total prize money | Around $17 million |
| 2025 winner’s share | Approximately $3.1 million |
The Open has traditionally had a smaller prize fund than some other modern majors, but prestige is not the issue here. Players are chasing the Claret Jug, major history, and a title that can reshape an entire career. Obviously, nobody is handing back $3 million, but the career-making possibilities of a major win are just as important.
Open Championship Field 2026 and Format
The Open field is built from two routes: exemption categories for elite players and qualifying paths for those who need to earn their place. The biggest names usually qualify through rankings, major wins or tour performance, while Regional Qualifying and Final Qualifying create places for lesser-known players.
| Format detail | Information |
| Field size | 156 players |
| Tournament format | 72 holes of stroke play |
| Championship rounds | Thursday to Sunday |
| Cut rule | Top 70 players and ties after 36 holes |
| Playoff format | Four-hole aggregate playoff, followed by sudden death if still tied |
| Main qualification routes | Exemptions, Regional Qualifying, Final Qualifying, The Open Qualifying Series |
| New for 2026 | Last-Chance Qualifier at Royal Birkdale on Monday, July 13 |
The Last-Chance Qualifier is a new final-entry event for 2026. It will be played at Royal Birkdale on Monday of championship week, with 12 invited players competing over 18 holes for the last available place in The Open field. The R&A says players will be invited based on eligibility criteria that match the existing Open qualification process.
Players to watch at The Open 2026
| Player | Angle to watch |
| Scottie Scheffler | The defending Champion Golfer of the Year after winning the 2025 Open at Royal Portrush by four shots. His title defense is the obvious starting point, especially after that win gave him a fourth major title. |
| Rory McIlroy | Arrives as one of the biggest names in the field after completing the career Grand Slam in 2025. At The Open, he always draws attention because links golf suits parts of his game, but patience and weather management usually decide whether he stays in control. |
| Tommy Fleetwood | The standout local storyline. Fleetwood was born in Southport, has deep ties to the area, and called Royal Birkdale the tournament he “dreams the most of.” He also arrives with more weight behind him after winning the 2025 Tour Championship and FedEx Cup. |
| Xander Schauffele | A proven major performer with the consistency to stay close when scoring gets difficult. He may not carry the local storyline, but his game is built for staying on leaderboards. |
| Jon Rahm | A major champion with the power and short-game creativity to handle links golf. If he is sharp with the driver, he is one of the few players who can turn a difficult course into a scoring chance. |
| Brooks Koepka | Still a major-week name because of his record in the biggest events. He does not need to dominate week to week to become relevant once a major starts. |
| Matt Fitzpatrick | An English major winner whose accuracy and control can translate well to Royal Birkdale if the course plays firm and demanding. |
| Tyrrell Hatton | Suited to awkward conditions when his ball-striking is sharp. His volatility makes him risky, but bad-weather golf can bring him into the conversation. |
| Justin Rose | A veteran English contender with Royal Birkdale history, having won the Silver Medal as low amateur at the 1998 Open. He also spoke strongly about his respect for the course ahead of its return to the rota. |
| Jordan Spieth | The last Open winner at Royal Birkdale, after his dramatic 2017 final-round surge to beat Matt Kuchar. He brings course-history value, even if current form still needs checking closer to the event. |
About Royal Birkdale
Royal Birkdale is one of The Open’s most respected links venues. The R&A describes the course as winding through sand dunes, with Royal Birkdale having hosted The Open more times than any venue apart from St Andrews since its first championship in 1954.
The course is a proper links test. Fairways sit between dunes; the rough can be punishing, and the greens tend to reward players who control spin and trajectory rather than simply firing at flags. Royal Birkdale is rarely about overpowering the place for four straight days. It asks for patience and then asks for more when the weather turns.
Royal Birkdale Open history includes some huge names. Pádraig Harrington won here in 2008, battling difficult conditions to defend the Claret Jug. In 2017, Spieth recovered from a wild tee shot on the 13th during the final round before surging past Kuchar to win by three.
That is the charm of Birkdale. It can produce controlled champions, strange moments, and one-hole swings that make every pre-tournament prediction feel slightly overconfident.
How to watch The Open 2026
For fans looking at how to watch The Open 2026, UK coverage is expected to be shown on Sky Sports across all four championship days. In the United States, coverage is expected across NBC, USA Network, and Peacock, with exact broadcast windows confirmed closer to the event.
Featured groups, streaming options, and radio coverage should also be clearer during Open week. With time zones, weather delay,s and early tee times, the safest move is to check the official broadcast schedule once the tee sheet is released.
How to Bet on The Open Championship 2026
You can bet on The Open Championship 2026 with Cloudbet as the championship returns to Royal Birkdale.
Scheffler defending the Claret Jug gives the tournament its headline. Fleetwood gives it the local storyline. Royal Birkdale gives it the links test that can make every round feel slightly different from the last.
That is why The Open is always worth watching closely. The best player does not only need great golf. They need patience, control and a decent relationship with the wind.
