< Back to all clusters
[SPORTS] · United Kingdom · 77 sources

Royal Birkdale hosts 2026 Open Championship as top golfers compete

The 154th Open Championship takes place from July 16‑19 2026 at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler is attempting a rare back‑to‑back win, while other favorites include Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Bryson DeChambeau and Jackson Suber, who posted a 65‑under‑par 65 to lead after the first round.

U.S. viewers can watch the tournament on Peacock (early morning) and USA Network/ NBC later in the day; the UK coverage is on Sky Sports Golf and the streaming service Now. Canadian, Australian and other international fans have local streaming partners. The event is expected to draw over 250,000 spectators, and Mastercard data projects that local business spending around Royal Birkdale will double compared with previous years, benefitting bars, restaurants and hotels.

Royal Birkdale’s natural dune sand makes its 104 bunkers especially challenging, with deep‑lying, heavy sand that limits recovery shots. Players such as DeChambeau highlighted the difficulty, noting the fast, firm conditions. Qualifier Joe Dean earned his spot by winning the Last‑Chance Qualifier, and the field features a mix of established major winners and emerging talent, setting up a tightly contested final major of the 2026 golf season.

Sources

5 days ago
6 days ago
4 days ago
British Open issues fan code [www.koreaherald.com]
5 days ago