The 2026 Open Championship is officially underway at Royal Birkdale, and if you’re planning on catching any of the action from the United States, your alarm clock is about to get a serious workout. The very first group is hitting the links at 1:35 a.m. ET on Thursday, kicking off the 156-man field's battle for the iconic Claret Jug and the coveted title of Champion Golfer of the Year. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, but the early birds are definitely getting some incredible pairings.
Dawn Patrol for the Claret Jug
Talk about an early start! The opening tee time features Matthew Baldwin, Thomas Detry, and James Nicholas at a brutal 1:35 a.m. ET. You gotta give it to those guys, being ready to roll that early. Shortly after, the first real crowd-pleaser for those setting their alarms for what feels like the middle of the night comes at 2:19 a.m. ET, when Robert MacIntyre, Rickie Fowler, and Alex Fitzpatrick tee off. They are the main attraction in that first wave, making it worth that insane wake-up call. The second wave of groups begins around 4 a.m. ET, and this is where things really heat up. At 4:58 a.m. ET, reigning champion Scottie Scheffler steps onto the course with Bryson DeChambeau and Tyrrell Hatton in a group that absolutely screams "fireworks," both good and bad! Then, just eleven minutes later at 5:09 a.m. ET, Jordan Spieth, Tommy Fleetwood, and Jon Rahm follow them. Golf fans stateside, you absolutely need to pencil in that 5 a.m. alarm if you want to catch these top stars in action as soon as possible.Heavy Hitters in the Afternoon Wave
If waking up before the sun is not your jam, don't worry, the later wave brings plenty of star power too. Action picks up considerably in the late morning. Chris Gotterup, Sam Burns, and Adam Scott are set to tee off at 9:31 a.m. ET. Not long after, at 10:04 a.m. ET, we get a group of heavy hitters with Cameron Young, Wyndham Clark, and Ludivg Åberg. But hold on, the real marquee group of these later tee times comes at 10:15 a.m. ET, when Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, and Matt Fitzpatrick get their turn. That is a group you do not want to miss. So, get ready for a wild Thursday, folks! The 2026 Open Championship is officially underway, and with so many incredible groups playing at Royal Birkdale, it's going to be a battle to see who starts strong on the road to raising that Claret Jug come Sunday. CBS Sports experts are already making their picks for the nine golfers most likely to win, so it’s going to be an intense weekend. Let's see who steps up!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.