A Historic Venue Returns
The golf world turns its attention to Royal Birkdale, which is set to host The Open for the 11th time. As the season's final major, the anticipation is building, and officials have now released the tee times and groupings for the first two rounds of play beginning Thursday morning.
Marquee Groups to Watch
Several high-profile groupings headline the field as players compete for the claret jug. Among the marquee pairings, the world No. 1 and reigning Champion Golfer of the Year, Scottie Scheffler, will tee off alongside Tyrrell Hatton and Bryson DeChambeau. Scheffler enters the event looking to bounce back from a rare missed cut. He aims to become the first back-to-back winner at this event since Padraig Harrington, who achieved that feat at Royal Birkdale in 2008. Meanwhile, DeChambeau is seeking his first made cut in a major this year, and Hatton looks to continue his strong major record, aiming for his fourth top-10 finish in the last six majors.
Another significant group features Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, and Matt Fitzpatrick. It has been 12 years since McIlroy won the claret jug at Royal Liverpool, but he remains a constant threat, having finished T7 or better in three of the last four years at this event. His playing partner, Schauffele, is two years removed from his own Open title at Royal Troon and enters in excellent form, having finished T12 or better in five consecutive majors. Rounding out this trio is Fitzpatrick, who has recorded three wins this year and a runner-up finish at THE PLAYERS.
Champions and Local Favorites
Storylines abound regarding championship pedigrees and local ties. Jordan Spieth, who captured the Open title at Royal Birkdale in 2017 after a dramatic final round, will play his opening rounds with Tommy Fleetwood and Jon Rahm. Fleetwood, a hometown favorite, is competing just minutes from where he grew up learning the game. Rahm, a two-time major winner, enters the tournament following a runner-up finish at the PGA this year and a runner-up result at this event in 2023.
Elsewhere, a group featuring Shane Lowry, Aaron Rai, and Brooks Koepka highlights three major champions. Lowry, the 2019 champion at Royal Portrush, will be joined by Rai, who earned his first major title earlier this year at the PGA Championship, and Koepka, who holds five major championships. Despite his collection of titles, Koepka is still in pursuit of an Open victory, though he has four top-10 finishes in the event.
The Rising Stars
Fresh off his second U.S. Open title at Shinnecock Hills, Wyndham Clark leads another marquee group. He is paired with Cameron Young—a 2022 Open runner-up who claimed a victory at THE PLAYERS this year—and Ludvig Åberg, who is making the third Open start of his career following a T23 finish last year at Royal Portrush.
Tournament Format and Preparation
As the field prepares for the challenges of Royal Birkdale, these groupings will rotate over the first 36 holes. Players are currently finalizing their preparations for Thursday's start. Fans looking to improve their own performance while following the action might consider [Affiliate opportunity: Bushnell Pro X3+ Link] to master course management or [Affiliate opportunity: TaylorMade 2026 TP5 Golf Balls] to optimize their long game. Whether witnessing seasoned champions or breakthrough contenders, the 2026 British Open promises to be a pivotal conclusion to the major season.
