The Open tee-times rounds one and two: McIlroy, Scheffler, Fleetwood, Rose at Royal Birkdale
The 2026 Open Championship tee times reveal a star-studded first round at Royal Birkdale—with McIlroy, Scheffler, and Fleetwood leading the charge.
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The brief
The 2026 Open Championship has released tee times for Rounds 1 and 2, pairing top golfers including Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa, Ludvig Åberg, Viktor Hovland, and Jon Rahm. The first round at Royal Birkdale will feature high-profile matchups, with McIlroy, Scheffler, and Fleetwood among the early starters. Coverage emphasizes the strategic pairings and betting trends, with models favoring underdogs like Åberg and Hovland over traditional favorites.
Outlets including CBS Sports, Bleacher Report, Sports Illustrated, and the PGA Tour are highlighting the tee times, betting odds, and player groupings. Analysis focuses on how the pairings could influence momentum and pressure points in the tournament’s opening rounds. Some reports also note the historical significance of Royal Birkdale as a challenging links course.
Watch for early leaderboard updates after Round 1, as well as reactions from players and analysts on how the pairings play out. Betting trends and expert predictions may shift as the field progresses through the first 18 holes.
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Quick answers
Who are the top players in the 2026 Open Championship?
Coverage highlights Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa, Ludvig Åberg, Viktor Hovland, and Jon Rahm as key contenders.
What is significant about Royal Birkdale?
Royal Birkdale is noted as a historic and challenging links course, known for its tough conditions in past Open Championships.
Are there betting favorites for this tournament?
Some models are backing underdogs like Ludvig Åberg and Viktor Hovland, while traditional favorites remain in the mix.
Coverage (5)
- 2026 Open Championship: All of the news and analysis from Royal Birkdale ESPN · 10h ago
- 2026 Open Championship, underdog picks, free best bets: Golf model backing Ludvig Aberg, Viktor Hovland CBS Sports · 10h ago
- British Open 2026 Tee Times & Pairings for Rory McIlroy, Scheffler and Top Stars in Rounds 1 & 2 Bleacher Report · 10h ago
- 2026 British Open Betting Preview: Picks, Predictions, Odds for Royal Birkdale Sports Illustrated · 10h ago
- 2026 British Open: Tee times, groupings announced for Rounds 1-2 PGA Tour · 10h ago
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