The Open 2026 leaderboard: Latest golf results from Royal Birkdale and weather, tee times for the final men’s champions of the year | Golf News
The latest leaderboard from The 154th Open, the final men’s tournament of the year, held at Royal Birkdale in Southport, Merseyside.
Scottie Scheffler returns as defending champion after a stunning victory last year at Royal Portrush, where he finished four shots clear of Harris English to complete the third leg of the career Grand Slam.
The World No 1 is aiming to become the first back-to-back winner of The Open since Padraig Harrington, with Scheffler the pre-tournament favorite for a fifth major title in as many seasons.
Rory McIlroy is looking to bookend his season with a big win, having defended his title at The Masters in April, while PGA Championship winner Aaron Rai and US Open champion Wyndham Clark are also looking for their second major win of the season.
Justin Rose, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tyrrell Hatton and Tommy Fleetwood are among the home favorites looking to become the first English winner of The Open since Sir Nick Faldo, while Xander Schauffele and Jon Rahm are among those looking for a major breakthrough.
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Justin Rose reflects on where it all started for him at Royal Birkdale in 1998 ahead of the 154th Open.
Clear weather: What’s the forecast for Royal Birkdale?
With no rain forecast during the first two days of the tournament, there was little chance of a shower over the weekend. Here is the forecast issued by the local meteorologist before the tournament:
Thursday: sunny. Winds 10-15 mph. Maximum temperature: 25°C (77F)
Friday: sunny. Winds 10-15 mph. Maximum temperature: 25°C (77F)
Saturday: Partly sunny, slight chance of showers. Winds 10-15 mph. Maximum temperature: 21°C (70F)
Sunday: Partly sunny. Winds 10-15 mph. Maximum temperature: 21°C (70F)
Can Scottie Scheffler defend his title at The Open?
Open field: Who plays at Royal Birkdale?
There are 156 players in the field to play in this week’s majors, the last of four in as many months in men’s golf. The Open follows The Masters (April 9-12), the PGA Championship (May 14-17) and the US Open (June 18-21).
A full list of eligibility criteria, including Open Qualifying Series events and Final Qualifying, can be found on The Open website.
Play will start at 6.35am on Thursdays and Fridays, while weekend times will depend on how many players decide.
The top 70 players and ties after 36 holes will make the cut and qualify for the final two rounds.
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A look back at the best and worst shots from past golfers and celebrities at The Open Zone
Sky Sports is once again the exclusive home of The Open in the UK and Ireland, with a wall-to-wall run from the final men’s final of the year starting at 6.30am on Thursday on Sky Sports Golf.
There will be at least 15 hours of coverage for both of the first two rounds, with bonus feeds available on Sky Sports+ or Sky Sports Appwith extended testimony beginning at 9am on Saturday and 8am on Sunday.
