2026 British Open Sunday TV Schedule: How to Watch Round 4

The Stage Is Set on England's Lancashire Coast

There is something almost sacred about the final round of The Open Championship. The light slants differently across those ancient links, the wind carries whispers of every champion who came before, and somewhere out there on the undulating fairways, a golfer is about to etch their name into immortality.

This Sunday at Royal Birkdale, we'll witness the conclusion of the 2026 Open Championship—the final major of the year—and if you're anything like me, you'll want to see every single shot. Here's how to make that happen.

Your Complete Sunday Viewing Schedule

The beauty of The Open is that it rewards the early riser. Those of us willing to brew our coffee in the darkness get something precious in return: the chance to watch golf played the way it was meant to be played, on land that has hosted this championship for over a century.

Television Coverage

USA Network opens the broadcast at 4:00 a.m. ET, giving you three hours of early-round action as the first groups navigate Royal Birkdale's famous challenges. This is when the course is at its most honest—before the wind picks up, before the tension becomes unbearable.

At 7:00 a.m. ET, NBC takes over for the primary final-round coverage, running straight through to 2:00 p.m. ET. This is when the drama unfolds—when the contenders separate from the pretenders, when putts that looked makeable suddenly don't, when the Claret Jug begins to feel very real.

Streaming Options

For those who prefer to watch on their own terms, Peacock offers comprehensive streaming coverage including featured group feeds and a live simulcast of NBC's Sunday broadcast from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET. If you want to follow specific pairings—perhaps tracking a favorite player's every swing—this is your best option.

Golf Channel Mobile will stream USA's early morning telecast, perfect for catching those first tee shots from wherever you happen to be.

The Sunday Tee Sheet: A Glimpse at the Drama Ahead

The pairings tell their own story. Among the notable groups teeing off Sunday:

6:20 a.m. ET – Francesco Molinari and Collin Morikawa
6:30 a.m. ET – Jordan Smith and Rory McIlroy
7:05 a.m. ET – Cameron Young and Robert MacIntyre
7:15 a.m. ET – Nico Echavarria and Sungjae Im
7:25 a.m. ET – Jacob Bridgeman and Justin Thomas

Other compelling early pairings include Brooks Koepka going out at 5:05 a.m. ET, Patrick Cantlay at 4:45 a.m. ET, and the ever-popular Tyrrell Hatton paired with Min Woo Lee at 3:50 a.m. ET.

Why Royal Birkdale Deserves Your Sunday Morning

I've walked the fairways at Royal Birkdale more than once, and each visit reveals something new. The willow scrub that frames the holes, the dramatic dunes, the way the clubhouse seems to watch over the 18th like a patient judge—it all contributes to an atmosphere that television can only partially capture.

But Sunday at The Open is different. The cameras find the tension in a player's grip, the commentary falls silent at precisely the right moments, and suddenly you're not just watching golf—you're witnessing history.

Key Takeaways

Early coverage begins at 4:00 a.m. ET on USA Network
Primary broadcast runs 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET on NBC
Streaming available via Peacock (simulcast + featured groups) and Golf Channel Mobile
Set your alarm—the Claret Jug waits for no one