2026 RBC Canadian Open Thursday TV Coverage & Streaming Guide

The Canadian Open Returns to TPC Toronto

There's something about Canadian summer mornings that golf was made for—the cool air holding the dew on immaculate fairways, the early light filtering through Ontario's ancient oaks. Thursday marks the opening round of the 2026 RBC Canadian Open at TPC Toronto, and whether you're planning to catch every shot or just the afternoon highlights, here's your complete guide to watching one of the PGA Tour's most storied events.

Thursday TV Coverage Details

Golf Channel serves as your primary television home for Round 1, with live coverage running from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET. This window captures the prime afternoon action when course conditions typically firm up and scoring becomes more challenging.

But if you're the type who believes the early bird catches the birdie, ESPN+ has you covered with PGA Tour Live streaming beginning at 7 a.m. ET—a full eight hours before Golf Channel's broadcast begins. That early coverage is worth setting an alarm for, particularly when you want to follow specific players through their opening nine holes.

Streaming Options

The streaming landscape for this tournament offers genuine flexibility:

PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ – Early coverage starting at 7 a.m. ET, plus featured group and featured hole coverage throughout the day ($11.99/month)
GOLF App – Simulcast of Golf Channel's TV coverage for those on the move

For serious fans, the featured group coverage on ESPN+ often provides the most compelling viewing experience, allowing you to follow marquee pairings shot by shot without commercial interruption.

The Storyline to Watch: Morikawa's Form Search

Collin Morikawa arrives at TPC Toronto carrying the weight of inconsistency that would frustrate any two-time major champion. His 2026 season started brilliantly—a seventh career victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am followed by a T7 finish at Augusta National. The swing looked pure, the putting stroke confident.

Then came the stumble. A T62 at the Cadillac Championship and a T55 at the PGA Championship at Aronimink have left observers wondering which version of Morikawa will show up in Ontario. The Canadian Open has historically been kind to elite ball-strikers, and Morikawa at his best remains one of the finest iron players in professional golf. His opening round Thursday will tell us much about where his game truly stands.

Notable Early Tee Times

Thursday's first wave off the first tee features some intriguing names worth your early attention:

7:33 a.m. ET – Tony Finau tees off alongside Garrick Higgo and Michael Brennan
7:55 a.m. ET – Davis Thompson, Billy Horschel, and Chris Kirk form a compelling group
8:06 a.m. ET – Lucas Glover leads out with Ricky Castillo and Joe Highsmith

Ben Silverman, the Canadian native, earns the honor of the first tee time at 7:00 a.m. ET alongside Matti Schmid and Mac Meissner—a homecoming start that TPC Toronto's galleries will surely appreciate.

TPC Toronto: A Course Worth Watching

TPC Toronto presents a proper examination of championship golf, with its mixture of tree-lined corridors and strategic water hazards demanding both precision and nerve. The course tends to reward players who control trajectory and shape, making it an ideal venue for watching shot-makers work their craft.

Thursday's conditions should provide an excellent test, with Ontario's June weather typically offering warm temperatures and the possibility of afternoon breezes off Lake Ontario that can complicate club selection on exposed holes.

Your Viewing Takeaway

For the complete experience, commit to the ESPN+ coverage beginning at 7 a.m. ET and follow the early featured groups through their rounds. Transition to Golf Channel at 3 p.m. for the polished broadcast coverage as the afternoon wave tackles firmer conditions. And keep a particular eye on Morikawa's opening holes—by the time he reaches the turn, we'll have our first clues about whether his early-season form is returning or if his struggles will persist through another week.