2026 AIG Women's Open Round 2: TV Times & How to Watch

There's something about links golf that demands your early morning attention. The light is different. The wind carries stories from the Irish Sea. And when the world's best women golfers are walking the fairways of Royal Lytham and St. Annes, you set that alarm without complaint.

A Record-Setting Opening Act

If you didn't catch Thursday's action, you missed something special. Jeeno Thitikul delivered a masterclass on links golf, firing a seven-under 64 to set a new Women's Open record at this storied venue. The 23-year-old Thai star now holds a two-shot lead heading into Friday's second round.

Thitikul's resume already includes nine LPGA victories, but the former World No. 1 is still searching for that elusive first major championship. With 54 holes remaining, she's positioned herself beautifully to finally claim that missing piece.

Friday TV Coverage Schedule

For those of us stateside, watching links golf means embracing the pre-dawn hours. But Royal Lytham in the morning light is worth every minute of lost sleep.

Golf Channel Coverage: 4:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. ET

USA Network Coverage: 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET

Streaming Options

If you can't get to a television, you've got options. The second round can be streamed through:

Golfchannel.com
The Golf Channel App
The NBC Sports App

Featured Pairings to Watch

The tee sheet reads like a who's who of women's golf. Here are the groups that will demand your attention:

3:31 a.m. ET: Miyu Yamashita, Jeeno Thitikul, Lauren Coughlin – Obviously, the leader group. Watch how Thitikul handles the pressure of defending that record round.

3:42 a.m. ET: Charley Hull, Hannah Green, Brooke Henderson – A power trio featuring the home favorite in Hull. Royal Lytham crowds will be fully behind her.

2:36 a.m. ET: Lilia Vu, Shuri Sakuma, Rose Zhang – Major champions and rising stars together. Vu knows how to contend when it matters most.

3:20 a.m. ET: Ruoning Yin, Nasa Hataoka, Jennifer Kupcho – Another group loaded with major championship experience.

Why Royal Lytham Matters

I've walked Royal Lytham's fairways on gray English mornings and understand why this course has hosted so many Open Championships. The railway line running along the property. The red-brick clubhouse with its old-world gravitas. The dunes that hide and reveal in equal measure.

This is links golf at its most authentic—a test of imagination as much as execution. Wind will be the invisible opponent today, and the leaderboard could shift dramatically as conditions change throughout the day.

The Major Chase

What makes this second round compelling beyond the golf itself is the storyline. Thitikul has been knocking on major championship doors for years. Nine LPGA wins suggest she has the game. A record-setting opening round suggests she has the form. Friday will tell us if she has the nerve to see this through.

Behind her lurks a field filled with players who know how to win these things. One slip, one misjudged club in the wind, and the leaderboard becomes a different picture entirely.

Key Takeaways

Coverage begins at 4:00 a.m. ET on Golf Channel, transitioning to USA Network at 8:00 a.m.
Jeeno Thitikul leads by two shots after a record 64
Multiple streaming options available for cord-cutters
Featured groups tee off between 2:36 a.m. and 4:20 a.m. ET

Set your coffee maker. This is links golf at one of England's finest venues, with a leaderboard that promises drama. Royal Lytham is waiting.