The U.S. Open Golf Championship is one of the biggest and most challenging events in professional golf, attracting the world’s best players and millions of fans each year. As the 2026 tournament approaches, golf enthusiasts are eager to learn the key dates, tee times, player pairings, and the best ways to watch all the action live.
Whether you are following your favourite golfer, planning to attend, or simply looking for viewing information, this guide covers everything you need to know about the U.S. Open Golf Tournament 2026. Read on for the complete schedule, broadcast details, tee times, and all the important updates ahead of this major championship.
Quick Facts About the 2026 U.S. Open
The 126th U.S. Open is set for Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, with a strong field chasing the title J.J. Spaun won a year ago. Here’s a quick snapshot before we get into the full schedule and viewing details.
| Dates | June 18–21, 2026 |
| Location | Southampton, New York |
| Course | Shinnecock Hills Golf Club |
| Organized by | USGA |
| Field size | 156 players |
| Defending champion | J.J. Spaun |
Dates and Location
The 2026 U.S. Open runs Thursday through Sunday, June 18–21, at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York, on Long Island. The tournament is run by the United States Golf Association (USGA), and this marks the 126th edition of America’s national championship.
Host Course: Shinnecock Hills Golf Club
Shinnecock Hills is one of the oldest golf clubs in the country and one of the five founding members of the USGA. This is the sixth time it has hosted the U.S. Open, with previous editions held in 1896, 1986, 1995, 2004, and 2018. It’s also currently ranked among the top courses in the world, known for its firm, fast conditions and constant wind off the surrounding hills.
Defending Champion
J.J. Spaun enters as the defending champion after winning the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club. Spaun came in as a long shot but closed strong, sinking a 64-foot putt on the 72nd hole to win his first career major.
2026 U.S. Open Schedule
The tournament runs four days, with the field narrowing after Friday and tee times tightening up each day as the leaderboard takes shape.
Round 1: Thursday, June 18
The full 156-player field tees off, split between the 1st and 10th tees in morning and afternoon waves, playing in groups of three. Play is scheduled to begin in the early morning ET and run through the afternoon, with players who start on the back nine balancing out the wave structure for Friday.
Round 2: Friday, June 19
Players flip their Thursday tee times, so anyone who started in the morning on Round 1 plays in the afternoon on Round 2, and vice versa. This keeps conditions fair across the field. At the end of the day, the field is cut to the low 60 scores, plus anyone tied for 60th.
Round 3: Saturday, June 20
With the field cut roughly in half, Saturday switches to twosomes off a single tee, typically the 1st. Tee times are set in reverse order of the leaderboard, so the lowest scores go off last and finish in the late afternoon.
Final Round: Sunday, June 21
Sunday keeps the same single-tee, twosome format, with the final groupings built around who’s in contention. The last pairing usually tees off in the early afternoon, putting the finish in U.S. primetime viewing hours. This year’s final round also falls on Scottie Scheffler’s 30th birthday, adding another storyline to the weekend if he’s in the mix.
2026 U.S. Open Tee Times
First and second round tee times were released Tuesday morning, with the full 156-player field split into threesomes off the 1st and 10th tees in morning and afternoon waves. All times below are ET.
Round 1 Tee Times and Groupings
Several marquee groups headline Thursday’s action at Shinnecock Hills:
- 7:52 a.m., No. 10: Rory McIlroy, Ludvig Åberg, Tommy Fleetwood
- 8:14 a.m., No. 1: Scottie Scheffler, J.J. Spaun, Mason Howell (a)
- 1:25 p.m., No. 10: Bryson DeChambeau, Viktor Hovland, Matt Fitzpatrick
- 1:47 p.m., No. 1: Justin Thomas, Hideki Matsuyama, Xander Schauffele
- 2:09 p.m., No. 10: Justin Rose, Jordan Spieth, Jon Rahm
The USGA also had some fun with the tee sheet this year, slotting in a few themed groupings alongside the star-studded ones, including an all-French trio.
Round 2 Tee Times and Groupings
Groups keep their threesomes for Friday but flip their start times and tees so no one gets the same conditions twice. The headline pairings shift to:
- Scheffler, Spaun, Howell (a): 2:09 p.m.
- McIlroy, Åberg, Fleetwood: 1:47 p.m.
- Rose, Spieth, Rahm: 8:14 a.m.
- DeChambeau, Hovland, M. Fitzpatrick: 7:30 a.m.
The field gets cut to the low 60 scores (plus ties) at the end of Friday’s round, so Round 2 is the last chance for players on the bubble to play their way into the weekend.
Featured Groups to Watch
A few pairings stand out beyond just star power:
Scheffler, Spaun, and Howell follow U.S. Open tradition by grouping the reigning U.S. Open champion, the U.S. Amateur champion, and the Champion Golfer of the Year, which happens to be Scheffler this year after his Open Championship win. It’s also Scheffler’s first round of his career Grand Slam bid.
McIlroy, Åberg, and Fleetwood put three members of Europe’s Ryder Cup team together, with McIlroy looking for a bounce-back after missing the cut the last time the U.S. Open was played at Shinnecock.
DeChambeau, Hovland, and Fitzpatrick brings together two past U.S. Open champions in DeChambeau and Fitzpatrick, with DeChambeau under extra scrutiny after missed cuts at the year’s first two majors.
Rose, Spieth, and Rahm is a trio of major champions, with Spieth still chasing the career Grand Slam himself.
Caution:
Tee times and groupings above are based on the official pairings sheet released by PGA Tour. Tee times can shift due to weather delays, withdrawals, or late changes, so check the PGA Tour site for live updates closer to each round.
How to Watch the 2026 U.S. Open on TV
Coverage of the 2026 U.S. Open is split across three channels.
- USA Network handles the early-morning coverage on weekdays and the early weekend windows, picking up the action as soon as the first groups go out.
- NBC carries the marquee windows, including Friday afternoon and the bulk of Saturday and Sunday, when the leaderboard tightens up. NBCSN fills in the gaps, mainly late Thursday and early Friday, before NBC takes over.
- On top of the live rounds, Golf Channel airs “Live From the U.S. Open” each evening with highlights, interviews, and analysis from on-site.
Full TV Schedule by Day
| Day | Time (ET) | Channel |
| Thursday, June 18 | 6:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. | USA |
| Thursday, June 18 | 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. | NBCSN |
| Thursday, June 18 | 8 p.m. – 10 p.m. | Golf Channel (“Live From”) |
| Friday, June 19 | 6:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. | NBCSN |
| Friday, June 19 | 1:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. | NBC |
| Friday, June 19 | 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. | Golf Channel (“Live From”) |
| Saturday, June 20 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. | USA |
| Saturday, June 20 | 12 p.m. – 8 p.m. | NBC |
| Sunday, June 21 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. | USA |
| Sunday, June 21 | 12 p.m. – 7 p.m. | NBC |
Saturday and Sunday have the tightest windows since the field is down to the players still in contention, so NBC’s coverage runs longest on those two days.
How to Stream the 2026 U.S. Open
Streaming options includes following:
1. Peacock
Peacock is the main streaming home for the tournament. It carries live simulcasts of every NBC and NBCSN broadcast window, so anyone without traditional cable can watch the same coverage as TV viewers. Peacock also adds extras that don’t make it to TV, including featured group coverage that follows specific pairings hole by hole throughout the day.
A Peacock Premium subscription is needed to access the full slate of coverage, including the exclusive featured groups.
2. USOpen.com and the USGA App
USOpen.com and the official USGA app offer another way to stream the tournament, with a focus on featured group coverage, hole-by-hole video, and live scoring. These platforms are useful if you want to follow a specific group, like Scheffler’s or McIlroy’s, without watching the full broadcast.
Tee times, leaderboards, and course maps are also available through the app, making it a solid second screen even if you’re already watching on TV.
3. Golf Channel and GC Mobile App
Golf Channel’s coverage, including “Live From the U.S. Open,” can be streamed through GolfChannel.com or the Golf Channel mobile app. The app also doubles as a live scoring tool, so it’s worth downloading even if your main viewing happens on USA or NBC.
Anyone watching through a cable or satellite provider can sign in with their TV provider credentials to unlock the live streams on both platforms.
Important Note:
Streaming details based on Golf.com’s and Golf Channel’s official viewing guides for the 2026 tournament. Streaming access can vary by provider, so check Peacock or USOpen.com directly if you run into login issues.
Who Is Playing at the 2026 U.S. Open
Top Players to Watch (Scheffler, McIlroy, DeChambeau, Rahm)
- Scottie Scheffler arrives as the World No. 1 and the betting favorite, looking for the one major that’s missing from his resume. A win this week would complete the career Grand Slam, and he’s said he feels good about where his game is after his practice rounds at Shinnecock.
- Rory McIlroy comes in as World No. 2 off the back of his second Masters title this year, chasing a second major of the season. He has some history to settle at Shinnecock too, having shot 80 and missed the cut here the last time the U.S. Open was held at this course in 2018.
- Bryson DeChambeau is a two-time U.S. Open champion looking to turn his year around after missing the cut at both the Masters and the PGA Championship. He’s made some equipment changes heading into this week in hopes of finding his form again.
- Jon Rahm, the 2021 U.S. Open champion, is playing some of his best golf since joining LIV, fresh off a runner-up finish to Aaron Rai at the PGA Championship. He’s widely viewed as the top threat among the LIV Golf contingent this week.
Full Field and Qualifiers
This year’s U.S. Open field is set at 156 players, with a mix of exempt stars and qualifiers who earned their way in. Unlike the Masters or the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open keeps an open path to entry, meaning any professional or amateur golfer with a low enough handicap can attempt to qualify.
| Category | Detail |
| Total field | 156 players |
| Earned spot via local and final qualifying | 51 players |
| Fully exempt players | Remaining field, including past champions, recent major winners, and top-ranked players |
| LIV Golf players in the field | 13 |
| Leading LIV contenders | Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Tyrrell Hatton |
| Entries opened | February, through the USGA |
Notable Storylines (Scheffler’s Grand Slam Bid, Tiger and Phil Both Absent)
The biggest storyline this week is Scheffler’s bid for the career Grand Slam. He’d become only the fourth golfer in history to complete it at age 30 or younger, joining Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods. It’s a fitting backdrop too, since the final round falls on Scheffler’s 30th birthday.
This is also the first U.S. Open in decades where neither Tiger Woods nor Phil Mickelson is in the field, marking a clear changing of the guard at the top of the sport. Add in Brooks Koepka, the last champion at Shinnecock in 2018, playing through a hand injury, and a deep group of past champions and rising stars, and there’s no shortage of angles to follow this week.
2026 U.S. Open Prize Money
Official 2026 prize money hasn’t been announced yet, the USGA typically releases the figures during tournament week once the field is set. Based on recent years, expect the purse to land around $21.5 million, which is what both the 2024 and 2025 editions paid out and remains the largest purse of any major championship.
Winner’s Share
J.J. Spaun earned $4.3 million for his win at Oakmont last year, matching what Bryson DeChambeau took home in 2024. That figure has climbed steadily over the past few years, up from $3.6 million in 2023 and just $2.25 million back in 2020.
If the purse holds steady for 2026, the winner’s share should land in that same $4.3 million range.
Full Payout Breakdown
Until the USGA confirms 2026 numbers, here’s how the top finishers were paid out from the 2025 purse at Oakmont as a reference point:
| Position | Player | Payout (2025) |
| 1 | J.J. Spaun | $4,300,000 |
| 2 | Robert MacIntyre | $2,322,000 |
| 3 | Viktor Hovland | $1,459,284 |
| T4 | Cameron Young | $876,869 |
| T4 | Tyrrell Hatton | $876,869 |
| T4 | Carlos Ortiz | $876,869 |
| T7 | Sam Burns | $614,423 |
| T7 | Jon Rahm | $614,423 |
| T7 | Scottie Scheffler | $614,423 |
Important Note:
Figures reflect the confirmed 2025 U.S. Open payouts at Oakmont. The 2026 purse and payout breakdown will be confirmed by the USGA during tournament week, check USOpen.com for the official numbers once released.
About Shinnecock Hills Golf Club
Shinnecock Hills is one of the oldest golf clubs in the country and one of the five founding members of the USGA. Many golf historians consider it the earliest true links-style course in America.
- C.B. Macdonald gave the course a major redesign decades after it opened, and William Flynn replaced nearly all of it again in the early 1930s, keeping just three of Macdonald’s original holes.
- Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw made further changes in 2012, mostly expanding the greens and fairways and adjusting mowing patterns ahead of the 2018 U.S. Open.
Today the course plays at roughly 7,440 yards as a par 70, and it sits among the top five courses in the world on GOLF’s rankings. This year marks Shinnecock’s sixth U.S. Open, with a seventh already scheduled for 2036.
Past U.S. Open Winners at Shinnecock
| Year | Champion |
| 1896 | James Foulis |
| 1986 | Raymond Floyd |
| 1995 | Corey Pavin |
| 2004 | Retief Goosen |
| 2018 | Brooks Koepka |
Each of Shinnecock’s past U.S. Opens has been remembered for brutal scoring conditions, especially 2004 and 2018, when wind and crowned, fast greens pushed the field well over par.
Weather and Course Conditions This Week
Conditions look mostly dry, with highs between 78 and 84 degrees across the four rounds. Thursday carries the only real rain risk, with a 48% chance of showers, while the rest of the week stays largely clear. Wind is the bigger story, forecasts call for steady winds of 15 to 20 mph throughout the week, jumping to 20 to 30 mph on Thursday with gusts topping 30 mph.
Players, including past champion Rory McIlroy, have already pointed to the wind as a reason the USGA may need to slow down the greens to keep the course playable. Given Shinnecock’s history, expect scoring to run high again if the forecast holds.
Here, the course and weather details based on reporting from Golf Digest, Golf Channel, and PGA Tour. Weather forecasts can change throughout the week, so check a live source closer to each round for the latest.
Final Thoughts
The U.S. Open Golf Tournament 2026 promises to be one of the most exciting events on the golf calendar, bringing the world’s top players to the historic Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. With Scottie Scheffler chasing a career Grand Slam, Rory McIlroy looking for another major title, and a strong field of contenders competing for one of golf’s biggest prizes, fans can expect four days of high-quality competition.
Whether you plan to watch on television, stream the action online, or follow the live leaderboard, knowing the key dates, tee times, player pairings, and viewing options will help you make the most of the championship. As always, the challenging conditions at Shinnecock Hills could produce plenty of surprises, making the 2026 U.S. Open a tournament that golf fans will not want to miss.
Key Takeaways
- The 2026 U.S. Open will be played from June 18–21 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York.
- Shinnecock Hills is hosting the U.S. Open for the sixth time and is known for its difficult playing conditions.
- J.J. Spaun enters the tournament as the defending champion after winning the 2025 U.S. Open.
- The championship field consists of 156 players, including exempt golfers and qualifiers.
- Scottie Scheffler arrives as the World No. 1 and is aiming to complete the career Grand Slam.
- First and second round tee times feature several marquee groups with many of the world’s top players.
- The field will be reduced after Round 2 to the low 60 scores and ties.
- Live coverage of the tournament will be available on USA Network, NBC, NBCSN, and Golf Channel.
- Fans can stream the U.S. Open through Peacock, USOpen.com, the USGA App, and Golf Channel platforms.
- Strong winds and firm course conditions could play a major role in determining the 2026 U.S. Open champion.
FAQs
When does the 2026 U.S. Open start?
The 126th U.S. Open runs June 18–21, 2026, with practice rounds June 15–17, at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York.
What channel is the U.S. Open on?
Coverage airs across USA Network, NBC, NBCSN, and Golf Channel, with NBC carrying the second, third, and final rounds. USA handles Thursday’s opening round and early weekend coverage.
How can I stream the U.S. Open without cable?
Stream via Peacock, which carries featured-group coverage and TV simulcasts, plus USOpen.com. A Peacock subscription is required for full streaming access to all four rounds.
Where is the 2026 U.S. Open being played?
Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York, is hosting for the sixth time. It’s the only venue to host the U.S. Open across three different centuries.
Who is the defending U.S. Open champion?
J.J. Spaun won the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club. He enters Shinnecock Hills this year carrying that title and a fresh perspective on major championship golf.
Who are the favorites to win the 2026 U.S. Open?
Scottie Scheffler is the betting favorite (around +450 to +550), chasing the career Grand Slam. Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm follow as next-tier contenders among sportsbooks.
How many players are in the U.S. Open field?
The field consists of 156 professional and amateur players, drawn from exemption categories, local and final qualifying, and special USGA exemptions for the 2026 championship.
Is Scottie Scheffler playing in the 2026 U.S. Open?
Yes. Scheffler enters as world No. 1 and tournament favorite, attempting to complete the career Grand Slam with a win at Shinnecock Hills this week.
Are Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson playing this year?
No. Woods lost his past-champion exemption and hasn’t competed much in 2026. Mickelson is sitting out due to a personal family matter and didn’t enter qualifying.
What is the cut line at Shinnecock Hills usually like?
Historically the cut lands around +4 to +7. In the 2018 U.S. Open there, it came in at +8, reflecting the course’s notoriously demanding setup.
When are U.S. Open tee times released?
The USGA typically releases first- and second-round tee times the Tuesday of tournament week. For 2026, pairings and starting times were published that Tuesday morning.
How much is the U.S. Open purse in 2026?
The total purse is at least $21.5 million, with the champion earning $4.3 million, plus the U.S. Open Trophy, Jack Nicklaus Medal, and FedExCup points.
