THE OPEN 2026: all you need to know

The world's oldest major returns to Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Southport, England, for the 154th Open Championship.

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Royal Birkdale last hosted The Open in 2017, when Jordan Spieth captured the Claret Jug in one of the most memorable finishes in recent championship history.

DATE: 16-19 July

VENUE: Royal Birkdale

BROADCAST DETAILS

* Stream the action LIVE on DStv *

Day 1 - Thursday 16 July

Main Feed | SS Golf, Golf Africa, Grandstand – 7:30am-9:30pm

Day 2 - Friday 17 July

Main Feed | SS Golf, Golf Africa, Grandstand – 7:30am-9:30pm

Day 3 - Saturday 18 July

Main Feed | SS Golf, Golf Africa, Grandstand – 11am-9pm

Day 4 - Sunday 19 July

Main Feed | SS Golf; Golf Africa, Grandstand; CSN – 10am-8pm

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER'S TITLE DEFENCE

World No 1 Scottie Scheffler arrives as the defending Champion Golfer of the Year and is expected to be among the favourites. His consistency in major championships continues to set the benchmark in men's golf.

MCILROY'S PURSUIT OF ANOTHER MAJOR

Rory McIlroy remains one of the biggest attractions in the field and will look to add another Open title to his résumé. His ability to adapt to links conditions makes him a perennial contender whenever The Open is played on Britain's coastal courses.

HOME HOPES

English stars Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick are expected to command strong local support. Fleetwood, in particular, has long been viewed as a player whose game is ideally suited to links golf.

SOUTH AFRICANS IN THE FIELD

South Africa will have a small but noteworthy contingent at Royal Birkdale for the 154th Open Championship.

Aldrich Potgieter will now tee off at 2:53pm on Thursday, alongside SA amateur Jack Buchanan and Swede Jesper Svensson.

There are six other South Africans in the field this week - Hennie du Plessis, Casey Jarvis, Jayden Schaper, Michael Hollick, Shaun Norris and MJ Daffue

Du Plessis and Schaper, both secured their places through strong performances on the DP World Tour.

The youngest South African in the field is Jarvis, who qualified by winning the Investec South African Open Championship at Stellenbosch Golf Club.

The 22-year-old enhanced his growing reputation by claiming back-to-back DP World Tour victories and will make his Open debut at Royal Birkdale. Jarvis is regarded as one of the brightest prospects in South African golf and will be aiming to continue his impressive breakthrough season on one of the sport's biggest stages.