Open alarm clock set as Scheffler and DeChambeau draw early slot
The R&A’s Thursday tee sheet at Royal Birkdale puts Scottie Scheffler with Bryson DeChambeau at 4:58 a.m. ET, with Rory McIlroy out later.
By Deshawn Carter · Sports Writer
3 min read
Scottie Scheffler’s Open title defense gets an early jolt Thursday: the reigning champion is scheduled to tee off at 4:58 a.m. ET alongside Bryson DeChambeau and Tyrrell Hatton at Royal Birkdale, according to the tee times published by CBS Sports.
The R&A’s first-round draw for the 2026 Open Championship sends a 156-man field after the Claret Jug and the title of Champion Golfer of the Year. For U.S. viewers, that means coffee before sunrise if the plan is to catch several of the biggest names live.
Play is listed to begin at 1:35 a.m. ET with Matthew Baldwin, Thomas Detry and James Nicholas in the first group. The final Thursday group on the CBS Sports list, Kazuki Higa, Jiho Yang and amateur Nevill Ruiter, is set for 11:21 a.m. ET.
Early wave gets star power
The first highlighted group arrives at 2:19 a.m. ET, when Robert MacIntyre, Rickie Fowler and Alex Fitzpatrick are due to start. Other early groups include Henrik Stenson, Max Homa and Joe Dean at 2:08 a.m., plus Sungjae Im, Daniel Brown and amateur Fifa Laopakdee at 2:41 a.m.
The morning then picks up speed. CBS Sports lists Ben Griffin, Hideki Matsuyama and Min Woo Lee at 4:25 a.m., followed by Russell Henley, Justin Rose and Viktor Hovland at 4:36 a.m. Justin Thomas, Alex Noren and Jason Day are scheduled for 4:47 a.m.
Then comes the Scheffler, Hatton and DeChambeau trio at 4:58 a.m. One group later, Jordan Spieth, Tommy Fleetwood and Jon Rahm are set to go at 5:09 a.m., giving American fans a clear 5 a.m. target for a loaded stretch.
Rory McIlroy anchors the late marquee group
The later wave brings another heavy run of names. Chris Gotterup, Sam Burns and Adam Scott are listed for 9:31 a.m. ET. Collin Morikawa, J.J. Spaun and Nicolai Højgaard follow at 9:42 a.m., with Shane Lowry, Aaron Rai and Brooks Koepka at 9:53 a.m.
Cameron Young, Wyndham Clark and Ludvig Åberg are due at 10:04 a.m. The next tee time, 10:15 a.m., features Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele and Matt Fitzpatrick in the headline late grouping.
Patrick Cantlay, Daniel Berger and Nico Echavarria are listed at 10:37 a.m., one of the final notable groups before the last stretch of Thursday starters.
Key Thursday tee times, all Eastern
- 1:35 a.m.: Matthew Baldwin, Thomas Detry, James Nicholas
- 2:19 a.m.: Robert MacIntyre, Rickie Fowler, Alex Fitzpatrick
- 4:25 a.m.: Ben Griffin, Hideki Matsuyama, Min Woo Lee
- 4:36 a.m.: Russell Henley, Justin Rose, Viktor Hovland
- 4:47 a.m.: Justin Thomas, Alex Noren, Jason Day
- 4:58 a.m.: Scottie Scheffler, Tyrrell Hatton, Bryson DeChambeau
- 5:09 a.m.: Jordan Spieth, Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm
- 9:31 a.m.: Chris Gotterup, Sam Burns, Adam Scott
- 9:42 a.m.: Collin Morikawa, J.J. Spaun, Nicolai Højgaard
- 9:53 a.m.: Shane Lowry, Aaron Rai, Brooks Koepka
- 10:04 a.m.: Cameron Young, Wyndham Clark, Ludvig Åberg
- 10:15 a.m.: Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Matt Fitzpatrick
- 10:37 a.m.: Patrick Cantlay, Daniel Berger, Nico Echavarria
- 11:21 a.m.: Kazuki Higa, Jiho Yang, Nevill Ruiter (a)
This story draws on original reporting from CBS Sports.