The Open 2026 tee times: Rory McIlroy given late start to opening round at Royal Birkdale as R1 groupings revealed

Rory McIlroy will tee off at 3:15pm on Thursday in the opening round of The 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, grouped alongside Xander Schauffele and Matt Fitzpatrick for the first two rounds. McIlroy, who won The Masters earlier in the season, is seeking his first Open Championship title since 2014. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler is on the opposite side of the draw, teeing off early alongside Tyrrell Hatton and Bryson DeChambeau.