Where to watch 2026 U.S. Championship live: Round 1 TV coverage, channel and streaming guide for Thursday
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- Shinnecock Hills hosts the 2026 U.S. Open starting Thursday, with 156 golfers competing over 72 holes for the Wanamaker Trophy.
- Scottie Scheffler enters as the headliner, making his first attempt at the career grand slam after capturing two of the three legs last year.
- J.J. Spaun returns as the defending 2025 champion, a reminder cited by the source that this major is uniquely open to the field given host-course difficulty.
- Round 1 begins Thursday, June 18 at 6:30 a.m. ET, with USA Network carrying TV coverage from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- NBC Sports Network picks up late streaming coverage from 5-8 p.m., while featured groups stream live at 7:30 a.m. on USOpen.com and the U.S. Open mobile app.
- Rory McIlroy sits just behind Scheffler on the odds board, with Jon Rahm, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Tommy Fleetwood also cited as contenders who could handle Shinnecock's expected windy conditions.
Why it matters: With Scheffler chasing the career grand slam and a deep field of European wind specialists like Rahm, Fitzpatrick, and Fleetwood suited to Shinnecock, Round 1 sets the tone for a major where defending champion Spaun proved anyone can win — and USA Network's 10.5-hour broadcast window gives fans wall-to-wall access before NBC Sports Network's evening wrap-up.
