Us Open Schedule and End Times: A Complete Overview
The US Open runs Thursday through Sunday, with daily tee times starting between 6:30 and 7:00 AM ET and the final group finishing around 6:00 to 7:00 PM ET on Sunday. If a playoff is needed, the tournament extends to Monday. That Sunday window is reliable only if weather cooperates and no tie occurs—both have stretched past 7:30 PM in recent years.
Daily Schedule Breakdown
Thursday and Friday (First Two Rounds)
- First tee time: ~6:30–7:00 AM ET (depends on sunrise at the course location).
- Last tee time: ~2:00–2:30 PM ET for the morning wave; the afternoon wave finishes around 8:00–8:30 PM ET.
- Field size: Full 156 players. Morning and afternoon waves split the field.
- TV coverage: Peacock and NBC typically start at 8:00–9:00 AM ET and run until the final putt.
Saturday (Third Round)
- First tee time: 8:00–9:00 AM ET (only the ~60–70 players who made the cut).
- Last tee time: Usually 1:30–2:30 PM ET, with the leaders teeing off around 2:00 PM ET.
- End of play: 6:30–7:30 PM ET. The compressed schedule ensures the round finishes in daylight.
- TV coverage: 10:00 AM–7:00 PM ET on NBC.
Sunday (Final Round)
- First tee time: 7:30–8:00 AM ET (low scorers from Saturday go first).
- Last tee time (final pair): Typically 12:30–1:30 PM ET. The leaders finish between 5:30 and 7:00 PM ET.
- Trophy presentation: ~15–20 minutes after the last putt.
- TV coverage: 10:00 AM–7:00 PM ET (may extend if the round runs late).
When the Expected End Time Changes
The table above is a starting point, not a guarantee. Weather is the most common reason for a later finish. Lightning, heavy rain, or high winds can suspend play for hours. The USGA has built-in flexibility—tees may be moved up, or players may finish a round on Saturday morning if Friday’s round is delayed.
- 2023 (LACC): Round 3 was delayed nearly two hours by fog, pushing Sunday tee times back. The final group still finished at 5:40 PM ET, inside the normal window.
- 2008 (Torrey Pines): A Monday 18-hole playoff between Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate was needed after Sunday’s tie. Woods won on the 91st hole, ending Monday afternoon.
- 2015 (Chambers Bay): Thursday rain forced an early suspension; the second round ended Saturday morning, compressing the weekend and pushing final-round end time past 7:00 PM ET.
Slow play by the final groups can also stretch the broadcast. The USGA enforces a pace-of-play policy, but crowd noise, green-reading, and TV commercial breaks add time on the final holes. Expect the last 30–60 minutes of Sunday to be the most unpredictable.
Playoff – The Only Way Past Sunday
Since 2010, the USGA uses a two-hole aggregate playoff followed by sudden death if still tied. That adds 30–45 minutes if it happens on Sunday, or forces a Monday finish if daylight runs out. The last Men’s US Open Monday finish was 2008. Since then, every champion has been crowned on Sunday. The Women’s US Open still uses an 18-hole Monday playoff if needed.
What This Means for Your Viewing Plans
If you’re planning to watch the final round live, block off 12:00 PM to 7:30 PM ET on Sunday. That covers the leaders’ full round plus trophy presentation. For earlier rounds, Thursday and Friday require the longest commitment—up to 14 hours of coverage. If you’re attending in person, expect course gates to open by 6:00 AM ET and the grounds to clear about 30 minutes after the final putt.
Practical implication: The Sunday end time is the one that matters most for most viewers. If no weather issues or playoff occur, you can expect the champion’s putt between 6:00 and 7:00 PM ET. If a storm is in the forecast, plan for an extra hour. If a playoff happens, the champion may not be decided until Monday.
How to Confirm the Exact Times for This Year
Do not rely on general tables alone. Use these steps to verify the specific year’s schedule:
1. Visit usopen.com – The official USGA site posts the full daily tee times and round schedules about two weeks before the tournament. Times are listed in both ET and local time.
2. Check the USGA mobile app – Weather forecasts, course conditions, and any schedule changes are updated each morning.
3. Look up NBC/Peacock listings – TV coverage windows may shift slightly based on the course’s time zone and anticipated finish. For West Coast courses (e.g., LACC 2023, Pebble Beach), add 3 hours to Pacific time to get ET. For East Coast courses (e.g., Pinehurst, Erin Hills), ET is local time.
4. Monitor social media – The USGA’s Twitter/X account posts real-time delay updates.
Verification step: On the morning of each round, pull up the USGA app and look for the “Round Timeline” card. It will show the exact first and last tee times, the estimated end of play, and any weather advisories. Comparing that to the generic table will tell you whether to adjust your viewing window.
Limitations and Trade-offs of the Schedule Table
The “Quick Reference” table you see on many sports sites is a best-guess average. It does not account for:
- Course difficulty – A notoriously hard course like Shinnecock Hills or Pinehurst No. 2 can push the leaders’ round to 5+ hours, adding 30–45 minutes.
- Television windows – NBC may extend coverage past 7:00 PM ET if the leaders are still on the course, but the official “end of play” is when the last ball is holed, not when the broadcast ends.
- Time zone confusion – If you’re watching from a different time zone, the table’s ET times may shift by hours. Always convert to your local time.
Trade-off example: A viewer who plans a Sunday watch party based on the table’s “6:30–7:00 PM ET” finish may miss the final putt if weather delays start the round later. The safest approach is to block out from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM ET on Sunday and check the app that morning.
Quick Reference: US Open Schedule by Round (Typical Times)
| Day | First Tee (ET) | Last Tee (ET) | End of Play (ET) | TV Coverage (NBC/Peacock) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday | 6:30 AM | 2:30 PM | ~8:30 PM | 8:00 AM – 8:30 PM |
| Friday | 6:30 AM | 2:30 PM | ~8:30 PM | 8:00 AM – 8:30 PM |
| Saturday | 8:00 AM | 2:30 PM | ~7:00 PM | 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Sunday | 7:30 AM | 1:30 PM | ~6:30–7:00 PM | 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
Times are approximate and can vary by course location and year. Always verify with the USGA’s official schedule for the specific year before making plans.
The US Open’s schedule is designed to finish on Sunday, but knowing the typical windows and the factors that shift them helps you plan your viewing or in-person attendance. Check the official sources each morning for the most accurate end time.
Michael Reeves is a PGA Professional with over 20 years of experience in competitive golf and instruction. A former Division I collegiate player at the University of Texas, he competed on the mini-tours before transitioning to full-time coaching and golf journalism. He has been a certified PGA teaching professional since 2005 and has worked with players at every level, from absolute beginners to collegiate champions.
His writing has appeared in Golf Digest, Golf Magazine, and The Left Rough. At GolfHubz, Michael leads the editorial team, overseeing fact-checking and ensuring every answer meets the same standard he demands on the lesson tee: clear, evidence-based, and immediately useful.
When he’s not writing or teaching, Michael plays to a +1.4 handicap at his home club in Austin, Texas. He has attended over 40 major championships as a journalist and fan, and has played more than 200 courses across 15 countries.
You can reach Michael at [email protected] or follow his occasional swing analysis posts on the site.