How to Watch The Open Championship for Free

← Major Golf Events & Tournaments | Tickets & Event Information

BLOCKQUOTE_0

Quick Answer

• Leverage free trials from streaming services carrying the tournament.
• Seek out official broadcasters offering free streams or highlight reels.
• Explore public viewing events or local sports bars.

Who This is For

• Golf enthusiasts who want to follow The Open Championship without committing to a paid subscription.
• Budget-conscious viewers looking for cost-effective ways to enjoy major golf tournaments.

What to Check First for Free Open Championship Viewing

• Verify which broadcasters officially hold the rights to The Open Championship in your specific region. This is key to knowing where to look.
• Investigate free trial periods offered by sports streaming services that carry the official broadcasters. Many offer a week or two for free.
• Confirm if any official broadcasters are providing free access to specific rounds, practice sessions, or highlight packages. Sometimes they offer a taste of the action.
• Note the exact dates of The Open Championship to align your streaming trial perfectly. Missing the window means missing the golf.

Step-by-Step Plan: How to Watch The Open for Free

1. Identify Official Broadcasters: Your first mission is to pinpoint who officially holds the broadcast rights for The Open Championship in your country. For example, in the United States, this typically falls to NBC and the Golf Channel. In the UK, it’s often BBC Sport and Sky Sports. Don’t just assume; a quick search on The Open’s official website or a reliable sports news outlet will confirm this.

• What to look for: A clear listing of official broadcast partners for your geographic location.
• Mistake to avoid: Assuming a major sports network will automatically carry the event without verifying their rights. You could waste time searching the wrong channels.

2. Research Streaming Services with Free Trials: Once you know the official broadcasters, research live TV streaming services that carry those channels and, crucially, offer free trial periods. For US viewers, services like FuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, or YouTube TV are common options that often include NBC and the Golf Channel. Check their current offers.

• What to look for: Services that offer a free trial of at least 7 days and include the channels broadcasting The Open.
• Mistake to avoid: Signing up for a streaming service without thoroughly understanding its cancellation policy and the duration of the free trial. You need to know when you’ll be charged if you don’t cancel.

3. Sign Up for a Free Trial Strategically: Choose a streaming service that meets your needs and sign up for its free trial. Ensure that the trial period aligns perfectly with the dates of The Open Championship. Aim to start the trial just before the tournament begins so you maximize your viewing time within the free window.

• What to look for: A seamless sign-up process and confirmation of your trial start and end dates.
• Mistake to avoid: Forgetting to cancel the trial before it automatically converts to a paid subscription. This is the most common pitfall and can lead to unexpected charges.

4. Set Multiple Cancellation Reminders: This is non-negotiable. As soon as you’ve signed up for your free trial, set multiple reminders in your phone calendar, on your computer, or even a sticky note on your monitor. Schedule these for a day or two before the trial is set to expire. This gives you ample time to act if you decide not to continue with the service.

• What to look for: A clear, unmissable alert that prompts you to review your subscription status.
• Mistake to avoid: Relying on memory. Life gets busy, and it’s incredibly easy to forget about a trial ending, especially when you’re focused on enjoying the golf.

5. Tune In and Enjoy The Open: With your streaming service trial active and your cancellation reminders set, you’re ready to watch The Open Championship. Access the official broadcasters through your chosen streaming platform and enjoy the world-class golf.

• What to look for: A stable, high-quality stream of the tournament coverage.
• Mistake to avoid: Getting distracted by other online content or forgetting the purpose of your subscription. Stay focused on catching all the action you signed up for.

6. Cancel Before the Trial Ends (If Necessary): If you only wanted to watch The Open for free and don’t wish to continue with the streaming service, make sure you cancel your subscription before the free trial period concludes. Follow the service’s cancellation procedure carefully.

• What to look for: Confirmation that your subscription has been successfully cancelled and you will not be billed further.
• Mistake to avoid: Missing the cancellation deadline. This will result in you being charged for the next billing cycle.

How to Watch The Open for Free: Avoiding Pitfalls

• Mistake: Assuming all broadcasters show the entire tournament for free.
• Why it matters: Many broadcasters offer only select coverage or highlights for free, while full live feeds require a subscription. You might end up missing crucial rounds or key moments if you don’t verify.
• Fix: Always check the official broadcast schedule and rights holder information for your region. Look for explicit mentions of “free live coverage” for the entire event.

• Mistake: Forgetting to cancel a free trial before it converts to a paid subscription.
• Why it matters: This is the most common and costly mistake. You’ll be automatically charged for a full month or year of service, often without realizing it until your credit card statement arrives.
• Fix: Set multiple, aggressive calendar reminders for at least two days before the trial expires. Seriously, put it in your phone, your computer, and tell a friend to remind you.

• Mistake: Not checking regional broadcast restrictions.
• Why it matters: Streaming services often have geo-restrictions. A service that works perfectly in one country might not be accessible or might offer different content in another. You could sign up only to find the stream is unavailable where you are.
• Fix: Before signing up for a trial, verify the service’s coverage map or contact their customer support to confirm that The Open Championship will be broadcast and accessible in your specific location.

• Mistake: Relying on unofficial or “pirated” streams.
• Why it matters: These streams are often of poor quality, riddled with intrusive ads, potentially contain malware or viruses, and can be shut down at any moment, leaving you with no golf to watch. They can also carry legal risks.
• Fix: Stick to official broadcasters and legitimate streaming services that offer free trials. The peace of mind and quality are well worth the minimal effort.

• Mistake: Signing up for multiple trials that overlap or expire too quickly.
• Why it matters: If you sign up for several trials back-to-back without proper tracking, you might miss the tournament entirely or forget to cancel one before another begins, leading to multiple charges.
• Fix: Plan your trials carefully. Start with one service that covers the most critical parts of the tournament, and only move to another if absolutely necessary, ensuring you track each cancellation date meticulously.

• Mistake: Underestimating the importance of official sources for broadcast information.
• Why it matters: Third-party sites or forums might provide outdated or incorrect information about broadcasters and streaming options. This can lead you down the wrong path and result in missed opportunities.
• Fix: Always refer to the official website of The Open Championship or the official websites of the major sports broadcasters in your region for the most accurate and up-to-date information on where to watch.

FAQ

• What are the official broadcasters of The Open Championship?

Official broadcasters vary by country. In the United States, it’s typically NBC and the Golf Channel. In the United Kingdom, it’s usually BBC Sport and Sky Sports. It’s always best to check the official Open Championship website for the definitive list in your specific region.

• Can I watch The Open Championship for free on YouTube?

While official broadcasters often post highlights, interviews, and classic moments on their YouTube channels, live, full-round coverage of The Open Championship is generally not broadcast for free on YouTube itself. However, some streaming services that offer free trials, like YouTube TV, do carry the official channels.

• Are there any truly free streaming services that offer The Open Championship live?

Directly free streaming services that offer live coverage of major golf tournaments like The Open are extremely rare. Your most reliable strategy for free viewing is to take advantage of the free trial periods offered by legitimate sports streaming services that carry the official broadcasters.

• How do I find out which channels have broadcast rights in my country?

The most reliable way to determine the official broadcasters in your country is to visit the official website of The Open Championship. They typically have a dedicated section listing their broadcast partners for various territories worldwide.

• What happens if I miss the free trial window for a streaming service?

If you miss the free trial window, you’ll likely need to subscribe to a paid package. However, you can still explore options like checking local sports bars that might be showing the tournament, or looking for official highlight reels that are often released for free after each round or the conclusion of the event.

• Are there any public viewing events for The Open Championship?

Sometimes, local sports bars or community venues will host public viewing events for major sporting tournaments. It’s worth checking local listings or asking around in golf fan communities online to see if any such events are organized in your area.

• What’s the best way to ensure I don’t get charged after a free trial?

The absolute best way is to set multiple, non-negotiable calendar reminders for at least 2-3 days before the trial is scheduled to end. Immediately upon signing up, enter these reminders into your digital calendar with an alert. This proactive approach is your strongest defense against unwanted charges.