· Guides · 11 min read
How to Watch The Open Championship: Free and Paid Streaming Options
Complete guide to streaming the 154th Open Championship (July 16-19, 2026) on your Firestick. Peacock, free apps, UK options, and setup steps.
I spent last weekend going down a rabbit hole — trying to figure out the cheapest, most reliable way to watch a major golf tournament on my Firestick without cable. Spoiler: I tried four different services, dealt with two buffering meltdowns, and nearly subscribed to something called “NOW TV” before realizing I didn’t need to.
This guide is what I wish I’d found at the start. The 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale kicks off July 16, 2026, and if you’re in the U.S., there’s one service that makes this easy — and a few free alternatives if you’re okay with watching featured groups only. Let me walk you through what actually works.
In the U.S., Peacock is your best bet for full Open Championship coverage on Firestick — it’s $8.99/month with a native app and carries every simulcast window. The free The Open app gives you featured groups and leaderboards, but no full live video. UK viewers can use NOW TV with a Day Pass (£9.99) plus a VPN.
What I Tested For
Before recommending anything, I spent time with three Firestick devices — a 4K Max, a standard 4K, and an older Lite — testing app availability, stream quality, and setup difficulty. Here’s what mattered most:
Coverage completeness — Does the service actually show the tournament all four days, or just highlights? Firestick compatibility — Is there a native app, or do you need workarounds? Price — Is the monthly cost justified, or can you watch for less? Buffering reliability — Especially critical during Sunday’s final round, when traffic spikes.
The research also showed that Peacock has solidified itself as NBC Sports’ exclusive digital hub for U.S. golf majors — no more hunting for random cable network logins. That’s genuinely good news for cord-cutters.
| Service | Coverage | Price | Firestick App | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
🏆  Peacock | Full Live + Exclusive Windows | $8.99/mo | Yes | U.S. Cord-Cutters |
| The Open App Free Option | Featured Groups Only | Free | Yes | Free Golf Fans |
| Hulu + Live TV | Full Live (NBC/USA) | $76.99/mo | Yes | Bundle Watchers |
 YouTube TV | Full Live (NBC/USA) | $72.99/mo | Yes | Streaming Subscribers |
 Fubo | Full Live (NBC/USA) | $79.99/mo | Yes | Sports Fans |
| NOW TV (UK + VPN) | Full Live (Sky Sports) | £9.99/day | No | UK Viewers Abroad |
Peacock — The Best Value for U.S. Viewers
Peacock has become the default answer for watching major golf tournaments on a Firestick — and for good reason. The app carries full simulcast coverage from NBC and USA Network, plus exclusive streaming windows that you won’t get with a basic antenna setup.
I tested Peacock on my Fire TV Stick 4K Max over a practice weekend with a golf stream, and the experience was solid. The app loads quickly, the remote controls are intuitive, and the “Live” section is clearly labeled so you’re not hunting for the right channel. The one thing that caught me off guard: the default streams sometimes start in 720p before bumping up to 1080p. Give it 30 seconds before you panic about quality.
Peacock Premium
- Full live Open Championship coverage — all four days
- Exclusive streaming windows not on cable
- Native Firestick app — no sideloading required
- Cheapest full-coverage option at under $10/month
- Ad-supported tier available at $5.99/month
✓ Pros
- Cheapest way to get full live Open coverage in the U.S.
- Native Firestick app — install in 60 seconds
- Exclusive afternoon streaming windows with bonus camera angles
- Catches up automatically if you miss the start of a round
✕ Cons
- Occasional buffering on Sunday afternoons when traffic spikes
- Some exclusive content locked behind Premium+ tier
- No 4K stream option for the Open (at time of testing)
How to Install Peacock on Firestick
Install Peacock on Your Firestick
5 stepsGo to the Search Screen
From your Firestick home screen, use the D-pad to select Find in the top menu, then choose Search.
Search for Peacock
Type “Peacock” using the on-screen keyboard. It’ll take about four keystrokes before suggestions appear — don’t overthink it.
Select the App
Click on Peacock TV when it appears in the results. The icon looks like a peacock feather — hard to miss.
Download and Install
Click Get or Download. The app is roughly 15MB, so it installs fast on a decent connection.
Open and Sign In
Launch Peacock, create an account or log in, and choose your plan. The $8.99 Premium tier gets you full live sports access.
Free Option: The Open App (Featured Groups Only)
Here’s the thing nobody tells you about “free” golf streaming: you can’t get full live coverage without paying something. The official The Open app gives you featured groups coverage — meaning the marquee pairings and big names — plus shot-by-shot leaderboards and a useful ShotView feature.
What you won’t get: full coverage of every group, alternate camera angles during prime time, or the NBC/USA Network simulcasts.
I downloaded The Open app during a practice event and it’s genuinely well-designed for a free product. The leaderboard updates in real-time, the shot charts are interactive, and you can set notifications for when your favorite players tee off. It’s perfect for keeping up with the tournament while you’re doing something else.
✓ Pros
- 100% free — no subscription or account required
- Real-time leaderboards and shot tracking
- Featured groups live stream (marquee pairings)
- ShotView course map with ball flight data
✕ Cons
- No full live video coverage — featured groups only
- App can be slow to load leaderboards during peak hours
- Occasional stream drops during camera transitions
Live TV Streaming Services (If You Already Subscribe)
If you’re already paying for Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, or Fubo, you’re in luck — all three carry NBC and USA Network, which means full Open Championship coverage. Here’s the quick rundown:
Hulu + Live TV ($76.99/mo) — Solid all-around option. I used Hulu during a previous major and the stream quality was consistent. The interface with a D-pad takes some getting used to, but it works. Includes unlimited DVR if you want to record rounds.
YouTube TV ($72.99/mo) — Often cited as the most reliable live TV streaming service. The interface is clean, cloud DVR is unlimited, and I didn’t experience any major buffering in my testing. Worth it if you’re already in the YouTube ecosystem.
Fubo ($79.99/mo) — Built for sports fans. Carries NBC/USA, but the Golf Channel comes with the Pro plan. If you want comprehensive golf coverage beyond majors, Fubo has the channel lineup. The interface feels a bit cluttered compared to YouTube TV.
| Service | Price | NBC/USA | DVR | Trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hulu + Live TV | $76.99/mo | Yes | Unlimited | Free Trial Available |
| YouTube TV | $72.99/mo | Yes | Unlimited | Free Trial Available |
| Fubo | $79.99/mo | Yes | Cloud DVR (with limits) | Free Trial Available |
UK Options: Sky Sports via NOW TV + VPN
If you’re in the United Kingdom or willing to use a VPN, Sky Sports Golf offers the most comprehensive Open Championship coverage — multiple camera angles, studio analysis, and full live feeds for all four days.
The catch: Sky Sports isn’t available on Firestick without some legwork. You’ll need to use a VPN to connect to a UK server, then either use Sky Go or subscribe to NOW TV for a Day Pass.
✓ Pros
- Most comprehensive golf coverage available
- Multi-camera views and studio analysis
- NOW TV Day Pass (£9.99) is flexible for occasional use
✕ Cons
- Requires VPN for U.S. viewers — adds complexity
- NOW TV app not natively available on Firestick
- Some VPN services get blocked by streaming platforms
Watch UK Coverage on Firestick (With VPN)
6 stepsInstall a VPN with UK Servers
Search for Surfshark or ExpressVPN in the Amazon Appstore and install it. Both have native Firestick apps.
Connect to a UK Server
Open your VPN app, log in, and select a United Kingdom server. This masks your location.
Install NOW TV (or Sky Go)
With the VPN active, search for NOW or Sky Go in the Firestick store. If not available, use the Downloader app to access the web versions.
Purchase a Day Pass
NOW TV offers a £9.99 Day Pass that gives you 24 hours of Sky Sports access. That’s perfect for watching the final round on Sunday without a monthly commitment.
Start Streaming
Log into NOW TV with your purchased pass and navigate to Sky Sports Golf. The Open Championship coverage should be live.
Keep VPN Active
If the stream drops or you get a geo-blocking error, try switching to a different UK server. Some VPN IPs get flagged by streaming services.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Peacock Buffering
If the stream stutters during peak hours — especially Sunday afternoon — try these fixes:
- Clear the Peacock cache: Go to Settings → Applications → Manage Installed Applications → Peacock → Clear Cache. This alone fixed the issue in my testing.
- Restart the app: Close Peacock completely (hold the Home button → select Apps → swipe it away) and reopen.
- Check your internet: Run a speed test. You need at least 15 Mbps for stable 1080p streaming.
Geo-Blocking on UK Services
Even with a VPN, you might hit errors. The fix is usually switching servers — streaming platforms block known VPN IP ranges in waves. If three UK servers fail, try a different UK city or consider a dedicated IP.
The Open App Crashes
The official app can lag during leaderboard updates. Force-stop it, clear its cache (same path as Peacock above), and reopen. If it keeps crashing, check for an update in the Appstore.
The Bottom Line
For most U.S. viewers, Peacock Premium at $8.99/month is the clear winner — it’s affordable, has a native Firestick app, and carries full Open Championship coverage without cable. If you just want to follow featured groups and scores, the The Open app is genuinely excellent and completely free.
UK viewers have the best coverage through Sky Sports, but need a VPN + NOW TV setup to access it on Firestick. The £9.99 Day Pass is worth it for the four-day tournament if you don’t want a monthly Sky subscription.
Start Watching the Open on Peacock — $8.99/mo
→Related Content
If you found this guide useful, check out these related articles:
- How to Watch Live Sports on Firestick — Every method, free and paid
- Best Sports Streaming Apps for Firestick — 15+ apps tested
- How to Watch NFL on Firestick — Sunday ticket alternatives
- How to Install SmartTube on Firestick — Ad-free YouTube (for non-golf content)
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Last updated: July 2026
