2026 AIG Women’s Open, Round 1: Key Information
The first round of the 2026 AIG Women’s Open was held on Thursday, July 30th, at Royal Lytham & St Annes in England. In South Korea, JTBC participated as the official broadcasting partner, while in the United States, the Golf Channel and USA Network shared the live broadcast duties on Thursday.
According to a statement from the R&A, the tournament week was from July 29th to August 2nd, and the official four rounds were held from July 30th to August 2nd. This tournament marked the 50th anniversary of its establishment in 1976, and it was the fifth and final major tournament of the 2026 women’s golf season.
Thursday, Round 1, TV broadcast time
Korean broadcast
The list of global broadcast partners released by R&A includes JTBC of South Korea. Domestic viewers can check the actual broadcast channels and live broadcast times through JTBC’s golf-related channels and official program schedules.
The tournament announced that the international broadcast production schedule for Thursday would be from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, according to British Summer Time. Converted to Korean time, this is from 5:00 PM on July 30th to 3:00 AM on July 31st.
- Round 1: Thursday, July 30, 2026.
- International broadcast time: 5:00 PM to 3:00 AM (Korean time).
- Official broadcast partner: JTBC.
- Note: The actual broadcast time and channel may vary depending on the program schedule.
United States broadcast
According to Eastern US time, the Golf Channel broadcast the first round from 4:00 AM to 8:00 AM on Thursday, and the USA Network broadcast it from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
- 4:00 AM to 8:00 AM ET: Golf Channel.
- 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM ET: USA Network.
British broadcast
In the United Kingdom, Sky Sports and R&A TV provided live coverage. Early morning coverage, focusing on the first round, was broadcast from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The main broadcast then continued from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
How to watch the 2026 AIG Women’s Open streaming
In the United Kingdom, viewers could watch live coverage of all rounds via R&A TV after registering an account, and Sky Sports subscribers could watch the tournament on TV and supported devices. In the United States, viewers could access the tournament through paid TV channels, including the Golf Channel and USA Network, or through live TV streaming services.
Peacock offered additional streaming content focused on key matches for viewers in the United States. Broadcasting and streaming rights are divided by country, so if you are staying abroad, please check with the official broadcasting partner in that region to see if the content is available.
The official AIG Women’s Open app provided real-time leaderboards, scores for each player, tee times, course maps, and video content. It could be used as a supplementary tool to follow the progress of the matches for those who were unable to watch the live TV broadcast.
Tournament location and the significance of the 2026 tournament
Royal Lytham & St Annes is a traditional links course that will host the AIG Women’s Open six times by 2026. Previous tournaments held at this course have been won by Georgia Hall, Catriona Matthew, Sherri Steinhauer, and Annika Sörenstam.
According to announcements from R&A and AIG, the total prize money for 2026 has been set at a record high of $10,000,000. Early broadcasts will be added for the first and second rounds, each lasting 3 hours, resulting in a maximum of 34 hours of broadcast content over the four days.
Things to check before watching the broadcast
- Verify the time difference and date changes between South Korea and the United Kingdom.
- Check the live broadcast start time on the JTBC channel’s daily program schedule.
- When using a paid streaming service, verify whether the subscription includes the sports channels you want.
- Find the tee times of the players you are interested in, either through the official app or the leaderboard, in advance.
- The broadcast schedule may be subject to change, so please check the latest schedule just before the start of the game.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When was the first round of the 2026 AIG Women’s Open?
The first round was held on Thursday, July 30, 2026. The entire four-round schedule was from July 30 to August 2.
Which broadcasting station in South Korea provided the coverage?
R&A has announced that JTBC is the official Korean broadcast partner. The actual broadcast channel and time could be confirmed according to the JTBC program schedule at the time.
What time was the broadcast on Thursday, Korean time?
The R&A announced that the international broadcast schedule would be from 5:00 PM to 3:00 AM Korea Standard Time on July 30th, to the following day. Domestic broadcasters may choose to air portions of this schedule.
Where in the United States could people watch the first round?
The broadcast was shown on the Golf Channel from 4:00 AM to 8:00 AM Eastern Time, and on the USA Network from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
Was free streaming also provided?
In the United Kingdom, R&A TV provided live coverage of all rounds to users who registered an account. In other countries, regional broadcasting rights and subscription requirements applied.
Where was the 2026 AIG Women’s Open held?
The event was held at the Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club, located in Lancashire, England. This course had hosted the tournament for the sixth time.
