Golf fans, get ready for a welcome shift in how you watch the U.S. Open. With Shinnecock Hills Golf Club set to host the 2026 edition in less than 48 hours, NBC has announced a significant change to its weekday coverage that should make Friday a lot more TV-friendly.
According to the Sports Business Journal, NBC will air the entire second round of the tournament live on its broadcast network from 1:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET. This marks a departure from recent years, when the network moved the final hour of Friday's action exclusively to its Peacock streaming service. Now, viewers can catch every swing and putt without needing a subscription—at least for that day.
However, the opening round on Thursday won't get the same treatment. USA Network will handle coverage until 5 p.m. ET, after which Peacock takes over for the final three hours. So if you're hoping to watch the entire first round on NBC, you'll still need to juggle channels or log in to stream. It's a mixed bag, but the Friday upgrade is a clear win for traditional TV audiences.
This scheduling tweak comes as the golf world turns its attention to New York, where Scottie Scheffler enters as the heavy favorite. The world No. 1 is chasing a career Grand Slam and sits at 11/2 odds on FanDuel, per CBS Sports. Rory McIlroy (12-1) and Jon Rahm (13-1) are the only other players with better than 20-1 odds, setting up a compelling three-man storyline at the top.
Beyond the favorites, a deep field of contenders includes Cameron Young, Tommy Fleetwood, Matt Fitzpatrick, Ludvig Aberg, Xander Schauffele, and Bryson DeChambeau. Meanwhile, Aaron Rai—who stunned the golf world by winning the PGA Championship in May—is listed at 80-1 odds, making him a longshot to go back-to-back in majors. Last year's champion, J.J. Spaun, captured his second PGA Tour win at age 34 at the U.S. Open, proving that first-time major winners can emerge from anywhere.
As tee times and groupings await announcement, the question lingers: Could we see another surprise champion in New York this weekend? The stage is set for drama, and NBC's revised broadcast plan ensures more eyes will be on Friday's action than ever before.
For more on how major sports events are reshaping their media strategies, check out our coverage of Trump's plans to attend the 2026 World Cup final and the ongoing buzz around Serena Williams' potential Wimbledon return.
