How to Watch The Open for Free

Now TV are offering free day passes for Thursday so fans can tune into the Open for free

Watch the open for free
(Image credit: Getty Images)

This year you can watch The Open for free on Thursday thanks to Now TV

How to Watch The Open for Free

The Open Championship is to be broadcast on pay TV for the first time in its history this year, but not until Friday.

The whole of the opening day's play at Royal Troon in the 145th Open will be broadcast live and free on Now TV.

The service allows you to take out Sky Sports day and week passes to watch your favourite sporting events without being tied down to a contract.

Open Championship golf betting tips

Viewers can take advantage of a free day pass for Thursday which entitles them to a whole day of live golf from Royal Troon as the world's oldest golf major comes to town.

If you have Sky's Entertainment package you can also watch the opening day's play for free on Sky 1. Coverage begins at 6.35am.

Related: How to watch The Open without Sky TV

Martin Slumbers, chief executive of the R&A, said: “The way people consume televised sport is changing and it is very important that we appeal to a younger audience in particular.

“We are excited about the array of options that are available for fans of all ages to watch The Open this year and our aim is to give them an outstanding viewing experience.”

BBC had broadcast The Open for the last 60 years but last year cut their contract a year short so Sky stepped in.

Sky Sports 1 has today been replaced by 'Sky Sports The Open' as they ramp up their coverage where they'll be showing the first tee shot live for the first time ever.

There will also be cameras in the five greenside bunkers on Troon's 'Postage Stamp' 8th hole as well as a wire camera running the length of the 123-yard par-3. It will be only the second wire camera in golf after the one on TPC Sawgrass' 17th hole.

Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!


Elliott is currently playing:


Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV