How to watch The Open: what TV channel is the 2021 British golf championship on in UK - and where to live stream

The Open Championship has returned following a year off due to the Covid outbreak.

The 149th edition of the British Open will be played at Royal St George's, in Sandwich, and is part of the UK government's events research programme.

The programme, designed to facilitate large crowds at live events again amid the coronavirus pandemic, means up to 32,000 spectators will be able to attend the golf course on each of the four days.

But if you're not able to get to the Kent golf club then you can follow the action as it happens on TV and radio, as the world's best golfers look to add to their trophy cabinets and etch their name into the history books.

A field of 156 players, including Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, Xander Schauffele, Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas and Dustin Johnson, as well as 2019 winner Shane Lowry, will be bidding to lift the 2021 Claret Jug.

How can I watch The Open?

UK viewers can watch The Open 2021 over four days from Thursday 15 July to Sunday 18 July on TV.

All the action from The Open 2021 will be screened live from Royal St George's on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event channels.

Sign up to become a Sky TV subscriber and get the full sports package for an extra £20 a month, which includes coverage of the Lions rugby tour of South Africa.

What TV channel is The Open on?

Sky Sports subscribers can watch Sky Sports Main Event on Sky channel 401 and Sky Sports Golf on Sky channel 405.

What is the TV schedule for The Open?

TV coverage starts from 6.30am each morning of The Open 2021 across the four days from 15-18 July.

There will be round the clock coverage on Sky's dedicated Golf channel until late in the evening, with the day's action talked over after the golfers leave the Links.

This is the TV schedule to plan your viewing of The Open:

Thursday 15 July - 6.30am to 8.30pm (The Open LIVE!) and 8.30pm to 9.30pm (The Verdict LIVE!)

Friday 16 July - 6.30am to 8.30pm (The Open LIVE!) and 8.30pm to 9.30pm (The Verdict LIVE!)

Saturday 17 July - 9am to 8pm (The Open LIVE!) and 8pm to 9pm (The Verdict LIVE!)

Sunday 18 July - 8am to 7pm (The Open LIVE!) and 7pm to 8pm (The Verdict LIVE!)

Can I live stream The Open?

The Open 2021 can be live streamed through the Sky Go app, which is available to Sky customers and Sky Sports subscribers.

Alternatively, golf fans can purchase a day or month pass to Sky Sports through NOW TV for a one-off cost of £9.99 and £33.99 respectively.

NOW TV is accessible through the NOW TV app, computer, tablet, smart TVs and phones, and consoles, as well as through BT Sport.

Is The Open on the radio?

BBC Radio 5 Live has live commentary of each round of The Open 2021 from 12 noon on each day from 15-18 July.

Is The Open on BBC TV?

The BBC will run a two-hour highlights package from 8pm on 15-18 July, accessible through either BBC Two or BBC iPlayer.