Apple in talks to acquire streaming rights for golf’s Open Championship: report

Chance Miller | Aug 11 2026 - 12:01 pm PT

Apple is among companies in talks to acquire US rights to golf’s Open Championship, according to a new report from the Guardian. Netflix and Amazon are also expected to be interested in the rights.

The Open Championship, first played in Scotland in 1860, is the oldest of golf’s four men’s major tournaments and is run by the R&A. Americans sometimes call it the British Open to distinguish it from the US Open, a separate major held each year.

NBC inked a 12-year deal for The Open in 2017 after outbidding ESPN. Its rights are also shared with Versant, which runs the Golf Channel. The R&A says that it expects to hold discussions with both NBC and Versant, as well as other parties interested in the rights.

Today’s report says Apple has held “preliminary discussions with the R&A about bidding for The Open.” The report cites a “source with knowledge of Apple’s plans” and says Apple “remains committed to investing in sports rights, and will continue to search for the right properties.”

In a statement to the Guardian, a spokesperson for the R&A said:

“We have an excellent partnership with NBC and Versant which has delivered significant benefits for The Open, the AIG Women’s Open and our other championships and international matches.

As we look ahead to the next US media cycle for the R&A’s rights, we expect to enter discussions with our incumbent partners NBC and Versant in due course. We will also continue to monitor the evolving broadcast landscape and the wider interest in our rights.”

Last year, Apple announced a major partnership to become the exclusive Formula 1 broadcast partner in the US. The company also streams Friday Night Baseball as well as MLS matches.