Key Takeaways
- Scottie Scheffler plays with Matt Fitzpatrick at 2:33 p.m. ET on Thursday 20 August 2026 (1:33 p.m. CDT local at Bellerive Country Club).
- Rory McIlroy plays with Xander Schauffele at 1:20 p.m. ET (12:20 p.m. CDT), exactly 73 minutes ahead of Scheffler.
- The BMW Championship Round 1 tee times span from 10:03 a.m. to 2:55 p.m. ET, with all 25 twosomes starting on Hole 1.
- Golf Channel's broadcast from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET captures McIlroy near the turn and Scheffler through his opening stretch.
Scottie Scheffler tees off at 2:33 p.m. ET on Thursday 20 August 2026 with Matt Fitzpatrick, while Rory McIlroy goes 73 minutes earlier at 1:20 p.m. ET alongside Xander Schauffele. Round 1 of the BMW Championship runs from 10:03 a.m. to 2:55 p.m. ET at Bellerive Country Club (9:03 a.m. to 1:55 p.m. local CDT).
"Spacing the world's two biggest names 73 minutes apart creates a seamless four-hour broadcast window for golf fans."
What Time Does Scottie Scheffler Tee Off?
Scottie Scheffler begins Round 1 at 2:33 p.m. ET (1:33 p.m. CDT local) paired with Matt Fitzpatrick. His pairing is the 23rd of 25 groups off the first tee, followed only by Russell Henley/Jacob Bridgeman and Maverick McNealy/Matt McCarty.
Note on pairings: Both Fitzpatrick brothers are in the field. Matt Fitzpatrick plays with Scheffler at 2:33 p.m. ET, while Alex Fitzpatrick plays with Kristoffer Reitan earlier at 11:27 a.m. ET.
What Time Does Rory McIlroy Tee Off?
Rory McIlroy tees off at 1:20 p.m. ET (12:20 p.m. CDT local) alongside major champion Xander Schauffele as the 17th pairing off the 1st tee, giving fans an uninterrupted look at both marquee groups.
Complete 2026 BMW Championship Round 1 Tee Sheet
| Eastern (ET) | Local (CDT) | Pairing |
|---|---|---|
| 10:03 a.m. | 9:03 a.m. | Justin Thomas, Sahith Theegala |
| 10:14 a.m. | 9:14 a.m. | Sepp Straka, Sungjae Im |
| 10:25 a.m. | 9:25 a.m. | Aaron Rai, Ben Griffin |
| 10:36 a.m. | 9:36 a.m. | Gary Woodland, Adam Scott |
| 10:47 a.m. | 9:47 a.m. | Collin Morikawa, Ludvig Aberg |
| 11:05 a.m. | 10:05 a.m. | Ryan Fox, Tom Kim |
| 11:16 a.m. | 10:16 a.m. | Justin Rose, Alex Smalley |
| 11:27 a.m. | 10:27 a.m. | Kristoffer Reitan, Alex Fitzpatrick |
| 11:38 a.m. | 10:38 a.m. | Akshay Bhatia, Hideki Matsuyama |
| 11:49 a.m. | 10:49 a.m. | Wyndham Clark, Sam Burns |
| 12:07 p.m. | 11:07 a.m. | Cameron Young, Si Woo Kim |
| 12:18 p.m. | 11:18 a.m. | Michael Brennan, Eric Cole |
| 12:29 p.m. | 11:29 a.m. | Patrick Cantlay, Ryo Hisatsune |
| 12:40 p.m. | 11:40 a.m. | Michael Thorbjornsen, Nico Echavarria |
| 12:51 p.m. | 11:51 a.m. | Jake Knapp, Alex Noren |
| 1:09 p.m. | 12:09 p.m. | Robert MacIntyre, Rickie Fowler |
| 1:20 p.m. | 12:20 p.m. | Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele |
| 1:31 p.m. | 12:31 p.m. | Bud Cauley, Nicolai Hojgaard |
| 1:42 p.m. | 12:42 p.m. | Viktor Hovland, J.J. Spaun |
| 1:53 p.m. | 12:53 p.m. | J.T. Poston, Kurt Kitayama |
| 2:11 p.m. | 1:11 p.m. | Ryan Gerard, Min Woo Lee |
| 2:22 p.m. | 1:22 p.m. | Chris Gotterup, Tommy Fleetwood |
| 2:33 p.m. | 1:33 p.m. | Scottie Scheffler, Matt Fitzpatrick |
| 2:44 p.m. | 1:44 p.m. | Russell Henley, Jacob Bridgeman |
| 2:55 p.m. | 1:55 p.m. | Maverick McNealy, Matt McCarty |
Broadcast Strategy: The Ideal Two-Hour Window
To see both marquee pairings in action, tune in between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET on Golf Channel. At 3:00 p.m., McIlroy will be making the turn on his back nine while Scheffler will be working through his opening six holes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does Scottie Scheffler tee off in Round 1?
Scottie Scheffler tees off at 2:33 p.m. ET (1:33 p.m. CDT) alongside Matt Fitzpatrick on Thursday 20 August 2026.
What time does Rory McIlroy tee off in Round 1?
Rory McIlroy tees off at 1:20 p.m. ET (12:20 p.m. CDT) playing with Xander Schauffele, 73 minutes ahead of Scheffler.
Are Scheffler and McIlroy paired together for Round 1?
No. The PGA Tour split the duo following their pairing at TPC Southwind, placing McIlroy with Schauffele and Scheffler with Fitzpatrick.
Did Scottie Scheffler play in the 2018 PGA Championship at Bellerive?
No. Scheffler had just turned professional in 2018 and did not qualify for the 2018 PGA Championship at Bellerive.
The Raw Take
Spacing Scheffler and McIlroy 73 minutes apart creates a textbook afternoon viewing sequence. With no 36-hole cut in play, both players have four guaranteed rounds to position themselves atop the FedExCup standings before the field heads to East Lake.