If you are like me, the Open Championship represents one of the best annual traditions on the golf calendar. The best in the world play the most historic and famous courses in the game. The weather conditions make for awesome drama and the Claret Jug may be the coolest trophy in all of sports.
How to get on ‘Open time’ and enjoy the 145th Championship at Troon
There will be 50 hours of Open Championship coverage this week in Scotland. Here’s your guide on when to sleep, what and when to drink, and what to eat to get through it all while watching back in the States.
There is just one catch -- this dang thing happens in the middle of the night. But it’s just one week a year -- turn the “catch” into a part of the charm and your own personal tradition of staying up for the third major of the season.
Now, I have watched the Open for many years throughout the evening. Typically, coverage used to start around 4 a.m. ET. This year, Golf Channel and NBC, in their first year covering The Open, will be live from the very first damn shot until the end of the event on Sunday. That means the broadcast starts at 1:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, 10:30 p.m. Wednesday night if you’re on the West Coast. It’s the most expansive broadcast of a major ever, but that’s rough if you are not properly acclimated.
Let me be your guide to make this Open great and enjoy it from your couch thousands of miles away back in the States. Here’s how to get on “Open time.”
Tuesday-Wednesday
This is where you need to start prepping your body. You won’t like this, but going to bed early is a good idea. Getting a good night of sleep will benefit you in the long run, and these next four days are going to be a march.
Make sure to get your essentials for the weekend: breakfast items, energy drinks, coffee. Also stock up on snacks and items to cook. Since we are watching golf in the middle of the night, it will be tough to get takeout or pizza delivery. My dish of choice for the first round is bangers and mash. That means sausage and potatoes, by the way. If you don’t like eating sausage and mashed potatoes, you can probably stop reading this post right now.
Don’t stay up past 9 p.m. Start prepping your body for the long haul.
Wednesday
We’ve made it to Wednesday. This is essentially the start of The Open. You have two options on Wednesday. You can go to bed early or you can stay up all night. Since I am not in college anymore, I opt for the early to bed strategy. The overnight strategy invokes a late dinner with friends, then going out until closing time with those same friends, having some adult beverages in moderation, and then switching to coffee around 4 a.m. ET when the top names tee off. It takes a truly committed soul, but if pulled off, it sets you up perfectly for the remaining three days.
Me? I will not be going for that overnight option this year. I’m going to bed early on Wednesday. If you haven’t purchased a product like Emergen-zzzz, this would be the time. The Melatonin cocktail will chill you out and put you right to bed. Do this at about 8 p.m. or so.
Remember to set your alarm. If the snooze button is a thing you do, set it for 1 a.m. ET so you’re good to go for the first tee shot some 35 minutes later.
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Thursday
I know it won’t seem like Thursday, but trust me, it is.
- 1:30 a.m. -- Put on that first pot of coffee. Yes, a pot -- to the top -- of coffee.
- 1:31 a.m. -- Golf is on. Ease yourself into the morning with the soft docile tones of Open golf.
- From 1:31 until about 10 a.m., drink your extra strong coffee, follow along on Twitter and enjoy golf in places where it has been played for centuries. Mix in light bites every few hours, but don’t take a full swing.
- At 10 a.m. you’ll need some foodstuffs. Eat as much as you can. You’ve been up for hours and need to recharge.
- From 10 a.m. on, settle into your couch and watch someone like Vijay Singh post a ridiculous first-round score.
- At about 4 p.m., the round will be over and you can take a much-needed nap. Don’t nap too long, however. Take a power nap for 15-20 minutes. When you wake up, have dinner, watch some TV and go to bed around 7 p.m.
Friday
Hopefully by Friday you are feeling more on British Summer time than East Coast time. If you aren’t, drink more coffee and repeat the same steps as Thursday morning. Enjoy the golf for a second straight day and call it an early, early night again. This is not the time to get persuaded into some Friday night out with your American friends who have not been committed. The cut has been made, the weekend brings slightly more amenable hours to the American audience, and there’s no need to celebrate conquering the first two 14-hour rounds.
There is, of course, one caveat to this whole thing. If you recall last year’s Open, weather conditions were brutal and caused a lengthy delay. The weather looks rough this week again, but perhaps not “weather delay” rough. If that happens, fight the urge to go back to sleep! Go run errands, go for a run, or my favorite, go hit golf balls. We are training your body here. Going back to bed will undo all your hard work.
Saturday
Now things are getting good. Because of the cut, the golf will start later and the broadcast will be live at 4 a.m. ET. Enjoy your extra sleep.
- 4 a.m. -- Wake up and guzzle some coffee. You have no doubt enjoyed your extra sleep, but are still a little groggy.
- 8 a.m. -- The final groups will start rolling out around 9 a.m. and you keep doing what your doing with one exception: since it’s now the weekend, have a mimosa, Bloody Mary, or a Guinness. (I know Guinness is an Irish beer, but dammit it’s good and you should definitely drink several during the Open.)
- 11 a.m. -- Keep watching golf, but start planning your escape. I am sure at this point you have worn a hole in your couch. Fresh air will be important.
- 3 p.m. -- The leaders should wrap up their round about 2 or 2:30 p.m. I recommend a pub for when golf is done for the day. Head out for some British fare.
- 4 p.m. -- Get some fish and chips. The British might not be known for their culinary creations, but they did one thing right: fish and chips. (Note: I assume the Brits invented this dish. I am too lazy to look it up and confirm.) The good thing about fish and chips is that it is pretty hard to mess it up. It’s battered and fried fish with French fries. Like pizza, it’s usually good no matter what.
- 8 p.m. -- Early to bed again Saturday night. Gear up for Sunday.
Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports
Sunday
Have. A. Freaking. Party.
Chances are your friends do not have plans at 10 a.m. on a Sunday. Invite them over and ask them to bring a dish, wear golf things, British items, whatever. The Sunday morning Open party has become a popular way to cap off the unconventionally scheduled week. Do it.
- 4 a.m. -- Wake up, turn on golf and prep for your party. Coffee is good or if you are getting tired of coffee, drink a Red Bull?
- 10 a.m. -- Have breakfast with friends and family. Make a hearty dish. Anything on those Tasty videos from Facebook will do. I like this one. The leaders tee off just before 10 a.m., and you’ll be full for the round.
- 11 a.m. -- After you have ingested a hearty breakfast, the next step is adult beverages. If you have ignored my prior advice, don’t do that now. Sunday should be a celebration. Cheap champagne, beer, and vodka are necessities on Sunday morning. Trust me, Sergio Garcia’s ups and downs will seem more bearable.
- 11:15 a.m. -- Here are my thoughts: the Brits are known for their ability to drink and if you would like to keep up with that tradition, there are several options that I would recommend. You can have mimosas. The mimosa is the most socially accepted breakfast beverage because it includes orange juice. If you are drinking orange juice, you are getting your day off to a healthy and sensible start. Champagne, of course, makes everything better. Another option is to drink like the Brits. I like a nice cider. Since it has apples in it, it’s basically like juice and therefore healthy. Get a Strongbow or other cider and the home stretch of Open Championship final round will be off.
- 2 p.m. -- The golf should be wrapping up right about now. Save one of the nicer bottles of champagne to toast the Champion Golfer of the Year.
- 4 p.m. -- This is a perfect time for a cookout. Become an American again by grilling hot dogs and hamburgers. Cheers the Champion Golfer of the Year and start thinking about how you will improve on your Open viewing schedule next year.
- 6 p.m. -- Kick everyone out and go to bed until work (is that still a thing you have to do?) on Monday morning.
Everyone has their own approach to getting on “Open time.” Some work better than others -- all should be fun. This is not a sustainable way of life! But it’s just one week of the year, one of the best weeks of the year. So embrace it.
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