How to Watch the 2026 Western Amateur
The 124th Western Amateur reaches its decisive stretch this week at Beverly Country Club in Chicago, where 156 of the world's best amateurs have been grinding through the most punishing qualifying gauntlet in the amateur game. Four rounds of stroke play cut the field to the Sweet 16, and match play settles it Friday and Saturday.
Here is every way to follow the finish — streaming, live scoring, match times and on-site details.
The short answer
Stream: ESPN+ (ESPN app, ESPN.com, connected TV), Friday July 31 and Saturday Aug. 1
Round of 16: Friday, 8 a.m. CT / 9 a.m. ET • Quarterfinals: Friday, 1 p.m. CT / 2 p.m. ET
Semifinals: Saturday, 8 a.m. CT / 9 a.m. ET • Championship match: Saturday, 1 p.m. CT / 2 p.m. ET
On site: Free admission, free parking at Dan Ryan Woods
Where to stream the Western Amateur
The Western Golf Association has scheduled more than 12 hours of live streaming coverage of the match play rounds on Friday, July 31 and Saturday, Aug. 1. Coverage runs on ESPN+ and is available through the ESPN app, ESPN.com and connected TV devices. Internationally, the stream is carried on TSN+ in Canada and on Disney+ in the Caribbean and Latin America.
One wrinkle worth knowing before Friday morning: ESPN has folded its streaming tiers into the ESPN app, and existing ESPN+ subscribers now sit under the ESPN Select plan, while the Unlimited plan bundles the full slate of ESPN networks alongside ESPN+ content. Either plan gets you the Western Amateur. If you have ESPN through a pay-TV provider such as Hulu + Live TV, DIRECTV, Fubo, Spectrum, Verizon Fios or Cox, check whether your package already includes it — you may only need to activate the plan and link your login.
Coverage in recent years has been produced with live commentary, player interviews and features on the championship's history, with on-course reporting from a past Western Amateur champion. Exact stream windows are set by the WGA and can shift with pace of play, so treat the match start times below as your anchor.
2026 Western Amateur schedule
| Day | Round | Start (CT) |
|---|---|---|
| Tue, July 28 | First round, stroke play | 7 a.m. |
| Wed, July 29 | Second round — cut to low 44 and ties | 7 a.m. |
| Thu, July 30 | Third and fourth rounds — low 16 advance | 7 a.m. / noon |
| Fri, July 31 | Round of 16 / Quarterfinals | 8 a.m. / 1 p.m. |
| Sat, Aug. 1 | Semifinals / Championship match | 8 a.m. / 1 p.m. |
Times are Central and subject to change with weather or playoffs. The trophy ceremony follows the championship match.
Live scoring and brackets
Hole-by-hole scoring for all four stroke play rounds and every match is posted on the championship's official Golf Genius leaderboard, linked from the WGA's scoring page. For round-by-round leaderboards, Sweet 16 bracket updates and full match results as they finish, follow our live coverage hub on AmateurGolf.com — we update it in real time from the first tee shot Friday through the trophy presentation Saturday afternoon.
Watching in person at Beverly
Spectators are welcome all week, and it is one of the best value tickets in golf: general admission and parking are both complimentary. Park at the Dan Ryan Woods West Picnic Grove lot at 87th Street and Western Avenue, directly across from the club, then take the free shuttle to the course. Concessions and public restrooms are available on site.
A few ground rules: general spectators do not have clubhouse access, phones should stay on vibrate, and silence is expected through every shot — don't move until each group has finished the hole. If the horn sounds for weather, one long blast means play is suspended and everyone should head to their vehicles; two short blasts signal the all clear.
What's at stake
Founded in 1899, the Western Amateur is the third-oldest amateur championship in the world, and its format is its calling card. Two rounds of stroke play trim the field to the low 44 and ties, a 36-hole Thursday marathon cuts it to 16, and the survivors then play four matches across two days. Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth all tested themselves here on the way up.
This year's field is stacked: 156 invited players representing 25 countries, including five of the top 10 and roughly 69 of the top 100 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. Incoming Tennessee freshman Tyler Watts, ranked No. 3 in WAGR, arrives as one of the headliners after a course-record 62 at Skokie a year ago. Jase Summy returns as defending champion, having become the first Oklahoma player to lift the George R. Thorne Trophy since 1950. Carson Bertagnole set the early tone at Beverly with a seven-under 64 in the opening round, the low score of the week's first day.
The venue matters too. Beverly's Donald Ross design stretches past 7,000 yards to a par 71 with a 74.2 rating, and it is hosting the Western Amateur for the first time since 1930 — the club's third Western Am overall after also staging the 2014 edition. A master restoration completed in 2020 sharpened the Ross greens that will decide most of these matches.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Western Amateur on TV?
There is no traditional broadcast window. Coverage is streamed, with the match play rounds carried on ESPN+ through the ESPN app, ESPN.com and connected TV devices.
Do I need a subscription to watch?
Yes. You need an ESPN plan that includes ESPN+ content — either ESPN Select or ESPN Unlimited — or an eligible pay-TV package that already bundles it.
What time is the championship match?
The final is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT (2 p.m. ET) on Saturday, Aug. 1, with the trophy ceremony immediately after.
How much are tickets?
Nothing. Admission and parking are free for all spectators at Beverly Country Club.
How many players make match play?
Sixteen. The field of 156 is cut to the low 44 and ties after 36 holes, then to the low 16 after Thursday's double round.
Who won the Western Amateur last year?
Jase Summy, the first Oklahoma player to win the championship in 75 years.