2026 World Wide Technology Championship: Your Complete Guide to Round 1 Coverage

Alright, golf fans, listen up. The 2026 World Wide Technology Championship is kicking off. El Cardonal in Mexico is the spot. Thursday morning is when it all goes down. If you don’t want to miss a single damn shot, you need to know how to tune in. We’re talking TV times, streaming details, and who’s teeing off when. This isn’t rocket science, but you’d be surprised how many people still mess it up. Let’s get you sorted.

Last year, Ben Griffin was on fire. Took the whole damn thing. Announced himself as a player to watch. Two other wins that season. He was on top of the world. This year? A bit different. He hasn’t snagged a fourth win. He’s sitting at 41st in the FedEx Cup standings. Not exactly lighting the world on fire. But hey, it’s not all bad news. He’s got five top-10 finishes. And get this, he had a killer start last week at the Vidanta World Mexico Open, finishing T4. So, he’s got some momentum. Maybe, just maybe, he can pull off a comeback victory. And that journey begins Thursday.

Where to Catch All the Action: TV and Streaming

So, you want to watch the first round, right? Easy. You can catch it on TV. The Golf Channel is your friend here. Coverage starts at 3 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday. If you’re more of a digital person, no sweat. Golfchannel.com and the Golf Channel App will have a live simulcast. That means the exact same thing you’d see on TV, but on your screen. No excuses for missing out.

Here’s the breakdown for Thursday’s first round:

• TV Coverage: Golf Channel, 3-6 p.m. ET
• Streaming: Golfchannel.com and the Golf Channel App (simulcast of TV coverage)

It’s pretty straightforward. They’re giving you plenty of options. Don’t tell me you’re going to be stuck somewhere without service. That’s just sad.

The El Cardonal Factor: A Tiger Woods Gem

This tournament is being held at El Cardonal. It’s a Tiger Woods-designed course. You know what that means? It’s probably not going to be a walk in the park. These courses often have a bit of bite. They test you. They make you think. So, we can expect some interesting golf. You might see some guys struggle, and you might see some guys absolutely thrive. That’s the beauty of the game, isn’t it? You never quite know what you’re going to get.

The fact that Griffin won here last year is significant. It shows that if you’re playing well, you can conquer this place. But it also means he’s got a target on his back. Everyone will be looking to see if he can repeat. Can he shake off that slower start to the season and find that winning magic again? It’s a compelling storyline. And it all starts with Round 1.

Who’s Playing When? Round 1 Tee Times

Alright, the nitty-gritty. You need to know who’s teeing off and when. We’ve got the full list of Round 1 tee times. It’s a long one, so buckle up. Remember, times are Eastern.

Tee No. 1 Tee Times

• 8:30 a.m. – Peter Malnati, Joel Dahmen, Ben Martin
• 8:41 a.m. – Matthieu Pavon, Rico Hoey, Johnny Keefer
• 8:52 a.m. – Denny McCarthy, Mark Hubbard, Max McGreevy
• 9:03 a.m. – Sami Valimaki, William Mouw, Kevin Yu
• 9:14 a.m. – Harry Hall, Chris Kirk, Matt Kuchar
• 9:25 a.m. – Joe Highsmith, Taylor Pendrith, Christiaan Bezuidenhout
• 9:36 a.m. – Mackenzie Hughes, Andrew Putnam, Luke Donald
• 9:47 a.m. – Alejandro Tosti, Pontus Nyholm, Alejandro Madariaga
• 9:58 a.m. – Kristoffer Ventura, Nicholas Lindheim, Jeffrey Kang
• 10:09 a.m. – Adrien Dumont de Chassart, Davis Chatfield, Preston Stout (a)
• 1:05 p.m. – Lee Hodges, Emiliano Grillo, Sudarshan Yellamaraju
• 1:16 p.m. – Ben Kohles, Kevin Roy, Rasmus Højgaard
• 1:27 p.m. – Austin Eckroat, Jordan Smith, John Parry
• 1:38 p.m. – Jackson Koivun, Ben Griffin, Pierceson Coody
• 1:49 p.m. – Steven Fisk, Billy Horschel, Ben James
• 2:00 p.m. – Camilo Villegas, Zac Blair, Chandler Phillips
• 2:11 p.m. – Michael Kim, Vince Whaley, Ben Silverman
• 2:22 p.m. – Isaiah Salinda, Christo Lamprecht, Austin Hitt
• 2:33 p.m. – Zecheng Dou, Marco Penge, Alvaro Ortiz
• 2:44 p.m. – Chandler Blanchet, Gordon Sargent, Nathan Tseng

Tee No. 10 Tee Times

• 8:30 a.m. – Brice Garnett, Chad Ramey, Justin Lower
• 8:41 a.m. – Kevin Streelman, Will Gordon, David Skinns
• 8:52 a.m. – Nick Dunlap, Max Greyserman, Jackson Suber
• 9:03 a.m. – Ryan Gerard, Nick Taylor, Blades Brown
• 9:14 a.m. – Karl Vilips, Tony Finau, Keith Mitchell
• 9:25 a.m. – Rafael Campos, Adam Svensson, Dylan Wu
• 9:36 a.m. – Tom Hoge, Patrick Rodgers, Takumi Kanaya
• 9:47 a.m. – Patrick Fishburn, Kensei Hirata, Willie Mack III
• 9:58 a.m. – Paul Peterson, Jimmy Stanger, Nicholas Marchese
• 10:09 a.m. – Hayden Springer, Marcelo Rozo, Jorge Villar
• 1:05 p.m. – Taylor Moore, Tyler Duncan, Beau Hossler
• 1:16 p.m. – Harry Higgs, Hank Lebioda, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen
• 1:27 p.m. – Patton Kizzire, Seamus Power, Zach Bauchou
• 1:38 p.m. – Davis Riley, Lucas Glover, Aaron Wise
• 1:49 p.m. – Garrick Higgo, Cam Davis, Stephan Jaeger
• 2:00 p.m. – Erik van Rooyen, David Lipsky, Danny Walker
• 2:11 p.m. – Neal Shipley, David Ford, Lyon Lazare
• 2:22 p.m. – A.J. Ewart, Luke Clanton, Tyler Collet
• 2:33 p.m. – Haotong Li, Jesper Svensson, Muzzy Donohue
• 2:44 p.m. – Trace Crowe, John VanDerLaan, Jay Leng (a)

That’s a lot of names. A lot of potential drama. Keep an eye on those early morning starters and the afternoon groups. Sometimes the conditions change throughout the day. Wind picks up, greens get firmer. It all matters.

Key Players to Watch

Beyond Ben Griffin, who else should you have on your radar? You’ve got guys like Tony Finau and Keith Mitchell going out early on the 10th tee. Finau can always get it going. If he finds a hot putter, watch out. Then you have established names like Matt Kuchar and Chris Kirk in the morning wave from the first tee. These guys know how to grind. They’ve been around the block.

Later in the day, you’ve got players like Emiliano Grillo and Lee Hodges. Grillo has the game to win anywhere. Hodges has shown flashes of brilliance. And don’t forget the amateurs like Preston Stout and Gordon Sargent. They’re there to gain experience, but who knows? Maybe one of them pulls off a shocker. It happens. That’s why we watch.

What to Expect at El Cardonal

This course, El Cardonal, is designed by Tiger. That means you can expect a strategic layout. It’s not just about bombing it around. You’ll need to manage your game. Think about where you want to miss. Think about the angles into the greens. It’s a thinking man’s golf course. The greens are likely to be challenging. The bunkering will probably be penal. And the fairways might not be as wide as they look.

For players like Griffin, who are trying to get back to their winning form, this is a perfect opportunity. A course where strategy and execution are key. If he can harness that momentum from last week and play smart golf, he could absolutely contend. It’s going to be interesting to see how he handles the pressure, especially with the memory of last year’s win fresh in his mind.

Why This Tournament Matters

The World Wide Technology Championship is more than just another stop on the schedule. It’s a chance for players to solidify their positions, gain confidence, and, of course, win some serious prize money. For guys like Griffin, it’s a chance to salvage their season and prove they’re still a force to be reckoned with. For others, it’s a stepping stone to bigger things.

The competition is always fierce. You’ve got a mix of established stars and hungry up-and-comers. Everyone wants to make a statement. And with a course like El Cardonal, you’re going to see a real test of golf. So, tune in. Get your popcorn ready. It’s going to be a good one.

For more information on professional golf tours and schedules, you can always check out resources like the official PGA Tour website. They’ve got all the official details. Understanding the landscape of professional golf is key to appreciating events like this. It’s a cutthroat business, and every tournament is a chance to prove your worth.

So, there you have it. All the essential details to get you locked in for the 2026 World Wide Technology Championship Round 1. Don’t miss it. It’s going to be a wild ride.