The R&A is keeping Sunday’s final-round tee times at The Open under review, with chief executive Mark Darbon saying the timetable could yet be adjusted if England reach the FIFA World Cup final. For now, no changes have been made, but the possibility of a clash with one of sport’s biggest days has been openly acknowledged.
That means Ryan Fox and the rest of the field are preparing for a finish that is still officially set for 6.40pm at Royal Birkdale, even though the FIFA World Cup final is due to kick off at 8pm UK time in New Jersey. With more than 300,000 fans expected across the weekend, the overlap is big enough to force real planning from the championship organisers.
Darbon: no changes yet, but the issue is live
Speaking at Wednesday’s pre-tournament press conference, Darbon made clear that the R&A has already done its homework. He said the final putt is currently scheduled for around 6.40pm on Sunday, and added that the team believes there is time to complete the championship even if a three-hole play-off is required.
Darbon also made the wider point that the organisation wants to avoid a clash where possible. His position is simple: there are no plans to alter anything right now, but the schedule will remain under review until England’s position is clearer after the World Cup semi-final.
Why the final round still has room to breathe
The key detail is that The Open is not short of contingency. The championship can stretch to a three-hole play-off, and the R&A believes that still leaves enough room within the current window at Royal Birkdale.
That is important because the final round is already built around a late finish. If the schedule holds, the championship should be wrapped up before the football final begins, which is exactly the sort of overlap the R&A would prefer to avoid.
A familiar balancing act for the R&A
This is not the first time the R&A has shown a willingness to make small adjustments when a wider public event could affect spectators. Last year’s contest at Portrush saw tee times tweaked ahead of the third round so fans were not caught up in a Sons of Ulster parade in the town.
The principle is the same here. The R&A wants The Open to run smoothly, but it also knows the scale of interest if England are involved in the FIFA World Cup final. Darbon even admitted that, as an England football fan, it would be a “great problem to have”.
For now, Ryan Fox and the rest of the players can keep preparing for a normal Sunday finish. But the situation is still being watched closely, and if England do reach the final, the final-round schedule may yet become part of the story at Royal Birkdale.
