R&A reviews Open schedule for World Cup clash
Golf organisers are weighing whether to alter Sunday's schedule at Royal Birkdale to protect broadcast audiences and avoid a direct clash with the football World Cup final.
The R&A is reviewing whether to change the final-round tee times at The Open to avoid a scheduling clash with the FIFA World Cup final. Chief executive Mark Darbon confirmed on Wednesday that plans are "under review".
The governing body will wait for the outcome of England's semi-final before making a definitive decision. Over 300,000 fans are expected to attend the men's major championship at Royal Birkdale this week.
The final putt is currently scheduled for 6.40pm UK time on Sunday. The football final in New Jersey, featuring Spain against either England or Argentina, kicks off at 8pm UK time. That leaves an 80-minute buffer, but a three-hole aggregate play-off could push the tournament's conclusion into the football window.
If scores remain level after those three holes, sudden death is implemented to determine a winner. The last time a play-off was required at The Open was in 2015.
Managing broadcast schedules is a critical operational consideration for major sporting events. Sky Sports is the exclusive home of The Open in the UK and Ireland, with extended coverage starting at 8am on Sunday. A direct overlap with the football final would fracture viewership just as the golf tournament reaches its climax.
The prospect of an England appearance in the football final has already triggered scheduling shifts across other sports. Cricket's Vitality Blast moved its Wednesday quarter-finals from the evening to start at 4.30pm or 5pm. The Betfred World Matchplay darts event will also bring its first three sessions forward over the weekend.
Adjusting tee times is not unprecedented for The Open. Organisers previously tweaked third-round start times last year to prevent fans from being disrupted by a Portrush Sons of Ulster parade. Tee times are also routinely moved earlier to avoid incoming bad weather.
"I'm an England football fan, so it would be a great problem to have," Darbon said. "Also, because I'm an England football fan, we should also wait to see how the semi-final goes before we get too far ahead. At this stage, no plans to alter anything, but we'll maintain that under review and finalise our position after the semi-final."
