England’s World Cup triumph might just squeeze The Open Championship’s final round.
The R&A has hinted that if England beats Argentina in the semi‑final, the 2026 Open may need to shave half an hour off its usual 2:30pm tee time to avoid overlapping with the 8pm BST World Cup final.
R&A chief executive Mark Darbon admitted the pressure from a potential clash. In late April he said: “We’re conscious of other events happening on that date (19 July). Of course, some things are out of our control, but we’ll try to avoid a clash.”
The typical five‑and‑a‑half‑hour gap between the opening of the first day and the final round could be shortened by less than an hour, according to the Daily Mail. The organisers will consult NBC and Sky before making a call.
How serious is the threat to The Open’s schedule?
While the R&A is keeping options open, it has so far said it will not commit to a change until the semi‑final result is known. A victory would put England into its second World Cup final, and the 8pm kickoff could still interfere with the climactic shot of the Open.
Will the R&A change the tee times?
The organization has decided to hold back on any decision until after the Three Lions face Argentina. Once the semi‑final outcome is clear, they will weigh the feasibility of shifting the final round, while keeping broadcasters’ needs in mind.
Watch the Highlights
Source: Mirror
