The Open goes HARD with drop zones: Why nobody wants a free drop at Royal Portrush

The R&A’s savage drop zones are designed to eliminate the strategic advantage of backboarding.

The R&A has a unique way of discouraging pros from abusing grandstand relief at The Open – with Royal Portrush drop zones providing a proper punishment.

A record-breaking 278,000 fans will visit Royal Portrush this week – making it the biggest attendance in the history of The Open outside of St Andrews.

To make sure everyone gets a decent view, thousands of seats have been installed around the course, including huge grandstands flanking the 1st tee and 18th green.

While grandstands are a standard feature of tour golf, they do have a habit of getting in the way. These temporary structures often lead to players being granted free drops when a stand interferes with their swing or stance. And occasionally, it’s not so accidental.

The art of ‘grandstanding’ – also known as ‘backboarding’ or ‘grandstopping’ – is when players intentionally fire approach shots towards the stands, knowing they’ll likely get a free drop if their ball ends up nestled among the scaffolding. It’s a sneaky tactic, but one that’s become increasingly common.

It became the biggest talking point at this year’s Chevron Championship, where the final par-5 featured a grandstand just a few paces off the back of the green. With water short, countless players simply sent their second shots long, bouncing them off the structure and taking a comfy drop.

“Hate to see a major end the way Chevron did today,” said former PGA Tour winner and Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee. “Why is there a grandstand so close to the back edge of a closing par 5 that players can hit in two?”

It’s a dilemma for tournament organisers. They want fans to be close to the action – especially at iconic holes – but when that proximity starts influencing the outcome, it becomes a much trickier conversation.

At The Open, the R&A takes a slightly different approach.

Yes, players still get free relief if a grandstand obstructs their shot – but the designated drop zones are far from generous.

In fact, they’re often downright horrible.

Just look at the photos. We had to draw arrows to point them out – that’s how tucked away and unappealing these lies can be.

It’s deliberate. The Open prides itself on being a true test of golf, played on the raw, rugged beauty of a links course. Grandstands may be part of the modern spectacle, but the R&A are doing everything they can to stop them becoming a strategic advantage.

So yes, you’ll get your free drop if you end up next to a stand – but you won’t love where it puts you.

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