R&A boss announces two BIG changes ahead of The Open at Royal Portrush

Mark Darbon, Chief Executive of the R&A, announce a couple of big changes for this year's event at Royal Portrush at the annual press conference.

The 153rd Open Championship will see two significant differences with players, caddies and fans all impacted.

Mark Darbon fronted the traditional annual R&A Open Championship press conference for the first time since becoming the organisation’s chief executive. He faced a barrage of testing questions about this week’s event at Royal Portrush and the future of golf’s oldest major as it continues to expand.

The Englishman, who took over from Martin Slumbers in December, having previously been the CEO of Northampton Saints Rugby Club, revealed there will be two significant differences to the 2025 tournament.

Firstly, Saturday’s tee times will be earlier than normal to allow for the Portrush Sons of Ulster parade, which is due to start at 8.15pm – the same time as fans would normally be pouring out of The Open.

“We recognize that when we bring the Open Championship to town we are a guest in the community in which we operate,” Darbon explained. “On many occasions, there are concurrent events that take place around the action that we’re very focused on here within the walls of the venue.

“So recognizing the events that are taking place on Saturday we’ve worked really collaboratively with the organizers and across multiple agency groups to ensure primarily that both events can run as seamlessly as possible.

“We’re making a slight tweak to tee times to try and finish – it’s not dramatic, it’ll be 15 minutes or so earlier. At the same time, this is an outdoor sport. The weather can play a big role. It’s very difficult to be precise on finishing times. But we’re looking at some marginal adjustments.”

Reports also suggested the R&A had offered £20,000 for the loyalist parade to be postponed, but Darbon said they had worked with the group and invested to ensure both events could go ahead without disruption.

He added: “We’re actually contributing some incremental costs to support what I just said, the seamless operation of both events. We try and be good citizens in the communities in which we operate when we come to town.

“I think when you’re staging a major event, security is always — security and the safety of your guests and the experience of your guests is always a prime consideration. This is no different. That’s why that multiagency approach is so critical.”

More than 60 bands and 2,000 people are expected to march through Portrush just as 50,000 golf fans will be leaving the course.

The parade is due to run until 10.30pm with the route beginning at the fire station car park before heading along Eglington Street, Kerr Street, Lower Main Street, Upper Main Street, Causeway Street, Victoria Street, and back to the fire station car park.

To ensure spectators at The Open can leave safely ahead of the parade, tee times for Saturday’s ‘moving day’ will move forward. Last year at Troon, the first group headed out at 8.55am with the leaders off at 3.45pm, but they’ll head out around 15 minutes earlier at Portrush. Moving them any earlier would prove damaging due to the US television window.

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While the change to tee times potentially appeases congestion and transport issues, the weather for Saturday looks unsettled. Any delays to play could impact the plans and cause logistical issues for spectators later in the day.

And there’s another significant change to the tournament, which could also slow the pace of play.

At previous Opens, including 2019 at Portrush, the R&A has used a BIGGA (British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association) Volunteer Support Team to assist the home greenkeeping team throughout the week. They are then assigned to playing groups across the tournament to rake the bunkers during rounds. However, for 2025, there will be no dedicated bunker rakers and instead, rakes will remain in the sand with players’ caddies tidying up after shots are played. While this is normal on a week-to-week basis, the size of the field and one-tee start mean there is a risk it could slow play down.

Darbon wouldn’t be drawn on the impact it could have or why the decision had been made, simply saying: “It’s a change for us but we think a good one.”

When pushed for a reason, he added: “A number of factors. We just think it’s a good model for us here at Portrush.”

Alongside the changes, the 46-year-old also discussed The Open’s potential playing at Portmarnock, which appears to be edging closer, along with the possibility of the event returning to Muirfield and Trump Turnberry. Both Scottish venues remain firmly in the R&A’s plans for future hosting, but there are infrastructure and logistical concerns to overcome.

The dates and venue for the 2028 Open were also discussed, with the tournament potentially needing to move from its traditional week in July to allow for the Olympics in Los Angeles.