R&A Imposes New Fan Code at 2026 Open as 156-Player Field Faces Heckling Fears

3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 15

The R&A has introduced an "Open commitment" for spectators at Royal Birkdale, telling fans to respect players and each other after recent tournaments exposed worsening heckling.
Signs around the course will also warn that recording play on phones is banned, part of an effort to keep the championship "welcoming, respectful and unforgettable".
Matt Fitzpatrick said betting has helped fuel the problem, arguing golf is especially vulnerable because shouting during a backswing or putt could influence wagers.
On the course, hard, heatwave-baked fairways and Royal Birkdale's redesign since 2017 are expected to add difficulty for contenders including defending champion Scottie Scheffler and Masters winner Rory McIlroy.
The 156-player field also includes 10 amateurs, led by Irish qualifier David Howard, who reached his first major despite living with cystic fibrosis and taking about 30 tablets a day.