Major change to The Open schedule announced with tee times moved due to event clash at Portrush
The 153rd edition of the tournament is underway and will conclude on Sunday.
1
Tee times on Saturday have been brought forward
Credit: Sportsfile
Play began at 6:35am for the opening round and tee times will be brought forward on Saturday.
That is because of a band parade that is scheduled to take place in Portrush.
It is expected 70 bands and 2,000 people will descend on the town in an event organised by Portrush Sons of Ulster.
It will take place in the evening, at which time the golf will be complete for the day.
READ MORE ON THE OPEN
BRYS IS RIGHT 'People's champ' Bryson DeChambeau delights Open fans with classy gesture
That is because times will shift forward by around 15 minutes according to the chief executive of the Royal & Ancient (R&A), Mark Darbon.
Mr Darbon said, as organisers, they are "guests in the community" - albeit 275,000 in number.
He said at a press conference: "We recognise that when we bring The Open Championship to town, we are a guest in the community in which we operate.
"On many occasions, there are concurrent events that take place around the action that we are very focused on here, within the rules of the venue.
CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
"So, recognising the events that are taking place on Saturday, we have worked collaboratively with the organisers and across multi-agency groups to ensure, primarily, both events can run as seamlessly as possible.
"We are making a slight tweak to tee times to try and finish - it's not dramatic, maybe 15 minutes or so earlier.
'People's champ' Bryson DeChambeau delights Open fans with classy gesture as they say 'how can you not love this guy?'
"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 are looking at some marginal adjustments."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ITV News
a few seconds ago
- ITV News
Cheshire Dancer surprises in Valiant Stakes
The grey filly was ridden by Billy Loughnane in the Group Three, for which Ralph Beckett's Chantilly Lace was the horse to beat according to the market as the 11-4 favourite. Cheshire Dancer travelled in last as her rivals contested the lead, but then began to make progress on the outside in the final two furlongs before grabbing a narrow victory from Ed Walker's American Gal on the line. Palmer, who had struck in the preceding Princess Margaret Stakes with Fitzella, said: 'It's been a great hour, when we got done on the line in the first at Chester I didn't think it would be our day, so this is magical really. 'I said to the owners when she was third at Ascot during the Royal meeting that we would go back for the Valiant and she has since run massive when second in the Pipalong Stakes at Pontefract. 'Sometimes when these fillies find a rich vein of form and grow in confidence they improve and it's difficult to put your finger on how or why, but she's found that magical moment today. 'I was slightly nervous during the race, it wasn't the plan to sit last but they went an even enough gallop and she was really tough. 'She's been in the yard for three years and holds a real soft spot in all our hearts and it's lovely to see the success for everyone who puts so much into her. 'She went up to 86 after the run on the straight track here during the Royal meeting and now after two runs over a turning mile she's going to be up to a 100. 'She failed the vet for America after she finished third in the Kensington Palace. We had accepted an offer for her but that was probably for considerably less than she is now worth now, so it's funny how it goes.'
ITV News
a few seconds ago
- ITV News
Fitzella fits the bill for Hugo Palmer in Princess Margaret
The Hugo Palmer-trained filly was fourth at the same track in the Albany Stakes at the Royal meeting, beaten three lengths by a highly-regarded rival in Karl Burke's Venetian Sun. This time she was the 9-4 favourite under Oisin Murphy, and took up the running early on to set a good pace from the front. As the race developed the contenders behind her attempted to close, but the daughter of Too Darn Hot was well able to keep her head in front to claim an eventual one-length win from George Scott's Staya. Palmer said: 'Oisin was very upset when he came in from the Albany as he felt he sat too close to a very strong pace, he did realise and took back but the damage was already kind of done by then. 'We felt on reflection that it was her class that allowed her to finish fourth on that occasion. 'She was probably drawn on the wrong side of the track that day as well and today the plan was to hold her up and race more patiently and use her finish. 'She pinged the lids and Oisin had to go straight to plan B and it worked very nicely. He didn't go hard and of course she's very exciting. 'She was an expensive yearling but has always been beautiful and still is and I'm delighted she's a Group winner now. 'I've only watched it once so I don't know how tough Oisin has had to be on her. She was very game and very willing which is what she has been at home since the get-go. I'm delighted today, but just sad she's not a Royal Ascot winner.' Coral made Fitzella a 25-1 chance for next May's 1000 Guineas, but more immediate in Palmer's thoughts is the Breeders' Cup, with a trip to France a possibility before crossing the Atlantic to Del Mar in November. Palmer continued: 'She's shown great gate speed today and the Breeders' Cup would definitely be on the radar, she will definitely run again and possibly twice, but I wouldn't think more than that. 'It's her fourth start of the year and I wouldn't want her to have many more than five or six runs. 'She has a Moyglare entry, but that is a very stiff seven furlongs and I would have thought the Prix du Calvados at Deauville may be the right option, it's a month away. She wouldn't want soft ground though, so we will have to see what the weather brings.'
North Wales Chronicle
an hour ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Cheshire Dancer surprises in Valiant Stakes
The grey filly was ridden by Billy Loughnane in the Group Three, for which Ralph Beckett's Chantilly Lace was the horse to beat according to the market as the 11-4 favourite. Cheshire Dancer travelled in last as her rivals contested the lead, but then began to make progress on the outside in the final two furlongs before grabbing a narrow victory from Ed Walker's American Gal on the line. Palmer, who had struck in the preceding Princess Margaret Stakes with Fitzella, said: 'It's been a great hour, when we got done on the line in the first at Chester I didn't think it would be our day, so this is magical really. 'I said to the owners when she was third at Ascot during the Royal meeting that we would go back for the Valiant and she has since run massive when second in the Pipalong Stakes at Pontefract. 'Sometimes when these fillies find a rich vein of form and grow in confidence they improve and it's difficult to put your finger on how or why, but she's found that magical moment today. 'I was slightly nervous during the race, it wasn't the plan to sit last but they went an even enough gallop and she was really tough. 'She's been in the yard for three years and holds a real soft spot in all our hearts and it's lovely to see the success for everyone who puts so much into her. 'She went up to 86 after the run on the straight track here during the Royal meeting and now after two runs over a turning mile she's going to be up to a 100. 'She failed the vet for America after she finished third in the Kensington Palace. We had accepted an offer for her but that was probably for considerably less than she is now worth now, so it's funny how it goes.' He added: 'Winning these races are important for all trainers, but what we're really keen to get across to people is despite the fact I may have left Newmarket and moved to Cheshire, we're still doing the same job and winning Group races and people can with confidence send us well-bred horses and home breds.'
