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Open Championship Keeps Sunday Finish Time Even if England Reaches World Cup Final
R&A organizers plan a 6:40 p.m. close at Royal Birkdale on Sunday even if England reaches the World Cup final. A final schedule decision awaits the outcome of England's semifinal against Argentina.
Jul 15, 10:16 AM·1m read1 source
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Organizers of the 2026 Open Championship have no plans to alter Sunday's schedule at Royal Birkdale even if England reaches the World Cup final, ESPN reported. R&A chiefs are planning for a 6:40 p.m. finish if no playoff is needed and believe that timing would leave enough room before the 8 p.m.
Final. R&A chief executive Mark Darbon said the organization will decide after England's semifinal against Argentina. "I'm an England football fan, so it would be a great problem to have," Darbon said.
"Of course in the background, we've been doing a lot of thinking about this. Our final putt is currently scheduled for around 6.40pm on Sunday. We think that, even if we go to a three-hole play-off, we've got time to complete the championship.
The Open will not show the England versus Argentina semifinal at the venue on Wednesday evening. Spectators wanting to watch must arrange their own viewing off-site. Around 300,000 spectators are expected at the Merseyside links across four practice days and the championship that begins Thursday.
Darbon said the R&A is proud of spectator conduct at the Open but will eject troublemakers under a new code of conduct. "We feel it's within our gift, if someone does step over the line, to ask them to leave the venue," he said.