R&A relents on dress code with shorts to be allowed for first time at Open
Competitors in this year’s Open Championship at Royal Portrush can wear shorts in practice rounds in the event for the first time – and the change could extend to competition days if the temperature soars on the County Antrim coast in July.
The relaxation of the dress code for the game’s oldest major was announced at a media briefing yesterday at this year’s’ venue, where demand for tickets among fans has led the R&A to offer an additional 3,750 on each of the championship days after an initial allocation of 40,000 sold out in record time.
The decision to permit shorts on the practice days falls into line with both the European Tour and PGA Tour taking the same step and that change also being introduced last year for the US PGA Championship by the PGA of America, though long trousers are still required in the build up to both The Masters and US Open.
Shorts will be allowed in practice rounds for Open Championship final qualifying as well, with the R&A Championship Committee also now having the power to introduce the change in the actual battle for the Claret Jug in extreme weather conditions.
“They would have to make a judgement,” said Mike Woodcock, the R&A’S communications director. “There isn’t a set threshold, but the committee would have to make a decision if it was that hot. You can turn back to say Hoylake in 2006 [when it was extremely hot] as an example. This is a new decision.”
The change was welcomed by defending Open champion Francesco Molinari.
“I don’t see why not,” said the Italian in a teleconference immediately after the announcement. “People play golf in shorts all around the world. I don’t see why we should be different. I’m aware it might take time and I don’t think it will be a priority in Portrush.”
That was reference to the weather having been particularly bad for his previous visit to the venue for the Irish Open in 2012, when he played with Darren Clarke, the Open champion at the time, in the opening two rounds.