The Open: How tournament officials will handle player misconduct at Royal Birkdale
The Open: This is how tournament officials will handle golfers' in the 156-man field at Royal Birkdale breaching Rule 1.2b.
Rules officials at The Open reportedly won't hesitate to hand out two-shot penalties or disqualify players without warning if they are guilty of "serious misconduct" at Royal Birkdale, according to a report.
Player behaviour at the men's majors has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years, following a series of high-profile displays of anger and frustration from several prominent figures.
Wyndham Clark drew the ire of the golf world in 2025 after the American was involved in more than one incident on and off the golf course.
Clark damaged a century-old locket at Oakmont two years ago following a missed cut at the U.S. Open and was also criticised for hurling his driver in disgust towards towards an advertising board after a loose tee shot at the PGA Championship.
Though Clark's behaviour wasn't the catalyst, the four major tournaments, the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and Open agreed to implement a new code of conduct for competitors in their championships this year.
Scotland's Robert MacIntyre and Spain's Sergio Garcia were reprimanded for their on-course conduct at the 2026 Masters but Chile's Joaquin Niemann was the first player to be docked shots at the U.S. Open.
LIV Golf recruit Niemann tossed a gap wedge in frustration some 50 yards at Shinnecock Hills during the first round after hitting consecutive tee shots out of bounds en route to a septuple-bogey nine. His score was later changed to an 11.
Niemann, who was penalised under Rule 1.2b, was informed that he had incurred a two-stroke penalty before beginning his second round, despite receiving no prior warning from USGA officials to modify his behaviour.
And that could again prove to be the case this week, should any player in the 156-man field at Royal Birkdale breach the code of conduct.
Golfweek are reporting that the policy for "serious misconduct" is in effect at Royal Birkdale.
It reads:
"If a player's (or their caddie's) behaviour is so far removed from what is expected in the spirit of the game of golf, in accordance with Rule 1.2b, the chief referee, in consultation with the chief championships officer, may issue an official warning or apply a penalty of two strokes or disqualification, taking account of the frequency, impact or potential impact, intent and severity of the misconduct. An official warning does not need to be given prior to applying a penalty of two strokes or disqualification."
Golfers aren't the only ones being asked to behave this week.
The R&A also expects the 300,000 spectators that will pass through the gates to respect a spectators' code of conduct.
The Open Commitment asks fans to ‘respect the players, the links and each other’.
Serious or repeated breaches of the terms could result in spectators being removed from the course, the R&A said.
It is a direct consequence to the unruly scenes that marred the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.
Home favourite, Tommy Fleetwood, told reporters in his pre-Open news conference on Monday, that doesn't believe there will be any issues this week.
Fleetwood acknowledged it was a difficult task trying to get 200,00 people to observe the same rules.
But he added: "You want the fans to behave in the best way possible and to give everybody the equal opportunity, but it is very difficult wanting all that to go together.
"It's a tough one, and you just want the best for everybody really.
"I've always felt like atmospheres [at Opens] have been great.
"I've had support on my side 99 percent of the time, but I've also had it against me the odd time.
"Honestly, sometimes those have been my most enjoyable atmospheres when the crowd are that little bit against you and gives you that little bit extra.
“I think The Opens that I've experienced in the north west, the crowds have been amongst the best I've ever seen and the atmospheres have been great.
"I'm sure everybody will be great this week.”
Previous player incidents - what happened?
MacIntyre endured a disastrous stretch of holes during the opening round of the 2026 Masters.
He made a quadruple-bogey nine on the 15th hole and television cameras later caught the Scot directing a middle finger to the green.
Garcia's incident occurred during the final round.
On the second hole, the former green jacket winner sliced his tee shot way right and proceeded to smash his club into the turf.
Garcia also snapped the club in two on a nearby water cooler.
The Spaniard later apologised.
MacIntyre accepted he crossed the line but defended his behaviour as part of his personality, telling The Scotsman he was unlikely to change.
"I know it wasn't ideal," MacIntyre said. "But I'm an emotional player and I'm not going to completely change."
Ben Smith joined the GolfMagic team in September 2021, initially as a content executive.
These days, he assumes the position of content manager.
