Any player who fancies taking a short cut down a key hole at The Open would be very wise to reconsider.
Rules chiefs at Royal Birkdale have deemed the 10th fairway out of bounds – but only for shots from the 9th tee.
While there may not be any white stakes or lines on show as a warning, competitors have been told they will face scoring disaster if their drive goes wrong.
A note fixed onto the 9th tee reads: “Internal out of bounds. Notice to players. For strokes played from the 9th tee only: On or beyond the 10th fairway is out of bounds”.
Why is the 10th fairway out of bounds at The Open?
Internal out of bounds was brought in here at the last Open at Birkdale in 2017 after it was reported some players were considering hitting off the 9th tee onto the next fairway.
The tee shot is blind on the par 4 dogleg, which measures 414 yards, and driving onto the 10th not only opens up the angle to the hole but can significantly shorten the length of approach.
It’s a tactic fraught with danger. Not only could players walking the 10th be at risk, the line also directly takes a ball across a spectator walkway and a small grandstand.
This isn’t the first time players have faced internal out of bounds at The Open. It’s famously found on the 1st hole at Royal Portrush, as well as part of the 18th, and all but ended Rory McIlroy’s hopes of winning a Claret Jug on home ground in 2019.
It also comes into play on two pivotal holes on the championship layout at Royal Liverpool, with the 3rd and the 18th winding around the practice ground that is OB.
But once more at Royal Birkdale, rules chiefs have taken away any temptations. Stroke-and-distance is the penalty for any player who gets this wrong during the championship.
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Now have your say
What do you make of this internal out of bounds rule and will anyone get caught out during The Open at Royal Birkdale? Let me know in the comments, or get in touch on X.
