The Open could introduce rule change that would’ve put multiple players in trouble at The Masters

Photo by David Cannon/R&A/R&A via Getty Images

The 2026 major championship season is now underway, with the PGA Championship, The Open Championship and the US Open set to follow The Masters in the calendar.

Rory McIlroy won The Masters at Augusta National earlier this month, successfully defending his title for his second green jacket.

But many others endured a very different experience in Georgia, which has prompted a potential rule change for The Open Championship.

Sergio Garcia was reprimanded by Augusta officials after he damaged a tee box out of frustration, while there were calls for Robert MacIntyre to be disqualified from The Masters after he was caught flipping his middle finger and smashing his club into the ground.

Such misconduct on the course could now be severely punished at The Open, which takes place at Royal Birkdale in July.

The Open could introduce a two-shot penalty for on-course misconduct

Speaking to BBC Sport, R&A chief executive Mark Darbon said of a new code of conduct policy at Royal Birkdale: “It will depend on the circumstance and a determination of what their actions may lead to, but you could well see a two-shot penalty, for example, being deployed.

“We will clarify all of those details in the buildup to the championship.”

That definitely would have put the likes of Garcia and MacIntyre in trouble at The Masters, and indeed several others elsewhere.

Earlier this month, Max Homa threw his club in frustration at the RBC Heritage, which again would have undoubtedly led to punishment under the possible code of conduct policy for The Open.

Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images

Player misconduct should decline under possible two-shot penalty

While eradicating misconduct entirely won’t be an easy feat, introducing a two-shot penalty looks like a very smart starting place.

Such a punishment could have major implications for the leaderboard, with the margins for error having become increasingly small.

A two-shot penalty could be the difference between a made cut and a missed cut, or more importantly first and second place.

McIlroy triumphed at The Masters by a single shot, with similar margins having played out at The Open over recent years.

MacIntyre said his bad behaviour won’t change following criticism of his outburst at Augusta, but a two-shot penalty is very likely to change his mind.

Tempers do, of course, often reach boiling point in the heat of the moment given what is at stake, especially at major championships.

But players should take their responsibility as role models very seriously, and shouldn’t be allowed to cross the line, just as fans aren’t.

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