[PHOTO: Stuart Franklin/R&A]
Take notes, PGA Tour.
One of the best Open Championship traditions going – punishing drop zones – is back for the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush. Golf.com’s Dylan Dethier captured two photos of some of the nastier drop zones the R&A implemented this year:
the Open seems to be dialing up its nastiest set of drop zones yet. ohh you want a free drop from the grandstand? for sure man. toss one down in the bushes over there pic.twitter.com/nRaK8RRS0X
— Dylan Dethier (@dylan_dethier) July 16, 2025
That’s the good stuff.
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For anyone confused, these seemingly unfair drop zones/relief areas are the R&A’s cheeky way of combatting what’s known as “backboarding”, a term for when players know they’ll get a free drop near a grandstand so they purposely hit it off one or bail out towards one. On the PGA Tour, wayward shots such as those are often rewarded with a free drop and an unencumbered shot towards the green.
During Open week, though, shots like that are punished, as they should be. It’s a local rule that differs from the normal one-club-length-no-closer-to-the-hole relief players would normally get at a regular tour event. This week, if you are near a grandstand and need relief, you go to the nearest drop area, even if it is closer to the hole. This was the case last year at Royal Troon, too.
In other words, there is nothing “free” or fair about them, nor should there be. And you watch, magically, the world’s best who are always in full control of their golf ball suddenly won’t find themselves next to or behind many grandstands this week. Because if they do, they know that may actually have to pay the price.
