​warning about the Open Commitment, and you’ll be shown the door. That is the message the R&A wants fans planning to attend the 154th Open Championship next week to hear, with the aim of preemptively guiding crowd behavior to prevent potential issues. Coming on the heels of raucous crowds at the 2025 Ryder Cup and again during Wyndham Clark’s U.S. Open run last month, the R&A unveiled its Open Commitment, a new fan code of conduct, on Wednesday. The core elements of the policy are simple: Respect the players, respect the links, respect each other, be aware, and enjoy responsibly.
Golf Channel host Paul McGinley said Wednesday that fan behavior has become a concern after the Ryder Cup and the U.S. Open. “Boundaries have been stretched,” he warned. “Like everything in this game, we need to establish boundaries, and the USGA and the R&A are the custodians of the sport in this respect, as are the PGA Tour. Those boundaries have to be set in stone.” He added, “We have a unique demographic in golf, and that group expects a code of conduct that aligns with the sport’s standing. If we lose that, and if the game becomes more of a free-for-all in terms of behavior, we risk alienating that demographic.”
Commitment terms will be communicated to fans at Royal Birkdale—and future Open Championships—before and during next week’s event through digital channels, ticket communications, and on-site signage. The R&A stated that fans agree to comply with the commitment by attending the event.
The Open Championship 2026 coverage highlights: top betting storylines and early favorites for Royal Birkdale. Will Bryson DeChambeau finally make his first cut of the major season? Can Brooks Koepka build on his T-6 finish at Royal Birkdale in 2017? Those are among the most compelling narratives ahead of the 154th Open Championship, with bookmakers offering lines on those and more.