Well, the R&A finally made a decision and somewhat surprisingly for some the decision was to cancel the 149th Open Championship because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Tournament will now take place at the same venue, Royal St George's Golf Club in Sandwich, in 2021.
The R&A do not want the Open Championship to return to Turnberry while Donald Trump is president because he would “suck the air out of” the tournament, it has been claimed.
The R&A and the USGA have announced the introduction of a new Local Rule that eliminates the penalty when a ball is accidentally moved on the putting green. And Dustin Johnson for one is delighted.
The R&A has introduced two new measures to its Pace of Play Condition in time for The Amateur Championship, which is being played at Royal Porthcawl and Pyle & Kenfig in Wales.
Topgolf and The R&A are collaborating to offer several discounted women and girls coaching sessions from PGA professionals to support the governing body’s #FOREeveryone campaign, as part of its wider Women in Golf Charter initiative.
GolfPunk legend John Daly has had his request to use a buggy at this year’s Open declined by the R&A Championship committee. The big man suffers with degenerative arthritis in his right knee and was recently allowed a buggy at the US PGA Championship.
The R&A and the USGA have provided two clarifications to Rule 10.2b(4) regarding restrictions on caddies standing behind players which take immediate effect.
Martin Slumbers, the Chief Executive of the R&A and European Tour chief Keith Pelley have issued statements, following the incident which saw defending champion Li Haotong lose €100,000 for a highly debateable two-shot penalty.
The R&A is introducing “ready golf” to its amateur championships this year, rather than waiting until 2019 as was proposed earlier in 2017.
Golf's two main governing bodies have announced they are planning to introduce a new single World Handicap System for club golfers.
The Open has teamed up with The Randox Health Grand National ahead of the 146th staging of the Championship at Royal Birkdale this July.
After six months of deliberations and consultation, the R&A and USGA have come up with the new rules governing amateur status and not unexpectedly, the announcement will produce plenty of debate. With a few strokes of the pen, a whole new class of elite amateurs is created who can receive unlimited sponsorship and winning a few quid in the club roll-up may cost you your amateur status!
