R&A officials “will consider an earlier than normal finish” for next week’s Open Championship at Royal Birkdale if England is playing in the World Cup final later that day. The final pairing in the Open generally starts at around 2:30pm local time on the Sunday, but that means the conclusion would leave “little time for fans to find a place to watch the football,” which kicks off at N.Y. N.J. Stadium at 8pm. The potential for a clash “will increase if the Open goes to a play-off.” Nothing has been confirmed and “any changes will be unnecessary” if England lose to Norway in the quarter-finals on Saturday or go out at the semi-final stage (London TIMES, 7/7).
Open Championship could finish early to avoid World Cup clash
