Tommy Fleetwood falls foul of new bunker raking policy at Open

"It's a change for us but we think a good one," new R&A chief Mark Darbon said Wednesday.

Thu, 17 Jul, 2025 - 22:16

Carl Markham, PA

Tommy Fleetwood fell foul of the R&A's new policy on how bunkers are raked at this week's Open at Royal Portrush.

The Englishman was one over when he drove into the sand short of the driveable par-four fifth but when he reached his ball he was not impressed.

His escape hit the lip of the bunker and only just came out. He went on to bogey and his struggles continued as he eventually finished with a two-over 72, five off the lead.

For decades the R&A used greenkeepers as bunker-rakers with each group but this year abandoned that policy and left the responsibility to caddies.

"It's a change for us but we think a good one," new R&A chief Mark Darbon said Wednesday.

Fleetwood was not so sure, saying: "It wasn't a great rake job. But the first thing is I was not very happy to be in there, so that's my fault. But when things aren't going well...

"It was like in somebody's hitting mark that hadn't really been raked great. I probably could have managed it better."

Asked whether he would like to see the return of bunker-rakers he added: "That would be handy. The amount that I hit in them today, I'm sure I was probably asking for the bunker-rakers back.

"They've always had bunker-rakers until this week? I thought so. I thought that was odd.

"You don't know what's gone on before. I'm not going to hold it against anyone too much.

"I'm not going to get angry about anyone where you don't know what's happening, but it wasn't great and bunker rakers would have been nice."