PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland – There will be no dedicated bunker rakers at the 2025 British Open Championship at Royal Portrush.
“It’s a change for us but we think a good one,” said R&A chief executive Mark Darbon during his Wednesday pre-championship press conference.
That is a change of practice for the Open, which for more than two decades has had dedicated rakers from the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) handle these duties. That means caddies will be responsible for the raking, which they do every other week, so none of the caddies who spoke to Golfweek felt it was a big deal.
But Billy Horschel, who tied for second last year at Royal Troon and is sidelined from competing this year due to hip surgery, weighed in via social media that he was disappointed.
“No designated bunker rakers this week is such a disappointment,” he said on X. “I know the caddies love them, as well as the players. Very odd decision by The Open not to have them.”
When asked why the R&A decided to end BIGGA’s role as rakers, which may help with pace of play, Darby said, “A number of factors. We just think it’s a good model for us here at Portrush.”
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