The Open: England golfers face World Cup semi-final dilemma ahead of bid for elusive big win at Royal Birkdale | golf news

In a week where England look to end their 60-year wait for World Cup glory, the country’s golfers also aim to break their own long winless run at The Open.

It seems remarkable to think that since Sir Geoff Hurst’s hat-trick to beat West Germany 4-2 in the 1966 World Cup final, only two different golfers from England – Tony Jacklin and Sir Nick Faldo – have won golf’s oldest major.

Jacqueline’s victory came in 1969 and the last of Faldo’s three Open titles came in 1992, leaving 21 Englishmen waiting to become the first champion golfer of the year from England in 34 years at Royal Birkdale.

There’s an argument to be made that this is one of the strongest chances to end Southport’s drought in the sun, with Matt Fitzpatrick a three-time winner this season, Tommy Fleetwood returning to his hometown course and Aaron Rye arriving as the reigning major champion.

It was without Tyrell Hatton’s major form improvement and Justin Rose returning to where his career began as a 17-year-old amateur in the 1998 edition, with Alex Fitzpatrick also arriving after an impressive start to his PGA Tour career.

England’s World Cup future will already be decided when the Open kicks off at 6.35am on Thursday morning, with the semi-final against Argentina on the eve of the tournament, with the players facing tough decisions about their final major preparations.

“I was hoping for later,” Rose admitted in his press conference ahead of Thursday’s 9.36am kick-off. “I would have taken the win on penalties if it had happened, but obviously we are looking for a short, sharp match and a reasonable bedtime.

“Obviously we’ll see but, at the same time, I’m going to look at it with an eye on what’s important to me. Don’t get too high and low and keep your emotions in check.

“We’ve got a lot of big things to do this week, but at the same time, it’s a match where if you think you’re not going to see it, you’re probably kidding yourself. I’ll be rooting for the guys, but trying to make sure I can rest as soon as possible after the match.”

Matt Fitzpatrick has been granted his pre-tournament late-early draw so he can watch England, teaming up with Rory McIlroy and Xander Schaffel at 3.15pm, although his younger brother Alex Fitzpatrick has been given an early start.

“I’m probably watching it at home but I’m also off at 7.19am, so I don’t really know what I’m going to do!” He said Sky Sports. “I should probably stay awake and see what I haven’t seen, but at the same time it’s an open and I should probably focus a little more!

“I think if we can somehow identify the little man (Lionel Messi) off the pitch, we might have a chance, but that would be great. The boys have done amazing so far, it’s been fun to watch and I wish the World Cup wasn’t every four years.”

“It was incredible – (Harry) Kane and (Jude) Bellingham were amazing and everyone had a role. They’ve done an incredible job so far and hopefully they can bring it home.”

Hatton admits he feels more positive about England’s World Cup hopes on his own success, despite two top-seven finishes at majors this year, world number 22 and Liverpool fans are cautiously optimistic that they will reach the final.

“I think it will be a good game and hopefully England win, then I guess everyone will say ‘it’s coming home’ a bit more,” Hatton said. Sky Sports. “Bellingham has been amazing and Kane has been unbelievable, so hopefully those guys can continue the form they’ve been in.

“We’re all probably secretly positive and nervous but hopefully they can get the job done.”

One of the few players hoping for a different result is Latin America Amateur Championship champion Mateo Pulcini, the only Argentine player in the field, who is planning a special celebration if his home country reaches the final.

“We’re already thinking about our plans for Thursday – if we (Argentina) win, I’ll have to ask R&A if I can do something,” Pulsini said. Sky Sports. “As soon as we won (the quarter-final), all my friends were texting me: ‘Ah, you’re in England, you’ve got to do something if we win!’

“The team, the effort they put in, is unbelievable. They make the Argentine population very happy and that’s great. Argentina won 2-1 – no penalty shootout because Messi isn’t good at that. In everything else, he’s the GOAT.”

A great Sunday ahead for the English game?

Victory for England would see them progress to Sunday’s final at MetLife Stadium, with The Open’s final putt currently scheduled – as it stands – for around 90 minutes from kick-off in New Jersey.

R&A chief executive Mark Darbon said in April that they would “try to avoid where possible a clash” between the two marquee events, with his pre-tournament press conference likely to be fraught with questions over reports that tee times could be slightly altered if England make the final.

“It’s going to be a great day (Sunday),” Fleetwood said. “The boys are doing great. It has been great to see. The World Cup is not easy. I think they did really well and they kept winning, which you can do in those World Cup matches.

“For those guys, they definitely carry a nation on their shoulders a lot more than us. They’re doing a great job, and it’s great to have them in the semifinals again. We’re a great team, so it’s great to see and it’s great to have that positive expectation.”

Team GB’s gold medal win on ‘Super Saturday’ at the London 2012 Olympics was a historic day in British sport, as was the Sunday in July 2019 when England won the 50-over World Cup with Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer delivering an epic Wimbledon final.

An Englishman crowned champion golfer of the year on Sunday evening has a lot to lose ahead of England’s potential victory in the World Cup final. Will both come ‘home’? Most of the record-breaking crowd at Royal Birkdale this week would hope so.

When is the Open live on Sky Sports?

Wall-to-wall action kicks off with the final men’s major of the year on Thursday at 6.30am on Sky Sports Golf, the exclusive home of The Open in the UK and Ireland, Sky Sports Golf.

Sky Sports+ or The Sky Sports appwith extended coverage then beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m. on Sunday.