No drug-testing will take place at the Open this July but there will be a tough stance taken on slow play - and mobile phones hidden in sandwiches.
Plans for the championship to become the first major to enforce the sport's soon-to-be-introduced anti-doping policy have been abandoned by the Royal and Ancient Club.
Chief executive Peter Dawson, one of the driving forces behind the introduction of drug-testing, admitted the delay was "slightly unsatisfactory".
He explained that the Open's global qualifying system was the main reason. Events have already taken place in Asia, South Africa and Australia and not all players at the events have had the same education programme open to those in Europe and America.
"We played a leading role in the development of a policy of which we are very proud," stated Dawson.
"But it is very important players understand what it is about and given that quite a number of players do not play on the PGA or European Tours we decided that there will not be testing at the Open this year.
"But we very much hope and intend to start next year. If the Open was in October we would probably be drug-testing this year.
"I think we have a pretty good record at taking the lead in drug-testing. We made a big contribution towards its introduction and I think our record in this area stands scrutiny."
On the eve of last year's championship at Carnoustie three-time winner Gary Player hit the headlines with claims a number of players were taking performance-enhancing substances.
"I know for a fact that some golfers are doing it," said the South African. "And the greatest thing that the R&A, the USGA and the PGA can do is have tests at random - it's absolutely essential that we do that.
"We're dreaming if we think it's not going to come into golf."
He refused to name any names, commenting: "I would say there's 10 (professional tour players) taking something. I might be way out - definitely not going to be lower, but might be a hell of a lot more.
"One guy told me and somebody else told me something that I also promised I wouldn't tell that verified others had done it."
Even with no actual testing this year the R&A has a "no drugs" clause in the championship entry form.
On slow play R&A officials were horrified at what they witnessed at the Masters earlier this month.
On the final day Trevor Immelman and Brandt Snedeker took five minutes 10 minutes to complete their 18 holes.
Dawson said the R&A had tabled pace of play as one of the items for discussion when the governing bodies of golf gather in a few weeks' time.
"We are concerned about it," he commented. "We saw some very slow play at the Masters and we are hoping to get a meeting of minds and some improvements.
"It's not just at major events. It's the effect it has at grassroots level. We'd like to look at educating players and penalising them.
"Without that it's hard to see it improving. And I think the elite amateur game has a piece of the blame because, anecdotally, coaches are encouraging pre-shot routines."
The introduction of a ban on mobile telephones last year was deemed a success and will continue at Birkdale, hopefully with no repeat of the incident that saw one spectator smuggle a phone through the gates in a sandwich.
It was taken off him, yet he tried again later in the day with it in his shoe.
The ban came after Tiger Woods repeatedly had to back off shots at Hoylake two years ago.
The world number one will again, of course, be the top attraction this year, but fans hoping the R&A will order him to delay the start of his early morning practice sessions are almost certain to be disappointed.
It has become the Woods way to get out on the links before spectators are even let in at 6.30am.
"I know why he does it and I understand why fans are disappointed, but I would not anticipate a change," said Dawson.
Prize money for the championship has yet to be decided because of what Dawson termed the "volatile" nature of current exchange rates, but what is known is that the course will be only 155 yards longer than when Mark O'Meara beat Brian Watts in a play-off 10 years ago, with Woods third and 17-year-old amateur Justin Rose joint fourth.
Only two holes remain unchanged since then, but the alterations have mainly been to tighten things up.
Given fast-running conditions on a par 70 lay-out measuring 7,173 yards, Woods might even try for a repeat of his feat two years ago when he won using his driver just once in four days.
But the weather will have a big say in that and Dawson commented: "Believe me, it's long enough."
WOODS GOES UNDER KNIFE
