Just Stop Oil are NOT expected to target The Open this week, claims R&A chief executive… with ‘significant’ security measures put in place to stop any protestors
- Martin Slumbers is backing security at The Open to stop any protestors
- R&A chief insists there is no intelligence to suggest Just Stop Oil will target event
- Players have been told not to try and intervene if an incident occurs on course
R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers insists there has been no intelligence surrounding any potential protest at The Open this week but remains confident in the ‘significant’ security procedures which have been put in place.
Slumbers said the event had been targeted at St Andrews last year – there were rumours of a potential Just Stop Oil intervention – but nothing public materialised after security was increased at specific locations.
Players this week have been advised not to get involved in any protests which may take place after the environmental group targeted Wimbledon and the Ashes Test at Lord’s, where England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow carried one protester off the pitch.
‘We have had no direct intelligence,’ Slumbers said on the likelihood of protests at Royal Liverpool.
‘There was direct intelligence last year and most people in this room don’t know The Open was targeted last year.
R&A chief Martin Slumbers says there is no intelligence to suggest there will be protests this week at The Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club
Just Stop Oil protestors have targeted events such as Wimbledon this year
Security is tight at The Open this year and all spectators are checked before entry
‘We had a very credible threat which was reported to us that certain players in the field were going to be targeted by environmental activists.
‘We have significant security procedures in place, we work with law enforcement agencies and we will wait and see what happens.
‘We have advised the players please don’t get involved and I stand by that.
‘Beyond that I think security matters I need to keep confidential.’
Just Stop Oil protestors have targeted a number of sporting events this year, including the World Snooker Championship, Wimbledon and the Ashes.
England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow carried one of the protestors off the pitch and Spanish golfer John Rahm this week said he could follow the same approach.
‘I do have a reputation, so I hope they don’t catch me on a bad hole,’ he said.
‘I know they’re going for an impact. I saw a couple of them intervening in Wimbledon, and obviously this looks like it could be a perfect spot. But we have nothing to do with it.
‘You don’t want to disrupt play, which they’re trying, so if it happens where I’m at, I’m obviously going to try to clean up as quickly as possible so we can resume play.’
England cricketer Jonny Bairstow carried off a protestor at the Lord’s Test match
One Just Stop Oil protestor interrupted the World Snooker Championship this year