Fears of Protest Disruption at The Open This Summer

MAJOR sporting events have suddenly become soft targets for protesters, with animal rights campaigners attempting to disrupt the Grand National and the World Snooker Championship being targeted when two Just Stop Oil protesters brought play to a halt when one of them covered one of the tables in orange paint dust.

And with Just Stop Oil promising to disrupt further sporting events this summer it begs an obvious question: just how vulnerable is professional golf?

If you have ever attended a tournament you will know exactly how difficult it is to make golf courses secure. 

You can put on all the security you want at the gates, but how on earth do you stop people getting in without paying and doing their worst if they are really determined to do so? It is a frightening prospect. 

And so it comes as no surprise whatsoever that The R&A, who run The Open Championship, are reviewing their security plans. R&A officials are confident their “robust” measures will be enough to head off disruption to golf’s oldest major.

Organisers are preparing for this July’s Open at Royal Liverpool which is a 260,000 sell-out. It is set to be the tournament’s second biggest crowd after a record 290,000 went to the 150th Open at St Andrews last year. 

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

Fears are growing it could be the latest showpiece sports event to be targeted after police arrested 118 people over disruption to the Grand National.

Animal rights activists delayed the start of the race by getting on to the course at Aintree.

Sheffield’s famous Crucible arena was then invaded by two people on Monday evening, with a man climbing on the table and releasing a packet of dye in the name of Just Stop Oil, who warned that they plan to disrupt more sporting events in the coming weeks.

R&A director of communications Mike Woodcock said: “Every year security is a big priority for us. We go through a very rigorous process with police, local authorities and agencies. We are looking to assess any potential issues or problems that might arise.

“We will be conscious of what has happened in recent days and do everything we can to make sure it doesn’t reoccur here in July.

“It is definitely challenging but we have dealt with protests at The Open before. We will do everything we can to try and prevent it.

“We are pretty confident the arrangements we have are robust.”

Rhodri Price, director of championships, also said: “We engage with protests groups so they can get their message across but in a controlled environment.”

With all due respect to Mr Price, if Just Stop Oil have any plans to attempt to disrupt The Open - or any other golf tournament - it is highly unlikely that they will be engaging with The R&A or the DP World Tour.

Let’s just keep our fingers crossed that common sense prevails.