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You know what they say: nae streakers, nae Open Championship.
Several times over the years – including at Royal Liverpool in 2006 – British fans have unhindered stripped of their birthday suits and galloped onto the pitch during play, sometimes embracing players. No such incident was more memorable than at Royal St George’s in 1985 when Peter Jacobsen caught a moderatorflips the trespasser to the ground and then jumps in celebration as if he just won the championship.
Safe to say, after a number of disturbances in the UK this summer, the R&A and local Merseyside Police do not want a repeat, whether it be of a scantily clad prankster for nothing more than a laugh or a politically minded protester aiming to make a statement.
According to the UK Telegraphplayers and sacks were told no to take matters into their own hands if the “Just Stop Oil” mobster snuck onto the track during the final main course of the year.
Just Stop Oil, a group of environmental activists pushing the British government to end fossil fuel production, has been involved in a number of incidents at sporting events in the UK this summer, including a cricket match between England and Australia last month when protesters ran onto the field carrying bags of orange powder, and at Wimbledon two weeks ago when two protesters threw orange confetti and jigsaw puzzles onto the pitch.
In a cricket match, England wicket-keeper Johnny Bristow carried a protester.
At the Open Championship, a source told telegraphThe officials told the players and caddies not to participate.
“They should leave it to the security to deal with it,” the source said. “They were literally told not to do Johnny Bristow.”
At Royal Liverpool on Tuesday, world number three John Ramm said he had not yet seen the notices for players, but issued a warning to anyone considering running onto the track.
“I have a good reputation, so I hope they don’t put me in a bad hole,” Ram said as the room laughed. “I’ve seen a couple of these. I know they’re going to make an impact. I’ve seen a couple of them tackle Wimbledon, and obviously that sounds like a perfect setting. But we have nothing to do with it.” [the issues they’re protesting]. “
But Ram stops by saying that he will not interfere.
“You don’t want to disrupt play, which they’re trying to do [to do]Ram said. “So, if that happens where I am, I’ll obviously try to clean up as soon as possible so we can resume playing. That’s all I can say.”
A large police presence is expected in Royal Liverpool and the nearby town of Holic this week. The Openers at Royal Liverpool have historically drawn record crowds, with both the 2006 and ’14 editions attracting over 200,000 spectators over those weeks.
This week, as Sean Zack and James Colgan of the Golf Company point out, a perimeter was created around the entire town for Open Week, to prevent cars from driving into the coastal city.
However, Ramm said the fact that the golf course is much larger than a tennis or cricket field could make it difficult to arrest protesters. But it also puts them at greater risk.
“They may have more room to run around and do what they need to, but what I can assure you is that you don’t want to get hit by a golf ball,” Ram said. “Whether it was on purpose or even by accident, you don’t want to get caught in the middle of it.”