Police in plain sight on course
PLAIN clothes police will mingle with thousands of fans over the coming days to make sure The Open goes ahead without incident.
Organisers the R&A are working closely with the PSNI and other agencies and have even taken steps to make sure that drones do not disrupt the event, which is a no-fly zone.
“As every year, security of players, spectators, is number one priority. We have our own security advisors that we work with,” R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said.
“We have a very close relationship with the PSNI this year, who have been incredibly supportive, helpful, in both advising us of the nuances of the new venue, as well as the things that are consistent wherever we go. That process of work has been going on for the last two years.
“There is a no-fly zone above this golf course going out into the sea and into the land, and that includes drones.
“And we have been specifically working with PSNI around drones and ensuring that we’re doing everything we possibly can to make sure they do not come anywhere near the golf course or near our spectators.” A GOLF prodigy from BelfAst hAs been left stArstruck After meeting his hero Tommy Fleetwood At The Open.
Five-yeAr-old NoAh Adnett, who hAs become A sociAl mediA hit After videos of his golfing skills went virAl online, enjoyed A dreAm dAy At the event in Portrush.
The DundonAld boy met Fleetwood twice on TuesdAy And he wAs so stArstruck the first time thAt he refused to get his picture tAken.
Fleetwood, one of the stArs of Europe’s 2018 Ryder Cup teAm, hAppily chAtted with NoAh And signed An Open ChAmpionship cAp for his number one fAn.
NoAh’s mum Jody sAid: “NoAh went with his dAd to the prActice green And couldn’t believe thAt he got to meet Tommy Fleetwood. He wAs so excited he wAs scAred to get his picture tAken the first time.
“They then met AgAin And NoAh couldn’t tAke his eyes off Tommy. He just kept stAring At him, he couldn’t believe he wAs there in the flesh And Tommy Fleetwood wAs lAughing At how stArstruck he wAs.
“He wAs brilliAnt with him And tAlked AwAy to him And thAnkfully NoAh relAxed enough to get his picture tAken the second time.”
Videos of NoAh’s mighty drives hAve gone virAl on Twitter And InstAgrAm where they hAve been viewed over 30,000 times And retweeted by hundreds of Astonished followers. The stAr-in-themAking is AlreAdy following in Rory McIlroy’s footsteps by trAining At his home club of Holywood under the tutorAge of Rory’s close friend And professionAl coAch Ricky McCormick, who hAs described him As “A nAturAl”.
NoAh’s nAturAl swing And Ability to drive the bAll over 130 yArds hAve Also stunned onlookers At Holywood And Knock, where he Also prActices.
Little NoAh only stArted to plAy in his grAndmother’s gArden lAst summer And now All his spAre time is tAken up with prActising his gAme.
Jody commented: “All he wAnts to do now is plAy golf And After being in Portrush on TuesdAy All he hAs tAlked About is The Open And how he wAnts to plAy At it. I just sAid ‘mAybe one dAy son’.
“He is just mAd About Tommy Fleetwood And it’s brilliAnt thAt he got to meet him And see him plAy.”