DOOR IS OPEN TO LIV REBELS
R&A chief Slumbers confirms players in Saudi-backed series will be welcome at St Andrews
PLAYERS signed up to the breakaway LIV Golf Series will still be allowed to take their place in next month’s Open at St Andrews, the R&A have announced.
While the PGA Tour have issued bans to all those involved in the Saudi-backed venture after they played in the inaugural event, organisers of last week’s US Open did not follow suit.
That stance will be followed at the year’s final Major, when the 150th Open Championship gets under way in three weeks’ time.
Chief executive Martin Slumbers said: “The Open is golf ’s original championship and since it was first played in 1860, openness has been fundamental to its ethos and unique appeal.
“Players who are exempt or have earned a place through qualifying for The 150th Open in accordance with the entry terms and conditions will be able to compete in the championship at St Andrews.
“We are focused on staging a world-class championship in July and celebrating this truly historic occasion for golf.
“We will invest the proceeds of The Open, as we always do, for the benefit of golf which reflects our purpose to ensure that the sport is thriving 50 years from now.”
The R&A have also increased the number of places available from final Open qualifying from 12 to 16 across the four venues of Fairmont St Andrews, Hollinwell, Prince’s and St Annes Old Links next Tuesday.
Padraig Harrington, meanwhile, claims the LIV Golf controversy is another stick to beat the sport with.
The three-time Major winner fears that golf ’s image is taking a bashing because of the decision of a small number of “rebels” to join the Saudi-backed Tour.
Brooks Koepka is reportedly the latest big name to sign up for the lucrative series that heads to Portland next week.
Harrington, who is competing in his first US Senior Open this week ahead of his return home to the Irish Open at Mount Juliet next week, said: “I’d worry what the fallout is for golf.
“It’s amazing when you’re sitting here, watching and listening to all this stuff.
“It’s one of those things in life, golf, that you’re allowed bash. It’s golfers who seem to be getting the grief at the moment – all golfers, all of golf.
“It’s the image, they make a joke (about it) – I’ve seen journalists involved in golf retweeting stuff and, like, it’s anti-golf when it’s a tiny few golfers who have gone there (to LIV). Like, how can you label everybody?”.
● Justin Thomas, the world No.5, has withdrawn from this week’s Travelers Championship with a back injury. “Before the rumours start flying, I have decided to WD to treat and rest my back which I tweaked earlier this week,” he wrote on Twitter.