‘WE WILL NOT BE BANNING LIV GOLFERS – BUT WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO OUR EXEMPTIONS AND QUALIFICATION CRITERIA FOR THE OPEN’

Martin Slumbers has the power to decide where The Open goes and who is eligible. This is his take on what the future holds for LIV golfers and why the R&A won’t undermine the spirit of open competitions.

We all know the disruption that men’s professional golf is facing and the potential impact it could have on the structure of the game. We’ve been saying for some time now that our purpose is to ensure that golf is thriving in 50 years’ time and that it remains strong at all levels, from grassroots through to the professional game.

We’ve seen significant growth in the sport over recent years. The R&A invests the proceeds from The Open in developing, nurturing and strengthening golf around the world and ensuring that talented players have pathways to progress as far as they can in the game, based simply on their own ability. I firmly believe that the existing golf ecosystem has successfully provided stable pathways for golfers to enter the sport and develop and realise their full potential.

Professional golfers are entitled to choose where they want to play and to accept the prize money that’s offered to them. I have absolutely no issue with that at all. But there is no such thing as a free lunch. I believe the (LIV Golf) model is not in the best long-term interests of the sport as a whole and is entirely driven by money. We believe it undermines the merit-based culture and the spirit of open competition that makes golf so special.

I would also like to say that in my opinion the continued commentary that this is about growing the game is just not credible and, if anything, is harming the perception of our sport which we are working so hard to improve. We believe the game needs to focus on increasing participation, achieving greater diversity, and making sure that golf is truly open to all, rather than this narrow debate involving a small number of players.

Golf is far more than just professional golf, and we should all remember that. I have often talked about the 99 percent who play golf for love. And I believe that the vast majority of the 70 million-plus golfers do so because of the values of golf, which to me are integrity, personal responsibility, and respect.

Looking ahead to The Open next year, we have been asked quite frequently about banning players. Let me be very clear. That’s not on our agenda. But what is on our agenda is that we will review our exemptions and qualifications criteria for The Open. And whilst we do that every year, we absolutely reserve the right to make changes as our Open Championships Committee deems appropriate. Players have to earn their place in The Open, and that is fundamental to its ethos and its unique global appeal.”