Rory McIlroy and Co warned not to tackle protestors at The Open

Rory McIlroy and his fellow golf stars have been issued specific instructions around the upcoming Open at Royal Liverpool golf club, with the threat of climate protestors scuppering the event believed to be high.

Numerous sporting spectacles, including the snooker championship at the Crucible and England’s cricket Tests at the Ashes have been targeted by protest groups searching to make their mark and obtain national coverage.

Now, with the historic Open set to take place at Hoylake with the best golfers in the world in attendance, fears have been elevated that repeat antics could happen.

Players have, however, been warned not to take matters into their own hands.

English star Justin Rose has pleaded with Just Stop Oil to leave The Open alone – for the sake of their cause – after competitors were told by the R and A not to ‘do a Jonny Bairstow’ at Hoylake.

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The England wicketkeeper took matters into his own hands by picking up a demonstrator and carrying him off the pitch after a pitch invasion during the Second Ashes Test at Lord’s.

But players and caddies at The Open have received instructions not to get involved with protestors and to leave intervention to security staff if the activists strike at the championship which begins on Thursday.

Rose, the former US Open champion, believes disruption of the kind seen at Wimbledon, Aintree and The Crucible this summer will be self-defeating.

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“They believe in their cause and their cause is not outrageous, it’s just I think when you mess with what people enjoy that’s not going to make any friends,” said Rose.

“Some sporting events are sacred to people. It’s their release, their getaway from their everyday life.”

Merseyside Police will have a highly visible presence at Hoylake in an attempt to deal with potential issues but the acreage of a golf course makes it difficult to protect fully.

The action gets under way from Thursday morning, with golfers competiting to make the cut before the weekend comes into play. The winner of the storied sporting event will be crowned on Merseyside on Sunday evening.

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