PATRICK REED gave two fingers to golf’s rulers by turning up at The Open in gear emblazoned with LIV branding.
As the 150th Open Championship tees off at the home of golf today, the blazing row between St Andrews chiefs and the Saudi rebels shows no sign of going away.
American Patrick Reed shows the cap fits when it comes to taking the LIV millions
Patrick Reed’s headwear gesture summed up golf’s current problems
And R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers revealed they would make it harder for LIV players to qualify in future.
Former Masters champion Reed reportedly trousered £50million to join the breakaway tour — and clearly got a free cap and shirt, too.
Slumbers said: “We all know the disruption that men’s professional golf is facing and the impact it could have on the structure of the game.
“Professional golfers are entitled to choose where they want to play and to accept the prize money 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 model we’ve seen at Centurion and Pumpkin Ridge (the first two LIV events) 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.
“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.
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“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.
“We absolutely reserve the right to make changes as our Open Championships Committee deems appropriate. Players have to earn their place in The Open, that is fundamental to its ethos and unique global appeal.”
That is a serious blow for LIV and its front man, double Open winner Greg Norman, who was banned from attending the Champions Dinner and the Champions Challenge, held to celebrate the 150th Open.
The biggest exemption category for The Open is for the top 50 ranked players in mid-May, making LIV Golf’s application to be allowed to award ranking points vital.
Slumbers said they had not considered changing the qualification rules this year, because they were set out long before LIV began recruiting the likes of Reed and fellow American Major winners Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, and Brooks Koepka.
Slumbers added: We will hold totally true to The Open being open to anybody.
“But we may well look at how you get into that, whether it’s an exemption or a need to go through our qualifying process.”
