Golfer Billy Horschel pulls Just Stop Oil protester off the green at Hoylake after attempting to stop play at The Open

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By James Cohen and Oliver Salt for Mailonline, Stuart Carr Updated: 19:06 Jul 21, 2023

Just Stop Oil disrupted play during the Open Championship on Friday, a group of environmental activists launched flares during the high profile event, and security forces quickly detained environmental fanatics and cleared the mayhem with a leaf blower.

Environmental protestors met their match today when they tried to disrupt the 2023 Open Championship – only to run into major American golf star Billy Hurschel.

Horschel, a seven-time PGA Tour winner, was spotted challenging an activist at the Royal Liverpool Gold Club in Hoylake, Cheshire.

The eco-enthusiast trio tried to spoil the game on the 17th with a smokey glow and orange powder paint.

But their antics are stopped by Horschel as well as teammates Corey Conners and Alex Noren.

After stopping a protester in his tracks, Horshel leads them to security.

Billy Horschel During day two of The Open at Royal Liverpool, shortly before the event was disrupted by Just Stop Oil activists, Horschel, who continued with the match, was told along with two other players not to participate if Just Stop Oil would act on the day. The American golfer was met with applause and cheers from the fans for his decisive response to the vandals. Escorted by police also away from the golf course, spectators stood on the 17th green as American Billy Hurschel put it, shortly before Just Stop Oil protesters entered the course during the second round.

The American golfer drew applause and boos from the fans for his decisive response to the vandals.

Officers from Cheshire Police were later seen escorting several white-shirted activists from the golf course shortly after noon.

Just Stop Oil activists had already launched protests at World Snooker Championships, Wimbledon and the Ashes this summer, with England cricket star Jonny Bristow even forcing one individual off the field himself at Lord’s.

Protesters struck again at The Open, which kicked off at Royal Liverpool 24 hours earlier on Thursday.

After the activists were detained by police, event organizers quickly assembled with leaf blowers to clear up the chaos that had been made on the course.

Seven-time PGA Tour winner Billy Horschel challenged an operative at the Royal Liverpool Gold Club in Hoylake, CheshireBilly Horschel of the United States to the fourth hole on day two of The 151st OpenHorschel, drawing applause from spectators after he stopped an operative from Just Stop Oil as they attempted to vandalize the third member of the golf course. An oil stop interrupted proceedings during play in the OpenAn orange spark was fired at the track by environmental enthusiastsProtesters were quickly escorted off the track in HoylakeThe crowd in attendance watched as outages were dealt with by the organizers resolved the issue by moving a leaf blower to the track and clearing the dustPolice were photographed with protesters on site who were dealing with the outages. group to make a statement

Horschel, who continued with the match, had previously been told along with other players not to participate if Just Stop Oil was going to be running that day.

US Masters champion John Rahm issued a stern warning to Just Stop Oil protesters ahead of the tournament earlier this week.

With the organizers at Hoylake on the alert about potential disturbances, and even asking players not to get involved themselves, Ram suggested he would be willing to take action similar to Bairstow’s in removing a protester from the track himself.

“I have a good reputation,” he said, “so I hope they don’t put me in a bad hole.”

I know they will make an impact. I saw a couple of them pitch in at Wimbledon, and obviously that looks like it could be an ideal venue. But we have nothing to do with it.

“You don’t want to disrupt play, which they’re trying to do, so if it happens where I’m at, I’ll obviously try to clean up as soon as possible so we can resume playing.”

The crowd captured photos and video of the incident during the 17th hole, where Stop Oil campaigners have already launched protests at the World Snooker Championships, Wimbledon and the Ashes this summer R&A CEO Martin Slumbers has revealed that Just Stop Oil had previously attempted to target St Andrews last year.

R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers has previously insisted there was no intelligence surrounding any potential protests at The Open, but remained confident of the “significant” security measures that were in place.

Sleepers said the event was targeted in St Andrews last year – there were rumours of possible Just Stop Oil interference – but nothing public materialized after security was increased at specific locations.

“We don’t have direct intelligence,” Slippers said of the potential for protests at Liverpool FC.

There was first-hand intelligence last year and most people in this room don’t know The Open was targeted last year.

We had a very credible threat that we were informed that some players on the field were going to be targeted by environmental activists.

We have important security measures in place, we’re working with law enforcement agencies and we’re going to wait and see what happens.

We have advised players please don’t get involved and I support that.

“Beyond that I think security matters should be kept secret.”

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