British Open golf tournament disrupted by climate protesters setting off flare and subsequently arrested

During The Open Championship in the United Kingdom on Friday, climate protestors caused a disruption by setting off an orange flare at the golf tournament. The group called Just Stop Oil was responsible for this act near the 17th green in Hoylake, England. The Guardian reported that four individuals were arrested following the incident, according to a police statement. The disruption involved the release of a small amount of orange powder onto the playing surface, with one person seen with a smoke pyrotechnic. Police swiftly apprehended two males and two females, arresting them on suspicion of conspiracy to commit criminal damage and public nuisance. The protestors were escorted off the course in a golf cart, allowing the tournament to resume.

Nevertheless, the Just Stop Oil organization referred to the disruption as an “oil in one,” cleverly playing on the common golf term “hole in one.” Their Twitter post emphasized the need to prevent further harm by halting the government’s plan to issue 100 new oil and gas licenses, stating that a collapse in society would prevent any future “holes in one.”

Local law enforcement and the tournament’s manager, R&A, had taken precautions and issued warnings about potential disturbances prior to the event. Just Stop Oil has previously targeted other high-profile events, such as Wimbledon and the World Snooker Championship. These incidents demonstrate the group’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness about the detrimental effects of oil and gas production.