New plan for Open players' security

Adrian Warner|David Smith|Evening Standard

14 April 2012

Undercover police will be on duty at Royal St George's to counter the threat of terrorism at this week's Open Championship.

But unlike the unprecedented range of high-profile security checks at Wimbledon a couple of weeks ago, Kent police and organisers have decided to adopt a clandestine approach to their anti-terrorist tactics at the Sandwich event.

Police will not reveal details of the security measures in place but Standard Sport has learned that plain clothes officers and surveillance equipment will be used to monitor the 30,000 to 40,000 spectators attending the tournament each day.

"The security will be overt and covert but the public won't notice the majority of the security," a Kent police spokesman said. "Post 11 September security has been a great concern. We have access to a large number of police officers and we have been planning for this for some months."

World-class sporting events in Britain this year have witnessed unprecedented security with armed police on duty at both Wimbledon and the world indoor athletics championships at Birmingham in March.

The Open, which starts on Thursday, is a possible target for terrorists, especially in view of high-profile American and British players on view.

Although organisers are keen to keep the security low profile, they are clearly taking no risks. For the first time, spectators will not be given 'pass-outs', allowing them to leave the course during the day and return later. This will help police to control the number of people on the course and monitor their movements.

World No1 Tiger Woods always has his own team of security guards who accompany him from the first tee to the 18th green. But there will now be undercover police among the fans following the American.

Meanwhile, Woods was today accused of giving the cold shoulder to Britain's leading amateur golfer. Gary Wolstenholme is the British amateur champion but the 42-year-old is better known for beating Woods in a head-to-head tie during the 1995 Walker Cup at Royal Porthcawl.

The two have not spoken since that match. Now, just four days before they could be paired together in the first round at Royal St George's, Wolstenholme revealed: "Apparently, he has bad memories of me.

"On at least two occasions since then, during Opens I've attended, he's looked straight through me. We haven't spoken a word since Porthcawl.

"Maybe he feels I didn't show him enough respect, but I certainly don't think that was the case. I was a competitor trying to win and so was he.

"I've enormous respect for him and it would be nice if we could have a chat. I certainly didn't hit him or say anything nasty about him but I'd like to make amends for whatever it is he may hold against me."

Both played practice rounds at Royal St George's yesterday but while Wolstenholme knows his way around the Kent links, Woods admitted he got lost.

"You're going to have to play a few rounds to get an idea of where to go," Woods said. "On a couple of holes I didn't know which way to go. The fairways are the most severe I've seen."

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