Jon Rahm hints will throw ‘Just Stop Oil’ protestors off the course himself at The Open – as the US Masters champion insists: ‘I have a reputation, so don’t catch me on a bad hole’

US Masters champion Jon Rahm has hinted he will throw ‘Just Stop Oil’ protestors off the course at Hoylake himself if they threaten to disrupt this weeks’ Open championship.

Having seen protestors breach security to reach the playing surface at Wimbledon and Lord’s recently, organisers at Hoylake are on full alert and have taken the unusual step of asking players not to get involved.

But after England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow carried one individual from the field on day one of the Lord’s Ashes test, Rahm suggested he would so the same, saying: ‘I do have a reputation, so I hope they don’t catch me on a bad hole.

‘I know they’re going for an impact. I saw a couple of them intervening in Wimbledon, and obviously this looks like it could be a perfect spot. But we have nothing to do with it.

‘You don’t want to disrupt play, which they’re trying, so if it happens where I’m at, I’m obviously going to try to clean up as quickly as possible so we can resume play.’

Jon Rahm has hinted he will throw ‘Just Stop Oil’ protestors off the course at Hoylake himself

England cricketer Jonny Bairstow removed a protestor himself during the second Ashes Test

‘Just Stop Oil’ wreaked havoc at Wimbledon, twice disrupting Court 18 in the first week at SW19

At 6ft 2in tall and weighing more than 15 stone, Rahm is one of the golf’s most physically imposing players. The 28-year-old World Number 2 has two majors to his name – this year’s Masters and the 2021 US Open – and finished third in this tournament two years ago at Sandwich.

‘It would be an incredible feeling to win,’ Rahm said.

‘To be the first one to win an Open since Seve [Ballesteros] for Spain would be quite special.

‘It’s amazing that some of the great golfers we’ve had haven’t been able to do it. It would be a true honour to get there.’