Golf
KLM Open postponed due to XR protests as police called onto site
The final round of the long-standing KLM Open on the DP World Tour was postponed for two hours due to Extinction Rebellion (XR) action protests in Badhoevedorp, the Netherlands.
XR activisits decided to block the entrance into the International Golf Club on Sunday.
Police were called to the golf course.
The final group was due to tee off just before 1pm local time but eventually got underway at 3pm.
XR activisits claimed their protests were against fossil sponsorship in sports.
The activist group posted a number of images on their social media accounts, which you can check out below.
“With fossil sponsors such as KLM, Tata, Schiphol, and Audi, the KLM Open contributed to sportswashing: they use the sport to ‘polish’ their bad reputation,” said XR.
“The KLM Open is paid for by big polluters who cause victims worldwide.”
Founded in 1912, the tournament began as the Dutch Open, before a variety of sponsors resulted in numerous name changes.
The Dutch Open has been regularly moved around on the European Tour schedule.
KLM has been the lead sponsor of the Dutch Open at a number of different periods.
The company sponsored the tournament from 1981 to 1990 and then again from 2004 to 2019.
KLM then had a two-year break before returning again in 2023.