Westwood Banned From The Senior Open

It was supposed to be one of life's small treasures to watch the next wave of over-50s tackle the senior tours and, in particular, the the Senior Open Championship.

Here we have some of the greatest courses on the planet with many of our favourite players. This year should have been Lee Westwood's debut and he would have been playing at the magnificent Royal Porthcawl in Wales.

But, due to his move to LIV Golf and the subsequent fines and sanctions that were handed out following February's arbitration, Westwood will not be part of the field in Wales. Likewise Richard Bland who is in the same boat.

Bland shared his news through his Instagram which included: 'The committee has considered your application and is not willing to approve it, because you have outstanding fines imposed on you for breaching its conflicting tournament regulations.

'You will therefore be removed from the entry list and your entry fee will be refunded with immediate effect. We would remind you of the entry deadline of 12 noon (UK time) on 6 July 2023 should you intend to settle your outstanding fines and wish to re-enter by this deadline.'

Westwood replied on Twitter..

Bizarrely Westwood explained last October, he turned 50 in April, that he was actually offered the chance to play on the Legends Tour (what was the European Senior Tour) and there was also mention of appearance fees.

“Straight after the PGA Championship last month – where those of us playing on LIV were made to feel unwelcome by some of those in charge – one of the Legends Tour execs got in contact and asked me if I will play in a few of their events when I pass that milestone, I don’t really want to mention, and he actually said there would be funds available to pay me,” Westwood told Telegraph Sport.

“So let’s get this right – the main Tour is trying to ban me, their seniors tour is saying they’ll roll out the red carpet. It sums up the mess. I’m not sure they know what their plan is with all of this.”

The Senior Open Championship is 50 per cent owned by the DP World Tour.