Lee Westwood: “There’s not very much ‘Open’ about it if you’re going to stop people from playing in it”

Lee Westwood hits out and the R&A over Senior Open restrictions

Former World No.1 Lee Westwood has hit out at the R&A and Senior Open for denying him and fellow LIV Golf star Richard Bland the chance to tee it up in the Major later this month.

DP World Tour restrictions mean two Englishmen playing on LIV Golf, who would be among the biggest draws for home fans, won’t be in the field at Carnoustie. Instead, they’ll be playing in the LIV Golf UK event at JCB Country Club.

Westwood made his Seniors debut at last month’s US Senior Open, while Richard Bland continued his astonishing start to life on the circuit as he won his second consecutive Major title. Now only red tape will deny the 51-year-old a shot at the hat-trick and Westwood his chance to lift a first Major crown.

Speaking ahead of LIV Golf Andalucia at Valderrama, the frustrated Majestick’s co-captain hit out at the ruling and questioned the accuracy of the Major’s name.

“By the name itself, it’s the Senior Open, there’s not very much open about it if you’re going to stop people from playing in it,” said the 51-year-old, who has won 25 times on the DP World Tour.

Fellow Majesticks co-captain, Ian Poulter added, “It depends who owns the other 50% of it,” as to whether LIV golfers will be allowed to play in the Senior Open.

Westwood has been among the most vocal critics of the DP World Tour since he made the move to LIV ahead of the Saudi-backed league’s first event at Centurion Club in 2022.

The Majestick’s co-captain intended on making his Senior Open debut in 2023 at Royal Porthcawl but he had his application dismissed, as did two-time Senior Major Champion, Richard Bland.

Speaking on the Rough Cut podcast, hosted by Peter Finch, Westwood said, “The only [Senior Major] I can’t play in is the Seniors British [Open] because it’s half owned by the European Tour and the R&A won’t put their foot down and say ‘No, this is an Open championship, Lee and Richard Bland for that matter should be able to play’.

“They pander to the European Tour and say if we pay our fines – I think my outstanding fines are £850,000 or something like that… I’m not paying them.

“I disagree with the way they’ve been handed out. So that’s why I can’t play in the Senior Open Championship. I think the fans lose out personally.”

Fast forward a year and the 51-year-old is still unable to play in the Senior Open, despite having played in a Senior Major – the 2024 Senior US Open, won by Cleeks GCs Richard Bland.

However, Westwood is hoping “those barriers will start to come down,” allowing LIV golfers the opportunity to play and compete in the Senior Open.

Currently, on the LIV Golf Tour, there are three players eligible to play in Senior events – Lee Westwood, Richard Bland, and Phil Mickelson. One player who is creeping towards 50 is 48-year-old, Ian Poulter.

“I can definitely see myself playing a couple of those [Senior] Majors for sure. We’ll see how everything else opens up in a couple of years,” shared Poulter.

The Senior Open will be played from July 25-28 with Alex Cejka hoping to defend the title he won at Royal Porthcawl in 2023. The German beat Ireland’s Padraig Harrington in a dramatic playoff in horrendous conditions on the Welsh coast.

About the author

James Hogg – Golf Equipment Writer

James has a degree in English Language from Newcastle University and an MA in Journalism from Kingston University.

He spent seven years working for American Golf as part of the sales and fitting team alongside his studies and is a specialist in putters, golf balls, and apparel.

James took up golf as a teenager and, thanks largely to his length and consistency off the tee, he plays off a handicap of 4.7 at Cleveland Golf Club.

You can contact James via email for loads more golf equipment insight.