The fourth and final round of the KLM Open in Badhoevedorp faced delays on Sunday due to a protest by Extinction Rebellion (XR). Activists blocked access to The International golf club, the venue for the Netherlands’ premier golf tournament, in a demonstration against fossil fuel sponsorships in sports.

Extinction Rebellion criticized the involvement of sponsors such as KLM, Tata, Schiphol, and Audi, accusing them of “sportswashing”—using sports to improve their public image despite their significant contributions to global pollution. “The KLM Open is funded by major polluters who cause worldwide harm,” XR stated on their social media platform.

The tournament organizers reported that the play for the higher-ranked golfers resumed at 10:17 AM after the disruption. The ten lowest-ranked golfers had already started their final round at 7:00 AM before the protest began.

Despite the interruption, the competition continued with notable players making their final push. Joost Luiten, a prominent Dutch golfer, entered the last day tied for fifteenth place in the standings. Leading the tournament after three days was Finland’s Mikko Korhonen.

The protest brought significant attention to the issue of fossil fuel sponsorships in sports, highlighting the ongoing debate over the ethics of accepting funding from companies with substantial environmental footprints. XR’s actions at the KLM Open are part of a broader movement to pressure sports organizations to sever ties with these sponsors and seek more sustainable alternatives.

Tournament organizers expressed their commitment to minimizing the disruption for players and fans, ensuring the competition proceeded as smoothly as possible under the circumstances. Security measures were increased to prevent further interruptions and ensure the safety of all attendees.

The KLM Open, an important event on the European Tour calendar, attracts top golfing talent from around the world. This year’s tournament, despite the unforeseen protest, showcased high-level competition and brought crucial environmental issues to the forefront.

As the final round progresses, all eyes remain on the leaderboard, with fans eagerly awaiting the outcome. The incident has sparked discussions within the sporting community about the future of sponsorship and the role of sports in addressing global environmental challenges.