Slumbers addressed the media in his customary press conference on the eve of The 150th Open Championship, and opened with a proud boast of the 290,000 golf fans who will attend the milestone championship a St. Andrews over the next four days.

His demeanour shifted markedly as he then addressed the elephant in the room, LIV Golf. He delivered a scornful appraisal of the Greg Norman-led, Saudi-financed start up Tour that has poached some of the game’s biggest names away from the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, including Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson and Patrick Reed.

“We all know the disruption that men's professional golf is facing and the potential impact it could have on the structure of the game,” Slumbers said. “We've been saying for some time now that our purpose of the R&A is to ensure that golf is thriving in 50 years' time and that it remains strong at all levels, from grassroots through to the professional game.

“We've seen significant growth in the sport over recent years. The R&A invests the proceeds from The Open, this championship, in developing, nurturing and strengthening golf around the world and ensuring that talented players have pathways to progress as far as they can in golf based simply on their own ability.

“I firmly believe that the existing golf ecosystem has successfully provided stable pathways for golfers to enter the sport and develop and realise their full potential.

“Professional golfers are entitled to choose where they want to play and to accept the prize money that's offered to them. I have absolutely no issue with that at all.

"But there is no such thing as a free lunch.

“I believe the model we've seen at Centurion and Pumpkin Ridge (LIV Golf events) is not in the best long-term interests of the sport as a whole and is entirely driven by money. We believe it undermines the merit-based culture and the spirit of open competition that makes golf so special.

“The continued commentary that this is about growing the game is just not credible and if anything, is harming the perception of our sport which we are working so hard to improve.”

Banning LIV Golf players from future Opens is not on the agenda, according to Slumbers. PHOTO: Getty Images.

Slumbers then stated LIV Golf players won’t be banned from future Open Championships by they might find it harder gain a start after an exemption and qualification review.

“Looking ahead to The Open next year, we have been asked quite frequently about banning players,” Slumbers said. “Let me be very clear. That's not on our agenda.

“But what is on our agenda is that we will review our exemptions and qualifications criteria for The Open.

“And whilst we do that every year, we absolutely reserve the right to make changes as our Open Championships Committee deems appropriate. Players have to earn their place in The Open, and that is fundamental to its ethos and its unique global appeal.”

OPINION: NORMAN SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED OPEN PARTY INVITE

While LIV Golf defectors have been suspended by the PGA and DP World Tours, they remain eligible at this point on time to compete in major championships. 

Key to future participation lies in these players being able to earn Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points. LIV Golf officially applied for OWGR accreditation on Wednesday and OWGR chairman and former R&A chief exectuive Peter Dawson says: “examination of the application has now commenced.”

Patrick Reed sporting LIV Golf apparel at The Open in St. Andrews. PHOTO: Getty Images.

Slumbers was visibly irritated at having to comment on LIV Golf and then defended the R&A’s decision not to invite Norman, a two-time Open Champion, to attend this week’s 150th Open celebrations.

“We are absolutely determined to ensure that this goes down in history as about The 150th Open,” Slumbers said. “We decided that there would be, based on noise that I was receiving from multiple sources, that that was going to be potentially unlikely.

“We decided we didn't want the distraction. We wanted to ensure that the conversation was all about this week and playing golf and balls in the air tomorrow and the Champion Golfer on Sunday.

“Greg hasn't been here since 2010. He didn't come in 2015. In fact, it's many years since he's even been to The Open. So, there would have been another reason for that. So, it was very clear to protect the integrity of this week.”