Golf: Tour warns players over social media rules

The European Tour has reminded players that they face disciplinary action for breaching social media rules after James Morrison of England recently criticised the Wales Open in an online post.

The Tour says sanctions will apply for any “offensive, threatening, disparaging, hurtful or otherwise” comments, and stuck a memorandum on a notice board at the BMW International Open in Germany to remind players of their responsibilities.

Morrison described the Celtic Manor course as a “dump” on Twitter, adding: “one more round and then can’t get over that bridge quick enough!” The 27-year-old apologised but will still be fined by the Tour. Meanwhile, the Tour has had to close ticket sales for an event for the first time after the final two rounds of next week’s Irish Open were sold out. The tournament’s return to Royal Portrush for the first time since 1947 has attracted a field including world No 2 Rory McIlroy and fellow Northern Irishmen Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell. “We are preparing for a crowd around the 100,000 mark for the week and with a particularly large spectator audience expected for the weekend we felt it prudent to stop selling tickets for Saturday and Sunday,” said championship director Antonia Beggs.