Officials at Ascot have said they will not be applying for a High Court injunction “at this time” against the possibility of disruption by animal rights protesters at the Royal meeting that starts later this month.

A delay of 14 minutes was caused to the start of the Grand National in April by activists from Animal Rising, although attempts to similarly disrupt the Derby at Epsom were not successful.

Epsom had secured an injunction prior to the Derby Festival after it said protesters from the group had made it “explicitly clear” they intended to breach security.

One man did get on to the track as the race started and appeared in court on Monday charged with causing public nuisance. Ben Newman, 32, appeared at Guildford Magistrates’ Court, where he pleaded not guilty.

Newman, from Homerton High Street, Hackney, east London, was one of 31 people arrested on Saturday, including 12 on the racecourse grounds. Newman was remanded into custody until July 6, when he is due to appear at Guildford Crown Court.

Outlining its plans in an update on Thursday, Ascot said in a statement: “Following legal advice and direct liaison with the Thames Valley Police (TVP), at this time we do not plan to apply for an injunction to cover the potential threat of disruption and trespass at Royal Ascot.

“TVP have powers in place within the existing legislation which are sufficient to be able to respond to any incidents of disorder or disruption. Peaceful protest is welcome as it always has been and will be accommodated outside the racecourse.

“As we do every year, we are working extremely closely with the TVP and our own security providers to be as prepared as possible for any planned disruption during Royal Ascot. We will have additional security around the site as well as enhanced CCTV provision and there will be increased police presence throughout the week.”

A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said: “Thames Valley Police have once again been working closely with Ascot Racecourse Limited on the planning for Royal Ascot 2023.

“We have a legal obligation to facilitate peaceful protest and we will be balancing the rights of any protestors with the needs of the local community and spectators.

“With sufficient policing powers from existing legislation, we will be able to respond to incidents of disorder or disruption in a proportionate manner as they occur.”

Royal Ascot begins on June 20, running for five days.

Jack Draper will miss Wimbledon with the shoulder injury he suffered at the French Open last week.

It is a huge blow to the 21-year-old, whose progress has been disrupted by a series of injuries.

The latest came in practice ahead of his first-round clash at Roland Garros last Monday against Tomas Etcheverry, with Draper forced to serve underarm before calling it a day after only one game of the second set.

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While hugely disappointed that his body had again let him down, Draper was optimistic the problem with his left shoulder would not disrupt his grass-court campaign too much.

However, having had a scan and seen a specialist, Draper has decided to miss the whole of the British summer season.

Draper wrote on Instagram: “It’s clear my shoulder is going to need time and rehab to get back to where it needs to be. My team and I have made the difficult decision to miss the grass court season this year.

“I guess in this sport there are so many ups and downs but this one is tough to take. The only thing for sure is that I will keep persevering.”

He is optimistic he will not need surgery and is hoping to return to the match court in mid to late July.

When he has been fit, Draper has shown he has the potential to be among the best in the world but that has not been nearly as often as he would have liked.

Last season a promising run to the third round of the US Open was ended by a leg injury and, after illness disrupted his pre-season, Draper has already missed large chunks of this year with hip and abdominal problems.

In Paris last week the Londoner said he felt “mentally destroyed”, adding: “I hate being the guy who is injured a lot.”

Draper made his Wimbledon debut in 2021, losing to Novak Djokovic, while last year he pushed Alex De Minaur to four sets in the second round.

Coaches involved in the first match to be played as part of a new tackle trial are confident the changes will help minimise the chances of concussion in rugby league while retaining its physical integrity.

Next Thursday’s match between Bradford and Leeds academies will be the first to operate under the rule, which dictates that tackle height must be below the armpit at initial contact, with penalisation for contact on the head and neck.

The trial – which will also see kick-offs moved 10 metres further forward – will initially take place over the next four rounds of academy fixtures, with the long-term intention to roll it out to other areas of the game if its effectiveness is backed up by data.

Coaches were among those consulted and have given their backing to their proposals. Rhinos head of youth Joe Bastian said: “Everyone is talking about concussions and the impact it can have on players further down the track, and it is important we try to improve the tackle area.

“When people watch rugby league they want that physicality and they want the game to be controlled in regard to good hard shots, but sometimes we get too many people in tackles and that can create problems.

“There’s a fair bit to go at but the trial will be very beneficial. If we can get a really good tackle technique throughout the game, it can really benefit the game and its people, and lead to us having far less concussions.”

By adopting a broadly inclusive approach the RFL is confident of avoiding the controversy that followed rugby union’s out-of-the-blue announcement in January that it was lowering the allowed tackle height to below the waist in all forms of the community game from July.

The backlash that followed prompted the RFU to amend its law, raising the allowed tackle height to the sternum.

But the RFL, which like the RFL is facing legal proceedings on behalf of groups of former players who claim their respective codes did not take reasonable action to protect them from serious injuries, dismissed the suggestion they have benefited from their counterparts’ mistakes.

Professor Ben Jones of Leeds Beckett University, who is also the RFL’s strategic lead for performance, science and research, said: “The number of concussions in rugby league are less than in rugby union, and union went earlier and harder at this because they had to.

“I think the path rugby union has trodden has made it easier for us. I think in terms of how we’ve designed this trial, asking everyone what they think, it’s been the right thing for us. But someone had to go first and get the most stones thrown.”

Bulls head of youth Ryan Hunkin admitted it was initially difficult for his players to adjust to the new rule but said he hoped it would bring the additional benefit of making the game more expansive.

“We’ve been working on different techniques and talking to the match officials’ department and they’ve learned pretty quickly and made some adjustments,” said Hunkin.

“We’re seeing it as an opportunity to grasp a different game and speed it up a bit, play a bit more off-load rugby and potentially score more points.”

Grade One-winning hurdlers Echoes In Rain and Vauban are part of a team of “four or five runners” Willie Mullins is preparing for Royal Ascot later this month.

The Closutton trainer was again a dominant force at the Cheltenham Festival in March – and is no stranger to success at the showpiece Flat meeting, with eight previous victories.

Two of those were provided by Stratum, who returns to bid for a Queen Alexandra Stakes hat-trick, having taken the 2021 and 2022 renewals.

Mullins, who has plundered the Ascot Stakes on four previous occasions, will try again, relying on Bring On The Night, who has not run since being beaten three-quarters of a length in the same race last year by Ascot Gold Cup favourite Coltrane.

But it is the high-class Echoes In Rain and Vauban who will provide the most intrigue from the Mullins raiding party.

Echoes in Rain, owned by Barnane Stud, has been well supported in the two-and-a-half-mile Ascot Gold Cup, the feature on Ladies’ Day, and is as short as 9-1 with Coral for the Group One prize.

The seven-year-old mare was beaten narrowly in the Irish Cesarewitch in September, and having won a Grade Three hurdle at Naas in January, she was subsequently fourth to Honeysuckle in the Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Grade One honours fell her way in the Mares’ Champion Hurdle, over two miles and three furlongs at Punchestown on her last run in April.

Mullins, though, thinks it will be tough to win the Ascot Gold Cup.

He said: “She’s in good form, working well and we’re very happy to take our chance.

“We’re delighted to have one to run in it. She has run well on decent ground before and I hope it won’t be an issue.

“It will be hard to think she’d have a winning chance, but if she could finish in the first six, it would be a tremendous run.”

Vauban, whose three Grade One wins last year included the Triumph Hurdle and the Champion Four Year Old Hurdle at Punchestown, holds an entry in the Copper Horse Handicap on the opening day.

He was last seen chasing home stablemate State Man in the Paddy Power Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.

Meanwhile, the Tony Bloom-owned Stratum will doubtless have plenty of support to complete a momentous three-timer in the extended Queen Alexandra, the final race of the five-day meeting, which starts on June 20.

“Hopefully we will have a small team of four or five runners,” said Mullins.

“Stratum, who won there last year, will go for the same race again on the Saturday.

“Vauban will probably will go for the mile and six, while Bring On The Night, who was beaten in a four-way finish last year, will probably go back for the same race.

“We’ll have a small team, but we’re looking forward to it.”

Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz will meet for the first time at a grand slam in Paris on Friday but the Serbian expects a familiar feeling.

Alcaraz was still a baby the last time the French Open was played without his compatriot Rafael Nadal in the draw.

Now Spain has a new hero to cheer and Djokovic a new rival to spar with at the top of the game.

“He carries himself very well,” said the 36-year-old. “No doubt very nice guy on and off the court. Brings a lot of intensity on the court. Reminds me of someone from his country that plays with a left hand.”

Djokovic and Alcaraz met for the first – and only – time in Madrid last year, when the young Spaniard served notice that he was the present as well as the future of tennis by beating Nadal and Djokovic back to back.

Since then they have frustratingly missed each other, with Djokovic unable to play in the US Open, where Alcaraz won his first grand slam title, because of his vaccination status, while the 20-year-old was kept out of the Australian Open by injury.

Djokovic claimed his 22nd slam title in Melbourne and can set a new all-time men’s record by lifting the Coupe des Mousquetaires for a third time.

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“He deserves his success, no doubt,” said Djokovic of Alcaraz. “He’s working hard and he’s a very complete player already and only 20.

“So we played only once in Madrid last year, 7-6 in the third for him. Most of the tournaments this year we were not in the same draw but here we are.

“That’s the match that a lot of people want to see. It’s definitely the biggest challenge for me so far in the tournament. If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. He’s definitely a guy to beat here. I’m looking forward to that.”

They both reached the semi-finals dropping only one set but, Alcaraz has been the more impressive, spending three-and-a-half hours less on court than Djokovic in his five matches so far.

The Serbian, who can reclaim the world number one ranking by winning the title, looked in trouble for a while against Karen Khachanov before playing a flawless second-set tie-break.

Djokovic’s ability to lock in at the most important moments is one of his greatest strengths and the Serbian’s extraordinary precision in the placement of his shots is unmatched.

If Djokovic is the old master, Alcaraz is the young impressionist, using the clay canvas to show off his talent and exuberance.

John McEnroe declared Alcaraz the most complete 20-year-old he has ever seen earlier in the tournament, and the audacity of his shots demonstrates the supreme confidence he has in his game.

He spoke of his excitement at playing Djokovic, saying: “Since the draw came out, everyone was expecting that match, the semi-final against Novak. Myself as well. I really want to play that match.

“Since last year I really wanted to play again against Novak. We both are playing a great level. I’m going to enjoy it.

“Of course, for me, it’s amazing to make history, playing a semi-final with such a legend like Novak. So it’s going to be a great match for me.

“I would say the match we played last year doesn’t affect too much this one. We both learned a lot from that match, so it’s going to be totally different, and let’s see what happens on Friday.”

The other semi-final pits fourth seed Casper Ruud against Alexander Zverev, who has found form again on the Paris clay 12 months after seriously injuring his ankle in a last-four clash with Nadal.

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The German did not play another match until the beginning of this season but insisted there is no mental scar tissue as he looks to reach a second grand slam final.

“I think I’m at a stage now where I’m not thinking about the injury so much anymore,” he said. “I’m not thinking about what happened. I’m just happy to be back where I was last year, and I have another chance. Hopefully I can take it.”

Ruud made his first slam final here last year before losing heavily to Nadal and has shrugged off his own difficult start to the season.

Eve Johnson Houghton is weighing up Royal Ascot options for Woodcote winner Bobsleigh.

The Elzaam colt made a good start to his career when winning a Brighton maiden by two and three-quarter lengths in early May, after which he took on stiffer company in the Woodcote, a conditions race known for producing future Group winners.

Under Charlie Bishop the bay was a 5-1 chance at Epsom and was at one stage in the trailing group, but the rider had timed his run well and when pulled out wide Bobsleigh passed every horse in front of him to prevail by three-quarters of a length.

Royal Ascot is the next step for the two-year-old, but as his debut was over five and a half furlongs and his Derby day win over six, both the Windsor Castle and the Coventry are under consideration.

“We were absolutely thrilled with him, really happy,” Johnson Houghton said of the Epsom success.

“Charlie gave him a good ride, he was very patient and he showed a lovely turn of foot so that was great.

“He’ll definitely go to Ascot but we just haven’t decided which race yet.

“I don’t know where we’re going to go, I honestly don’t as he’s won over five (furlongs) and six. We’ll have to look at both races and make a decision.”

Bobsleigh is owned by The Woodway 20, a syndicate assembled by Johnson Houghton who enjoyed Ascot glory in 2021 when Chipotle won the Listed five-furlong Windsor Castle in the same silks for the same trainer.

The partnership, for whom Johnson Houghton seeks to buy good value horses that will be sold at a profit at the end of the their juvenile campaign, will be relishing another day out at the Royal meeting with their latest prospect.

Johnson Houghton said: “Either way it will be a great day out for them.”

David Evans will send Rohaan to Royal Ascot for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes “with every chance – as long as the stalls open!”.

Evans is still smarting from Saturday’s Epsom Dash, where four stalls – 16, 18, 19 and 20 – opened marginally later than the others.

It seemingly affected the chances of a quartet of well-backed horses, including the trainer’s Lihou, drawn 18, who finished last in the five-furlong contest.

While the stewards admitted the four stalls had opened “fractionally slower” than the remainder, they decided the chances of the four runners in those stalls were not “materially impacted” by the start and therefore took no further action.

“It was a farce,” said Evans. “Something should be done.

“I’ve been through it and unless a third of the field were affected, you can’t void the race.”

Evans is hoping for better luck when crack sprinter Rohaan takes aim at the six-furlong Group One contest on June 24.

The five-year-old powered to success in the Wokingham at the Royal meeting for a second year in succession 12 months ago, and returned to the Berkshire track in October to take the Group Three Bengough Stakes.

Having only been beaten a length in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville, Evans feels he has the capacity to continue to be competitive at the top level.

Rohaan has had one run this term, when finishing eighth of nine under Tom Marquand in a Listed race at Salisbury.

The Monmouthshire handler feels a line can be drawn under that display.

He said: “It was a bit of a non-event. I just wanted to get a run into him and see how he came back.

“He came back fine. He wouldn’t let himself down on the ground. Tom said he jumped the path and after that he was on the wrong leg all the way, but all being well he’ll definitely go to Ascot for the Jubilee.

“He’s had a long old break since his last run. I thought he was fit enough, but he had a good old blow afterwards. He just wouldn’t let himself down.

“The aim with him has been to target Ascot all year and I don’t think it will be as quick as it was at Salisbury. They put a lot of water on, but it was very warm that evening. I just wanted to get him a run and that was the only opportunity.

“He’s done his bit, but will definitely go there and he loves the track. What will be will be. He goes there with every chance, hopefully – as long as the stalls open!”

Miyu Kato secured her French Open redemption by bouncing back from disqualification to win the mixed doubles title – and then publicly hit out at the controversial decision.

The Japanese player and partner Aldila Sutjiadi were defaulted during their third-round women’s doubles match on Sunday against Marie Bouzkova and Sara Sorribes Tormo after Kato unintentionally hit a ball girl while passing a ball to the other end of the court.

It unexpectedly became one of the biggest stories of the tournament, with players and coaches past and present criticising the decision as too harsh.

Kato was at least allowed to continue in the mixed with German partner Tim Puetz, and they ensured a happy ending to the tournament by beating Bianca Andreescu and Michael Venus 4-6 6-4 (10-6) in the final, with both claiming a first grand slam title.

Kato had been too upset to speak about the disqualification in English but prepared a speech to read out on court.

Instead of the usual platitudes, the 28-year-old fought back tears as she said: “It has been really challenging mentally for me the past few days due to the unjust disqualification from the women’s doubles.

“I want to thank the players and coaches for all the heartfelt support. I was able to use all the positive energy to move forward so I could be here today.

“It was unfortunate that we were disqualified but I’m doing my best so we can return one day and claim the women’s doubles final. Hopefully the ball girl is OK.

“Lastly, to Roland Garros, it is unfortunate for the disqualification situation but I’m looking forward to a positive result of my appeal so I can claim my points and prize money.”

Being defaulted from a tournament normally means forfeiting the ranking points and prize money you have earned but Kato is hoping the nature of the offence means that will be overturned.

The umpire initially only gave the Japanese player a warning but, with Bouzkova and Sorribes Tormo drawing attention to the crying ball girl, the supervisor and referee were called to the court and eventually decided a default was merited.

Neither had seen the incident and Kato was unhappy with Bouzkova and Sorribes Tormo’s role, saying in Japanese: “What I can’t swallow is that at first the chair umpire gave me warning, but then our opponents said that he had made a mistake.

“The opponent made a big appeal, and then the referee came down and overturned the decision. My opponent probably didn’t see where I hit her.”

Kato thanked Puetz for being a key support, and the German was delighted to help her create more positive memories of the tournament.

“Miyu, unbelievable what has happened the last 10 days,” he said. “I hope this helps you. I’m very happy to win even without all the drama.

“I hope this is somewhat redemption with everything that has happened. We saw you get so much support from everywhere and I think it’s well deserved.”

Less-than-stellar campaigns may have left their regular-season stranglehold in peril but Wigan boss Matt Peet maintains there remains no bigger match in Betfred Super League than the Warriors’ ongoing rivalry with four-time defending champions St Helens.

The sold-out signs are expected to be propped up outside the Totally Wicked Stadium on Friday night for part two of a tussle that saw Peet’s men reign supreme in their first meeting of 2023 with a 14-6 win on Good Friday that oozed quality.

Peet’s men limped out of Magic Weekend last Sunday after a dismal 46-22 defeat to Catalans, while Saints’ season-best 48-6 win over Huddersfield cannot disguise the fact that they have reached the halfway point of the year, having nudged into the sixth and final play-off spot.

In a game given an extra dimension by the fierce loyalty inspired by two men who were brought through the ranks at their respective home-town clubs, Peet insists recent shifts in momentum matter little.

“I know other teams would like to think they’re our rivals, but really it’s Wigan and Saints because of the size of the game and two clubs’ histories and mutual respect,” said Peet.

“It’s a special game whenever you run into it and there are always sub-plots. One team might be flying and the other not doing so well but we know in games like this that form counts for nothing.

“It’s a big challenge and it’s exactly what we need. We can’t wait to get last week out of our system. The lads know they let themselves down, they got the basics wrong, and hopefully they’ll be much improved.”

In contrast, Saints head into the game on a high after what felt like a breakthrough performance against the Giants, coming in a season in which they have struggled to shrug off the after-effects of their World Club Challenge win in Australia.

With an almost fully-fit squad to choose from, Paul Wellens is approaching his first home clash with the Warriors as coach increasingly secure in the knowledge that his side are rediscovering their best form at the right time.

“It’s my first derby at home as a coach, which means a lot,” said Wellens. “Both myself and Matt are hugely passionate about coaching our home-town clubs, that’s a given, but the players are the ones people are paying to see.”

The prospect of Jack Welsby’s 100th game for Saints gives an already-titanic clash an additional dimension and Wellens reflected on the stunning trajectory of the 22-year-old since he made his debut in the Challenge Cup against Hull in 2018.

Wellens, who had retired as a player two years’ prior to Welsby’s first-team emergence, coached Welsby in the junior ranks and said, despite recognising his precocious talent, he could not have envisaged the speed with which his fellow full-back had surged to the top of the sport.

“I always remember knowing very little about him when he came up to the first team and he started opening up and scoring tries and you just knew then, he had something a bit special,” said Wellens.

“I was quite surprised to hear he’s only reached 100 games and when you think about what he’s achieved as an individual in those games, it is quite remarkable.

“He’s so mature for someone his age and he’s already been part of our leadership group for 18 months. The scary thing with Jack is that he is always striving to get even better.”

Richard Riakporhe questioned Lawrence Okolie’s mental strength after he lost his WBO cruiserweight title and was knocked down three times during his defeat to Chris Billam-Smith in May.

Riakporhe, who is the second-ranked fighter in the WBO standings, highlighted Okolie’s lacklustre performance and questioned if issues behind the scenes played a part in the defeat.

Having switched camps earlier this year, Okolie was up against former trainer Shane McGuigan in Billam-Smith’s corner which Riakporhe believes gave him a mental disadvantage going into the bout.

“On Okolie and his performance – I don’t know, I feel like there are underlying issues that he needs to deal with because I think he’s better than that for sure,” Riakporhe said.

“Prior to the fight McGuigan was talking about mental aspects of Okolie, which we didn’t know because he’s never been tested in that regard, and that (loss) pretty much confirmed that for me. From the way he performed there may be – I’m not saying 100 per cent but maybe there’s something going on with him.

“He was training with Billam-Smith, he left his former coach McGuigan and he’s now preparing his stable-mate to beat him based off flaws that he’s noticed over the years. That’s a very difficult task if you ask me.

“If a man has sparred 300-400 rounds and you also have Okolie’s former coach in your corner that knows everything about him then you have got an advantage.”

Okolie was deducted two points for persistent holding on the night – a style Riakporhe criticised in the aftermath of the fight.

And Riakporhe called for officials to clamp down on the “very dirty tactics” which he insisted are tainting boxing’s image.

“I was surprised, I didn’t think he (Billam-Smith) was going to be able to knock Okolie down,” Riakporhe added.

“But Okolie’s style of boxing with the holding he does is pretty strange. In my opinion that’s not the noble artform of boxing for me.

“It’s some 1940s or 1930s boxing style with the grappling and holding back like in the Jack Johnson era. That’s not boxing.

“Like anything, you need to train to exploit that, but really I think that shouldn’t be allowed and that’s very dirty tactics. It’s not boxing, the referees need to be very firm, it’s not fair, it’s not good for the fans and it’s bad for boxing.”

The south London fighter vowed it is only a matter of time before he gets his hands on cruiserweight gold as he eyes a shot at the title later this year.

“My main takeaway from the fight is just further conviction that I’m the number one and that I’m the best in my mind,” he said. 

“This year (is when I will be champion). I’ve already spoken to my team and I’m ready to dance this year, it’s going to be big.”

Jessica Harrington will turn to Colin Keane and Ronan Whelan to ride her strong team at Royal Ascot, but hopes Shane Foley will be back to partner Sprewell in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby.

Foley suffered a broken collar bone when the Harrington-trained Snowhaven clipped heels on the home turn in the final race at Gowran Park on Monday evening.

He now faces a race against time to be fit to renew the partnership with the talented son of Churchill for the Curragh Classic on July 2.

Foley was aboard when Sprewell landed the Group Three Derby Trial at Leopardstown last month and again when coming with a withering run in Saturday’s Betfred Derby, only to find his path blocked on two occasions.

Sprewell, who was stabled with Harrington’s great friend Nicky Henderson before heading to Epsom, has taken his fourth-placed effort behind Auguste Rodin in his stride.

Harrington said: “He went to Nicky’s beforehand and he came out of the race grand.

“He just had a nice trot and little canter on Wednesday morning. He looks well and I’m happy enough with him. He’s eaten up well and put on weight.

“I’m not saying he would have won or been second, but I thought he would have been third, had he had a clear run. He was blocked twice.”

Though Harrington has yet to finalise her Royal Ascot team, which looks set to include Sounds Of Heaven, who will bid to land the Coronation Stakes, she is has her fingers crossed Foley makes a quick recovery for a rematch with Auguste Rodin.

She added: “Sprewell will go to the Irish Derby next. Hopefully Shane will be back to ride him by then.

“Ronan Whelan has won a couple of stakes race for me already this year, or there’s Colin Keane. They are the two most likely jockeys to use at Ascot. We will have a nice team of horses, hopefully.”

Paul McGinley believes commissioner Jay Monahan faces a “real problem” to persuade PGA Tour loyalists they are not the losers in golf’s peace deal.

Players reacted with shock and a sense of betrayal at the proposed merger of the PGA Tour and DP World Tour’s commercial operations with those of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which bankrolls LIV Golf.

Rory McIlroy, whose previously close friendship with Sergio Garcia broke down after the Spaniard joined LIV, admitted he felt like “a sacrificial lamb” after being the most prominent supporter of the PGA Tour, only to see it join forces with an entity he “still hates”.

Monahan faced calls to resign at a heated players’ meeting on Tuesday and McGinley believes he faces a huge task to win over the players who, in some cases, turned down massive payouts to remain loyal to the PGA Tour.

“He’s obviously in a very tricky position,” former Ryder Cup captain McGinley told Sky Sports News.

“He’s got his players to back him, he’s been very, very strong anti-LIV, he’s been very, very strong trying to build up the PGA Tour. A lot of players have not gone over to LIV because of his persuasion and now all of a sudden there’s a deal done and these guys look like they’re isolated.

“And that’s the issue I have with the statement that came out a couple of days ago.

“When a deal is done in the City they make sure that both sides are the winners. And when this was announced this doesn’t look like there were two sides that were winners here.

“It may look like the LIV guys that went over there and took the money are now coming back in and they’re the winners.

“They’ve been very giddy on social media and they look like they’re the smartest guys in the room now because they went over there and that really isolates the PGA Tour players who remained loyal.

“I think that’s where there’s a disconnect for Jay and that’s where he’s got a real problem.

“The release sounded, and the optics of it were, there were winners and losers and the PGA Tour players looked like they came out on the wrong end of that. That’s why there’s so much angst among them at the moment.”

It has been reported the merger will face scrutiny from anti-trust regulators in both the United States and Europe, with Monahan openly admitting that a competitor had been “taken off the board”.

And McGinley believes there is no guarantee the deal will go ahead as planned.

“The work only starts now, there’s so many complexities here if there is going to be this merger,” he added.

“There’s so much to entangle here. How are you going to bring the guys from LIV back in, how are you going to make it equitable for the guys who remained loyal to the tours? What’s the schedule going to look like?

“It looks like a huge amount of complexity. This is far from over or a fait accompli. I think there’s so much that has to happen before we get to even a stage where there’s a kind of equilibrium, never mind anything put in place.

“The players will be looking at what’s in it for me, how much prize money am I going to get, what’s my job security?

“The players in Europe are going to think that I’m glad we have this strategic alliance (with the PGA Tour) in place, that puts us at the top table and gives us access to these incredible amounts of funds.

“Everything is open and on the table. I think the LIV events are very, very complex to integrate back in again because the players own equity in these teams.

“So if you’re going to have the likes of Rory McIlroy playing in these team events, where the other players are benefiting because they have equity and he doesn’t, how do you make that right?”