LIV Golf Announces Three New Signings Ahead Of Bedminster Event

The field for the third tournament in the LIV Golf Invitational Series was perhaps most notable for three spaces that had yet to be confirmed.

Earlier, Henrik Stenson declared his huge disappointment at losing the Ryder Cup captaincy and that he intends to play in next week's event in Bedminster, New Jersey. Sure enough, official confirmation has now come that the Swede is one of the new signings, alongside American duo Jason Kokrak and Charles Howell III.

VIDEO: What Is LIV Golf?

LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman was keen to highlight the calibre of the new signings who will compete next week alongside another new arrival, Paul Casey. He said:  “Henrik Stenson adds yet another outstanding resume to LIV Golf’s global roster of elite players. His career performances spanning Majors, season-long individual championships and international competitions have cemented him as a leader in today’s game. The addition of Jason Kokrak, who has been consistently ranked amongst the world’s best, and Charles Howell III, one of the United States’ top competitors for years, along with English standout Paul Casey further strengthens a field that will put on a show for the fans at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster."

While Stenson is undoubtedly the highest-profile player of the trio making the switch to the Series, 37-year-old Kokrak, in particular, enjoys a relatively high-profile and is the current World No.36. In contrast, Howell III is a lowly World No.173. However, the 43-year-old did once rise to World No.15, albeit back in 2003. His best performance in a Major came the same year, when he finished tied for 10th in the PGA Championship. 

Kokrak is an 11-time professional winner and has over 40 top 10 finishes. Meanwhile, Howell III's long career has seen 102 top 10 finishes. Stenson has enjoyed a particularly glittering career so far. The former World No.2 has appeared in five Ryder Cups, helping lead Europe to victories in 2006, 2014 and 2018. 

The new arrivals add more credence to the suggestion that the Greg Norman-fronted start-up is gaining momentum – largely at the PGA Tour’s expense. Indeed, the field for this week’s 3M Open on the PGA Tour is significantly weaker than in previous years, and that’s at least partly due to the ever-swelling numbers who’ve opted to face suspension from the Tour by plying their trade with LIV Golf. 

Howell III, Kokrak and Stenson add strength to a field that boasts 11 Major champions with a combined 21 Majors won. It will also have four former World No.1s and nearly half of its players in the current world top 100.