PGA Tour Issues Statement On Saudi Golf League
The PGA Tour says that players will be "subject to disciplinary action" for teeing it up in the LIV Golf Invitational Series
The PGA Tour has issued a statement after the LIV Golf Invitational London field was announced, remaining firm in its stance that players will be "subject to disciplinary action" after it declined release requests from a number of its members to play in the event.
“As communicated to our membership on May 10, PGA Tour members have not been authorized to participate in the Saudi Golf League’s London event, under PGA TOUR Regulations," the Tour said. "Members who violate the Tournament Regulations are subject to disciplinary action.”
The PGA Tour will likely find itself in legal proceedings if it goes ahead with banning players from competing as LIV CEO Greg Norman has constantly maintained that is unlawful.
The inaugural LIV Golf Invitational Series tournament begins next week at the Centurion Club near London, where Dustin Johnson will headline the 48-man field. DJ has reportedly been offered $125m to play in the Series. He'll be joined by big names including Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Louis Oosthuizen, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell and a number of other PGA and DP World Tour players.
One name not yet in the field is Phil Mickelson, although there is still room for the six-time Major winner. As it stands there are 42 golfers named, with five set to qualify via the Asian Tour's International Series event in England this week - leaving one spot open for Mickelson, or another.
Mickelson still hasn't played since the Saudi International in February following his controversial comments on Saudi Arabia, the PGA Tour's "abnoxious greed" and how he was using the LIV Golf Invitational Series as leverage against the PGA Tour.
The PGA Tour and the Majors have been drastically increasing prize pools but the finances in the LIV Series still dwarfs that of its competitors. Next week's RBC Canadian Open purse is a healthy $8.7m, but that is still some $16m+ short of the $25m on offer in London. The DP World Tour's Scandinavian Mixed prize money of $2m is blown out of the water by that of the Saudi-backed Series.
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It remains to be seen what the PGA and DP World Tours do next.
Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: Titleist TSi2
Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1
Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Ball: Srixon Z Star XV
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