Ryder Cup Legend Sergio Garcia Linked With Saudi Golf League Opener
The Ryder Cup's record points scorer has reportedly applied to play in the first LIV Golf Invitational Series tournament at the Centurion Club in June
Sergio Garcia looks set to be one of the big names competing in the Saudi Golf League opener at the Centurion Club in June, it has emerged.
Garcia has applied to the PGA Tour for a release to play in the $25m tournament according to the Telegraph, with as many as 20 PGA Tour pros said to have applied for releases. At least three Major champions have apparently applied for the event as the deadline of this evening draws closer.
The PGA Tour operates a policy where players must seek a release to play in a non-PGA Tour sanctioned event up to 45 days prior to the date, with the decision made up to 30 days beforehand. This means we'll likely find out which big names are teeing it up in Greg Norman's inaugural LIV Golf Invitational Series tournament in 15 days' time.
Garcia's involvement puts doubt over his potential future Ryder Cup captaincy with DP World Tour chief Keith Pelley strongly against his members playing in the new 'super league'. Pelley last week emailed the DP World Tour membership pleading with them to remain loyal amid the Saudi threat. In February, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan reportedly told his members to "walk out that door now" if they were considering teeing it up in the series.
Other potential future Ryder Cup captains Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter have also been linked to the series. Henrik Stenson was also a name mentioned but his participation now looks unlikely after being named Europe's 2023 Ryder Cup captain.
The Telegraph also reports that World No.15 and 2010 Open champion Louis Oosthuizen may be the highest-ranked player set to compete at the Centurion, with his fellow South Africans Charl Schwartzel and Branden Grace also linked.
Garcia has played in all four Saudi Internationals from 2019-2022, where big name PGA and DP World Tour players reportedly earn six-to-seven-figure sums as appearance fees. The Spaniard said prior to this year's Saudi International, which was sanctioned by the Asian Tour for the first time and promoted backlash from the PGA and DP World Tours, that he understood the positions from his home tours "but they have to understand that we are trying to achieve things for our families. “I’ve been a European Tour member for 23 years and done a lot of things to make that happen. I’ve put a lot of mileage in my body to make it happen."
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
Garcia infamously was disqualified from the inaugural tournament after damaging multiple greens. He apologised for his misconduct and has played in the event each year since.
Each of the first seven events on the new LIV Golf Invitational Series will feature 48-man fields in 54-hole stroke play with no cut and a huge $25m purse. The first event clashes with the Canadian Open on the PGA Tour, which has a purse of $8.7m whilst the DP World Tour's Scandinavian Mixed, also in the same week, carries a purse of $2m.
Following the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational Series tournament at the Centurion, it then heads Stateside to Pumpkin Ridge in Portland before trips to New Jersey, Boston, Chicago, Bangkok, Jeddah and then, if reports are true, Trump Doral in Florida for the season-ending Team Championship.
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
-
'A Natural Fit' - Tiger Woods Backs Keegan Bradley US Ryder Captaincy
The 15-time Major winner made his remarks during an appearance in the NBC Sports broadcasting booth in the final round of the Hero World Challenge
By Mike Hall Published
-
Scottie Scheffler Set To Overtake Six-Time Major Winner For Consecutive Weeks As World No.1
The 28-year-old will soon reach 82 weeks at the top of the world rankings, overtaking Nick Faldo
By Mike Hall Published
-
LIV Golf's Ian Poulter Reveals The One Thing He Misses About Life On The PGA Tour And DP World Tour
The Majesticks co-captain admitted there was one thing he missed about life on his former tours but said the positives of his move to LIV more than made up for it
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
'You Just Need To Treat Everyone The Same' - Henrik Stenson Calls For Consistency Over LIV Golf Fines
The Swede is frustrated with what he suggested have been inconsistent punishments by the DP World Tour in regard to LIV golfers since 2022
By Jonny Leighfield Last updated
-
Ian Poulter Calls For 'Compromise From All Sides' To Achieve Unity In Men's Game
The Majesticks GC co-captain explained why collaboration has to be at the forefront of golf's future if it is to thrive
By Jonny Leighfield Last updated
-
Ian Poulter ‘Gutted’ To Withdraw From Asian Tour England Event
'The Postman' was due to appear at the Asian Tour's International Series England event at Foxhills this week
By Jonny Leighfield Last updated
-
'I'd Love Nothing More Than For Luke To Wear The Majesticks Shirt' - Ian Poulter Hopes Talented Son Will Succeed Him In LIV Golf
Ian Poulter is hopeful his eldest son Luke - who currently plays golf at the University of Florida - will succeed him at Majesticks GC in the future
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
LIV Golfer Lee Westwood Set For Over-50s Debut At US Senior Open
The LIV golfer - who turned 51 in April - is set to tee it up at the US Senior Open this week in what will be his first Major appearance in the over-50s category
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
‘The R&A Won't Put Their Foot Down' - Lee Westwood Reveals Eye-Watering DP World Tour Fine And Why He Can't Play Senior Open
The former World No.1 says the only senior Major he cannot play is The Senior Open Championship due to outstanding fines owed to the European Tour
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Henrik Stenson 'A Little Bit Baffled' At Majors' Stance On LIV Golfers
The Swede was speaking exclusively to Golf Monthly about Major exemption rules and why he believes they should be slightly altered given the current landscape in men's pro golf
By Jonny Leighfield Published