The PGA Tour has suspended all of its members who’re enjoying on this week’s LIV Golf Invitational in England.
The PGA Tour launched a press release simply half-hour after play had begun at Centurion Membership in Hertfordshire, the place 48 gamers are competing within the first of eight deliberate LIV Golf Invitational occasions for 2022.
Within the assertion, which was issued to all members of the tour, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan mentioned: “In accordance with the PGA Tour’s event rules, the gamers competing this week with out releases are suspended or in any other case not eligible to take part in PGA Tour event play, together with the Presidents Cup.
“The identical destiny holds true for another gamers who take part in future Saudi Golf League occasions in violation of our rules. These gamers have made their alternative for their very own financial-based causes. However they’ll’t demand the identical PGA Tour membership advantages, issues, alternatives and platform as you. That expectation disrespects you, our followers and our companions.”
The PGA Tour had refused requests for waivers from its members desirous to play within the new collection and had threatened to ban people who rebelled.
The assertion issued by the PGA Tour gave no indication as to how lengthy the suspensions shall be for.
This determination impacts 17 gamers, together with lifetime member Phil Mickelson and two-time Main champion Dustin Johnson, who introduced on Tuesday that he had resigned from the Tour. Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell and Lee Westwood, have, like Johnson, already resigned and can all be affected by that ruling.
The PGA Tour has additionally closed a loophole that might doubtlessly have allowed gamers who’ve resigned from the tour to play occasions through sponsors exemptions. The 17 gamers shall be faraway from the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup factors record following the tip of the Canadian Open on Sunday.
LIV Golf issued a right away reply calling the PGA Tour ‘vindictive’ and saying that the assertion and its contents ‘deepens the divide between the Tour and its members’.
The assertion added: “It’s troubling that the PGA Tour, an organisation devoted to creating alternatives for golfers to play the sport, is the entity blocking golfers from enjoying. This definitely just isn’t the final phrase on this subject. The period of free company is starting as we’re proud to have a full subject of gamers becoming a member of us in London, and past.”
The DP World Tour has to this point did not remark, or to situation any suspensions or fines to members of its tour who’re enjoying at Centurion, leaving them none the wiser as as to if they are going to be capable to return the tour in between competing within the LIV Golf occasions.
