The PGA Tour has suspended the 17 members who’re competing within the inaugural LIV Golf occasion, it introduced Thursday.
Gamers who resigned their membership earlier than beginning the LIV Golf occasion being held exterior London that started Thursday are additionally now not eligible to compete in tour occasions or the Presidents Cup.
“These gamers have made their alternative for their very own financial-based causes,” PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan wrote in a memo to the tour’s membership. “However they cannot demand the identical PGA TOUR membership advantages, concerns, alternatives and platform as you. That expectation disrespects you, our followers and our companions. You’ve gotten made a unique alternative, which is to abide by the Match Laws you agreed to if you completed the dream of incomes a PGA TOUR card and — extra importantly — to compete as a part of the preeminent group on the planet {of professional} golf.”
The memo mentioned gamers who compete in LIV occasions are ineligible to take part on the PGA Tour or every other excursions it sanctions, together with the Korn Ferry Tour, PGA Tour Champions, PGA Tour Canada and PGA Tour Latinoamerica.
Monahan wrote that any gamers who participate in future LIV Golf occasions will face the identical punishment.
“I’m sure our followers and companions — who’re absolutely bored with all this speak of cash, cash and extra money — will proceed to be entertained and compelled by the world-class competitors you show every week, the place there are true penalties for each shot you are taking and your rightful place in historical past everytime you attain that elusive winner’s circle,” Monahan wrote.
“You’re the PGA TOUR, and this second is about what we stand for: the PGA TOUR membership as a complete. It is about lifting up those that select to not solely profit from the TOUR, however who additionally play an integral function in constructing it. I do know you’re with us, and vice versa. Our companions are with us, too. The truth that your former TOUR colleagues cannot say the identical must be telling.”
LIV Golf, in an announcement, known as the PGA Tour’s punishment “vindictive” and mentioned it “deepens the divide between the Tour and its members.”
“It is troubling that the Tour, a corporation devoted to creating alternatives for golfers to play the sport, is the entity blocking golfers from enjoying,” LIV Golf mentioned. “This definitely will not be the final phrase on this matter. The period of free company is starting as we’re proud to have a full discipline of gamers becoming a member of us in London, and past.”
The PGA Tour introduced the self-discipline lower than half-hour after 17 of its members or former members who resigned from the tour prior to now week hit their opening tee pictures within the inaugural LIV Golf occasion at Centurion Membership exterior London.
Amongst them have been six-time main champion Phil Mickelson, two-time main champion Dustin Johnson and longtime Ryder Cup members Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia.
Two different previous main winners, 2020 U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau and 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed, have additionally reached agreements with LIV Golf to compete in future tournaments, sources informed ESPN on Wednesday. LIV Golf officers have additionally had ongoing discussions with different gamers, together with Rickie Fowler and Jason Kokrak.
Johnson and Garcia are among the many gamers who’ve resigned from the tour, together with 2010 Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel and Kevin Na. The gamers hoped to keep away from punishment from the tour by quitting.
Monahan mentioned the ten gamers who’ve resigned their PGA Tour memberships will likely be faraway from the FedEx Cup factors standings after this week’s RBC Canadian Open. He wrote that “these gamers won’t be permitted to play in PGA Tournaments as a non-member by way of a sponsor exemption or one other different eligibility class.”
“This week, the RBC Canadian Open is a shining instance of what you’ve created with the PGA Tour: a star-studded discipline, a dedicated sponsor, sold-out hospitality choices, file crowds and a world broadcast distribution,” Monahan wrote. “These parts are a part of the Tour’s DNA, constructed by the likes of Jack and Arnie, furthered by Tiger and numerous others — whose legacies are inextricably linked, with one another and with the PGA Tour. This collective legacy cannot be purchased or offered.”
LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman, a former world No. 1 golfer and two-time winner of The Open, has informed ESPN prior to now that the brand new circuit was ready to assist its gamers combat the PGA Tour’s place in courtroom. Norman mentioned he had gamers who have been keen to take part in a authorized battle.
“I can solely communicate on data given to me by our authorized workforce, and I’ve an especially proficient authorized workforce in antitrust and anticompetitive legal guidelines, and we imagine we’re in the best place,” Norman mentioned. “We imagine the gamers are unbiased contractors and have a proper to go play wherever they wish to go play.”
On Might 10, the PGA Tour denied conflicting-event releases to gamers who had requested them. Monahan had informed gamers a number of occasions that they’d face punishment for competing within the LIV occasions with out releases.
The primary LIV Golf event in america is scheduled for June 30-July 2 at Pumpkin Ridge in Portland, Oregon.
The LIV Golf sequence options 54-hole occasions, shotgun begins, no cuts and a workforce format. The seven regular-season occasions, which are also scheduled in Bedminster, New Jersey, Boston and Chicago, are providing $25 million purses, the richest in golf historical past. The winner will get $4 million, and the last-place finisher will get $120,000. A season-ending workforce championship at Trump Nationwide Doral in Miami, on Oct. 27-30, has a $50 million purse.
Based on experiences, prime gamers additionally acquired signing bonuses from LIV Golf value greater than $100 million.
A longtime PGA Tour participant who wasn’t approached about enjoying within the LIV Golf sequence informed ESPN that he agreed that the tour needed to punish the gamers to forestall others from defecting.
“We will find yourself in a worse place as a result of these guys wished a fast cash seize to go play in an exhibition,” the participant mentioned. “The [Saudis] are going to lose curiosity ultimately. I believe all of us have a little bit little bit of a duty to go away the sport higher than once we acquired right here, and repping for a shady authorities with a questionable file is not doing that.”
LIV Golf is supported by the Public Funding Fund of Saudi Arabia, which is managed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Salman has been accused of quite a few human rights violations, together with the homicide of Washington Publish journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.
4-time main winner Rory McIlroy, talking at a information convention on the RBC Canadian Open in Toronto on Wednesday, mentioned he was involved about golf’s future.
“I believe it is a disgrace that it’ll fracture the sport,” McIlroy mentioned. “I believe if something, the skilled sport is the window store into golf. If most of the people are confused about who’s enjoying the place and what event’s on this week and, OK, he does not get into these occasions, it simply turns into so complicated. I believe every part must attempt to turn into extra cohesive, and I believe it was on a reasonably good trajectory till this occurred.”
