Seventeen golfers currently playing in the LIV Golf Series have been suspended for an unspecified period, the PGA Tour announced Thursday, saying the players chose to play in the Saudi-backed league for “financial reasons.” Those who choose to participate in the future will also be suspended, the Tour announced.
The announcement came approximately 30 minutes after LIV kicked off in London for its first 54-hole team tournament.
Players who have relinquished their PGA Tour membership will not be eligible for the FedEx Cup Playoffs and may not play in PGA Tour events as “non-members through a sponsor waiver or any other category of eligibility.”
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“I’m sure our fans and partners, who are surely tired of all this talk of money, money, money, will continue to be entertained and motivated by the world-class competition they showcase every week, where there are real consequences.” for every shot you take and your rightful place in history every time you reach the elusive winner’s circle,” PGA Tour President Jay Monahan said in a statement.
“We have followed the Tournament Regulations from start to finish in responding to those players who have chosen to turn their backs on the PGA Tour by knowingly violating a regulation,” Monahan added. who are suspended or no longer eligible to participate in PGA Tour tournaments, including the Presidents Cup.”
The LIV Golf Series responded Thursday with a statement saying the suspensions were “vindictive” and that it “deepens the divide between the Tour and its members.”
“This is certainly not the last word on this subject. The era of free agency is just beginning and we are proud to have a full field of players joining us in London and beyond,” said LIV Golf.
The LIV Golf tour was formed in 2020, backed by the Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. The tour is controversial because the Saudi government has been accused of human rights violations, including possible links to the murder of Washington Post reporter Jamal Khashoggi.
LIV Golf, whose name is derived from the Roman numeral for 54, plans to hold eight events between June and October in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Each event will consist of 54 holes (three days of 18 holes), where 48 players will compete on 12 different teams.
The LIV Tour also said that there will be no cuts and that each round will be a fast start in hopes of speeding up the pace of play. LIV Golf will award a combined prize pool of $250 million across events, individual winners and winning teams.
The tour has already landed a number of big names. Phil Mickelson, one of the first known PGA Tour players to support the league, says he doesn’t plan to relinquish his PGA Tour membership.
Dustin Johnson announced this week that he has resigned from the PGA Tour and intends to participate only in LIV Golf events and majors for the foreseeable future. He reportedly received $125 million to join the tour. He joins Kevin Na, Sergio Garcia, Talor Gooch, Ian Poulter and others for the tour’s inaugural event at Centurion Golf Club outside London.
While 2020 US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau will not play in the inaugural event, his agent announced Wednesday that he will join the league from July 1-3 for the tour event in North Plains, Oregon.
