The PGA Tour has suspended all 17 members participating in the inaugural LIV International Golf Series event, it was announced Thursday.
Players who gave up their membership before the start of the LIV Golf event outside London that began on Thursday, are no longer eligible to participate in the Tour events or the Presidents Cup. Among the now excluded from the Tour rounds are six-time Main Champion Phil Mickelson, two-time Main Champion Dustin Johnson, and Ryder Cup entrants Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia.
"These players have been selected for their own financial reasons," PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan wrote in a note to tour members. “But they cannot claim the same PGA Tour membership benefits, considerations, opportunities, and platform as you. This expectation does not respect you and our fans and partners do not respect you. I made a different choice, which is to abide by the rules of the tournament.” You accepted when you fulfilled your dream of a PGA TOUR card and - most importantly - competed in the preeminent organization in the professional golf world.
Monahan wrote that any player who participates in future LIV Golf events will face the same penalty.
When asked what he thought of Monahan's qualification, Mickelson paused for 10 seconds while weighing what to say before replying, "Any round of the PGA Tour matters, I don't. It won't be discussed publicly at this time."
Meanwhile, Poulter expressed his frustration with the PGA Tour's decision and said he would resist suspension.
"Of course I'll appeal," Poulter said, "that doesn't make sense." "I've always had the ability to play golf all over the world. What's wrong with that? I haven't done anything wrong. How many ways do you want to take off? I don't know many different events." I've played around the world on different roads. You have played the Asian Tour. Japanese tour. Played in China and South Africa. You've played everywhere and loved golf...Would you take the risk again? It is disappointing.”
The memo states that players who participate in LIV events are not eligible to play on the PGA Tour or any other sanctioned tour, including the Korn Ferry Tour, PGA Tour Champions, PGA Tour Canada, and PGA Tour Latin America.
“I am sure our fans and partners, who are really sick of all this talk about money and money and more money, will continue to be entertained and forced to participate in the global competition that they show every year for a week where there are real consequences to Monahan books that every take takes its rightful place in history When you reach the elusive winner's circle.
"You are the PGA Tour, and this moment is about what we stand for: PGA TOUR membership as a whole. It's about promoting those who not only choose to benefit from the Tour, but play a critical role in building it." I know you are with us and vice versa. Our partners are with us too. Your former tour mates can't say the same, you have to be expressive. "
LIV Golf, in a statement, called the PGA Tour penalty a "revenge" and said it "deepens the rift between the Tour and its members."
"It is concerning that the Tour, an organization dedicated to creating opportunities for golfers to play, is the entity that prevents golfers from playing," Lev Golf said. "It's certainly not the last word on this. The era of free agency has begun because we are proud to have a whole group of players joining us in London and beyond."
The PGA Tour announced the discipline less than 30 minutes after 17 of its members or former members who left the Tour last week arrived to launch at the inaugural LIV Golf event at the Centurion Club outside London.
Sources told ESPN on Wednesday that two other former major winners, 2020 US Open champion Bryson Dechambeau and 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed, have also reached deals with Leaf Golf to compete in future tournaments. LIV Golf officials have also had ongoing discussions with other players, including Rickie Fowler and Jason Kokrak.
Johnson and Garcia are among the players who left the tour, along with 2010 champion Louis Oosthuizen and 2011 Masters champion Charles Schwarzel and Kevin Na. The players had hoped to avoid the penalty kick of the round by resigning.
2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell said he quit his PGA Tour membership about 30 minutes before the game kicks off on Thursday. He said he doesn't think he should resign, but is also looking forward to the punishment that has been inflicted.
"The PGA Tour should do what they think is necessary. I don't think it's healthy for the sport," McDowell said. “We are here because we think we are independent contractors and we think we should be allowed to compete and play wherever we want anywhere in the world... We have a compelling choice, which is not acceptable on the biggest tours in the world. It's disappointing, but there isn't much we can Do about it. As players, here we understand the consequences of what could happen to us.”
Monahan said the 10 players who have dropped their PGA Tour membership will be disqualified from the FedEx Cup points standings after this week's RBC Canadian Open. He wrote that "these players will not be permitted to play in PGA tournaments as non-members by designating a sponsor" or any other eligibility category.
Monahan wrote, "This week's RBC Canadian Open is a shining example of what I've built with the PGA Tour: a star-studded field, co-sponsor, sold-out hospitality shows, record crowds, and world-class exposure." "These items are part of the tour's DNA, built by people like Jack and Arnie, with encouragement from Tiger and many others. Their legacy is closely linked to each other and to the PGA Tour. They can be bought or sold."
Greg Norman, PDG of LIV Golf, the world's No. 1 golfer and double Vanqueur de l'Open, passes to ESPN dans le passé que le nouveau circular était prêt à les joueurs aid a fight Tour la sur du P the course. . Norman said he has players ready to get into a legal battle.
“I can only speak based on the information our legal team has given me, I have a very talented antitrust and competition law team, and we think we are in the right place,” Norman said. "We believe the players are independent contractors and have the right to play wherever they want."
On May 10, the PGA Tour denied publishing conflicting events for players who requested it. Monahan repeatedly told players that they would face a penalty for participating in LIV events without being released.
The first LIV golf tournament in the United States is scheduled to take place from June 30 to July 2 at Pumpkin Ridge in Portland, Oregon.
The LIV Golf Series features 54-hole, start-up, zero-cut and team-formatted events. Seven regular season events: The list also includes stops in Bedminster, New Jersey; Boston. And Chicago - Offered $25 million, the richest purse in golf history. The winner gets $4 million and the last winner gets $120,000. The Tag Team Championship season ends, October 27-30 at Trump National Doral in Miami, with a $50 million purse.
Top players have also reportedly received signing bonuses from LIV Golf worth more than $100 million.
Schwarzel took the lead on Thursday after being 5-under 65, with Henny De Plessis once in 4-under. Mickelson and Johnson are tied for seventh place after each 69-under shot.
A longtime PGA Tour player not called to play in the LIV Golf Series told ESPN that he's okay with players returning to the Tour to prevent others from defecting.
"We will find ourselves in a worse situation because these players wanted to make some quick money to play in a fair," the player said. "[The Saudis] will eventually lose interest. I think we all have a certain responsibility to leave the game better than when we got here, and to be represented in a weak government with no questionable record."
LIV Golf is backed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, which is controlled by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Salman has been accused of numerous human rights violations, including the 2018 murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Four-time winner Rory McIlroy said at a news conference at the RBC Canadian Open in Toronto on Wednesday that he is concerned about the future of golf.
"I think it's a shame he's breaking the match," McIlroy said. “I think the professional game is a spectacle of golf. If the audience doesn't know who's going to be playing at what tournament this week, well, they haven't been to those events, it's going to be very confusing. I think it's all about trying to get more consistent, and I think I was on the Good way for that to happen.
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