Hours after the liv golf invitational collection announced the field for its inaugural occasion next week, the pga tour threatened “disciplinary motion” for pga tour golfers who take part in the new saudi-sponsored series. In a sturdy rebuttal to the arguable new golf tour, the pga excursion stated on wednesday: “as communicated to our whole membership on may also 10, pga excursion contributors have not been legal to participate within the saudi golfing league’s london event, underneath pga tour event policies.
“members who violate the tournament policies are situation to disciplinary action.” two-time primary winner dustin johnson may be the headline act on the inaugural liv golfing invitational collection event, which hosts its first occasion from june september 11 on the centurion membership out of doors london. Johnson, currently the arena no. Thirteen, may be the highest-ranked participant at the match, if you want to also consist of sergio garcia, lee westwood, ian poulter, martin kaymer, kevin na, louis oosthuizen and branden grace. As these days as february, johnson stated that he was “completely devoted to the pga tour.” six-time foremost winner phil mickelson, an outspoken supporter of the new excursion, does now not function inside the field on the centurion membership.
The 51-yr-vintage said in february he might take “a while away” from golfing after being criticized for comments he made about saudi arabia’s regime and the usa’s new excursion. Free company has finally come to golfing,” greg norman, liv golf ceo and commissioner, said in a declaration. “that is an opportunity to begin a motion with a purpose to alternate the route of history by using bringing new and open competition to the game we all love. “the choice shown via the gamers to participate in liv golfing demonstrates their emphatic perception in our model and self belief in what we are building for the future.” norman obtained fierce criticism ultimate month for performing to downplay the the homicide of saudi journalist jamal khashoggi in advance of the tour’s release, announcing: “we’ve got all made mistakes.” a us intelligence record named mohammed bin salman, the crown prince of saudi arabia, as accountable for approving the operation that led to the 2018 murder of khashoggi — some thing bin salman denies. The centurion membership match can have a complete prize pot of £20 million ($25. 2m), with £3 million ($3. 8m) for the winning golfer. Six locations nevertheless continue to be open in the 48-man discipline. The event takes vicinity on the identical time because the pga tour’s canadian open, which johnson have been scheduled to compete in. In a assertion posted on twitter, the canadian open, a event johnson received in 2018, stated it was “upset” with the 2-time most important winner’s selection to choose to play in the saudi-sponsored occasion. “as a past rbc canadian open champion, canadian golf fans were searching forward to dj’s return this yr,” it said.”our focus is still on web hosting the extensively celebrated return of the rbc canadian open and inviting the world’s satisfactory gamers to canada.” the pga tour has now not granted permission for its gamers to compete some place else and they may reportedly be set to face punishment for his or her choice. “dustin has been thinking of the possibility off-and-on for the past couple of years,” david winkle at hambric sports activities management said in a assertion on behalf of johnson. “ultimately, he determined it changed into in his and his own family’s nice interest to pursue it.
Dustin has in no way had any difficulty with the pga tour and is grateful for all it has given him, however ultimately, felt this was too compelling to bypass up.” in a declaration sent to cnn, royal financial institution of canada stated it’s miles terminating its sponsorship agreements with johnson and graeme mcdowell, who has also signed up for the liv golfing series. In the meantime rory mcilroy said that pga tour should now not “drop the hammer” on any golfers which have decided to take part in the imminent event. “a pair — more than one surprises in there i suppose …
They [pga tour] are nicely within their rights to put in force the policies and regulations that have been set,” pga excursion star mcilroy told reporters before the memorial match on wednesday.
“it will become being an issue about what those rules and regulations are. “it’s now not something that i might do individually. But i simply recognize why a number of the guys have went, and it is something that we are all just going to maintain an eye fixed on and spot what takes place over those following couple of weeks,” added mcilroy. “but i without a doubt don’t think the field is some thing to jump up and down about.”
