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Seventeen golfers currently playing in the LIV Golf Series have been suspended indefinitely, the PGA Tour announced on Thursday, saying the players made their choice to play in the Saudi-backed league for “financial reasons.” . Those who chose to participate in the future will also be suspended, the Tour announced.
The announcement came about 30 minutes after the start of the LIV in London for the first 54-hole team-oriented tournament.
Players who have canceled their PGA Tour membership will not be eligible for the FedEx Cup Playoffs and may not participate in PGA Tour events as a “non-member through sponsor waiver or other eligibility category.”
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“I am sure that our fans and partners – who are certainly tired of all this talk about money, money and money – will continue to be entertained and compelled by the world-class competition you show every week, where there are real consequences. for every shot you make and your rightful place in history when you reach the circles of those elusive winners,” PGA Tour president Jay Monahan said in a statement.
“We have followed the tournament rules from start to finish by responding to those players who have decided to turn their backs on the PGA Tour by deliberately violating any rules,” added Monahan. “Concurrently with receipt of this memo, players will be notified that they have been suspended or otherwise ineligible to participate in PGA Tour tournaments, including the Presidents Cup.”
The LIV Golf Series responded Thursday with a statement that the suspensions were “vengeful” and that it “deepens the gulf between the Tour and its members”.
“This is certainly not the last word on this subject. The era of free agency is beginning as 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 has been controversial as 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 host eight events in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia between June and October. Each event will consist of 54 holes (three days of 18 holes), where 48 players will compete in 12 different teams.
The LIV Tour also said there will be no cuts and each round will be a shotgun start in the hopes of speeding up the game. LIV Golf will award a total of $250 million in prize money to events, individual winners and winning teams.
The tour has already brought in some big names. Phil Mickelson, one of the first known PGA Tour players to support the league, says he has no intention of canceling his PGA Tour membership.
Dustin Johnson announced this week that he has resigned from the PGA Tour and plans to compete only in LIV Golf events and majors for the foreseeable future. He reportedly received $125 million to participate in 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 be joining the competition, starting July 1-3 for the tour’s event in North Plains, Oregon.
