For years, the PGA Tour has had the professional golf game locked down. It was the only game in town but now with the Saudi-backed LIV Golf, there’s some real competition. As a result, the PGA has suspended all members who are playing in the LIV Golf Invitational which kicked off on June 9, 2022.
The PGA Tour SMACKS Members Playing in the LIV Golf Invitational with SUSPENSION Including Golf Legend Phil Mickelson
Mind you, the players were lured with the largest prize in golf history at $25 million—or £20 million. There are 17 players hit with the suspension including the six-time major winner, Phil Mickelson, and two-time winner Dustin Johnson. Now, Johnson—said to have gotten $150 million for joining the LIV Golf Invitational—has left the PGA Tour. It’s a pretty “You can’t fire me, I quit” move.
As for Mickelson, he is said to have received $200 million for playing in the inaugural series and was simply suspended as he didn’t announce that he would be resigning from the Tour. Out of the 17 players, ten of them resigned. In a statement about players participating in the LIV Golf Invitational, Commissioner Jay Monahan said in a statement:
“Their participation in the Saudi Golf League/LIV Golf event is in violation of our Tournament Regulations. The same fate holds true for any other players who participate in future Saudi Golf League events in violation of our Regulations.”
The statement would go on to speak directly to the PGA Tour members who opted not to join LIV Golf:
“These players have made their choice for their own financial-based reasons. But they can’t demand the same PGA TOUR membership benefits, considerations, opportunities and platform as you. That expectation disrespects you, our fans and our partners.”
Language such as referring to the LIV Golf organization as “the Saudi Golf League” and giving the members who stayed some respect at the expense of both newer and long-tenured players who were suspended didn’t go unnoticed by LIV Golf. The fledgling league would respond with the following on Twitter:
Official statement from LIV Golf pic.twitter.com/UBt4DpRdS4
— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) June 9, 2022
There are seven individual player events scheduled to kick off LIV Golf’s dive into professional golf. Each event will feature a prize fund of $25 million with the winner of the event taking home $4 million. Since the players are all members of teams, the top three teams will split $5 million.
In the eighth and final event of LIV Golf’s season, there is a $50 million prize fund and it will be a team affair. The unique new play approach and meaty prizes are sure to attract more pro players. And watching the first event in the opening, everyone participating seemed enthusiastic about the rules such as the shotgun start.
However, being backed by Saudi Arabian funds via the government’s Public Investment Fund is leaving a horrible impression on many observers. This is very much the country’s doing as a result of human rights violations and the assassination of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. As a result, LIV Golf has sunk hundreds of millions into a number of goodwill initiatives.
There’s also the heat major signing Phil Mickelson faced for his participation in the press. Sky Sports has Mickelson dealing with being painted as a “Saudi stooge” during a LIV Golf press conference on June 8, 2022:
🚨 "I understand people may disagree with my decision."
🚨 "I will play next week's US Open."Phil Mickelson speaks at the Centurion Club on the LIV Golf Series.pic.twitter.com/IvyuY8ImOf
— Sky Sports (@SkySports) June 8, 2022
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