PGA Tour tees off at Saudi circuit players
Suspension for stars as commissioner holds hard line
Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson launched tee shots in the Saudifunded golf league yesterday, and it wasn’t long before the PGA Tour said its players who took part were no longer welcome, even if they already had resigned.
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan held a hard line on his pledge that players could choose one tour or the other, but not both.
Those who had resigned from the PGA Tour — Graeme McDowell said he did so 30 minutes before he teed off — were no longer eligible on any PGA Tour circuit. Those who remained members, such as Mickelson, were suspended.
“These players have made their choice or their own financial-based reasons,” Monahan said in a memo to his membership. “But they can’t demand the same PGA Tour membership benefits, considerations, opportunities and platform as you.”
Ian Poulter said he would appeal the ruling. McDowell said he wanted to “keep the high moral ground” by resigning to try to keep litigation to a minimum. He thinks suspensions are a healthy way to go about business.
Mickelson had nothing to say but confirmed he will play all eight of the LIV events, five in the United States.
Still to be determined is whether those players are ever welcome back. For now, Monahan made it clear the suspensions include the Presidents Cup — the International team (comprising countries outside Europe) is determined by world ranking.
Monahan said the players who resigned will have their names removed from the PGA Tour standings — FedEx Cup and Presidents Cup — after this week. He said the tour will make sure those who haven’t resigned will not affect rankings on lists of tour players.
The USGA already has said eligible players can compete in the US Open next week. The PGA Tour does not run the majors.
PGA champion Justin Thomas and four-time major champion Rory McIlroy welcomed the decision from the Canadian Open.
“I think anybody that’s shocked clearly hasn’t been listening to the message that Jay and everybody’s been putting out,” Thomas said. “They took that risk going into it, whether they thought it was a risk or not. I have great belief and great confidence in the PGA Tour and where we’re going and continuing to grow to, and those guys just aren’t going to be a part of it.”
Ten players have resigned from the PGA Tour, a list that includes Johnson and Sergio Garcia. Mickelson, who has lifetime membership with 45 PGA Tour titles, has not.
LIV Golf, run by Australian Greg Norman and funded by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, responded to the tour’s decision by calling it vindictive and divisive.
“It’s troubling that the tour, an organisation dedicated to creating opportunities for golfers to play the game, is the entity blocking golfers from playing,” LIV Golf said.
“This certainly is not the last word on this topic. The era of free agency is beginning, as we are proud to have a full field of players joining us in London, and beyond.”
At issue is players competing without a conflicting event release from the PGA Tour.
Players typically receive three such releases a year for tournaments overseas.
Monahan denied releases for the LIV Golf Invitational because it is an eight-tournament series that plans to compete directly with the PGA Tour in the US.
The tour does not allow releases for events in North America.
“We have followed the tournament regulations from start to finish in responding to those players who have decided to turn their backs on the PGA Tour by willfully violating a regulation,” he wrote.
LIV Golf has paid enormous signing fees, with reports Johnson has received US$150 million and Mickelson declining to dispute reports he was paid US$200. Both are more than Tiger Woods’ career earnings on the PGA Tour.
Each LIV tournament offers US$25m in prize money — more money than the sport has ever seen — with US$4m for the individual winner. The PGA Tour’s richest event is The Players Championship at US$20m. The Canadian Open this week, which has five of the top-10 players in the world, has an US$8.7m purse.