Shark bites PGA Tour

‘Anti-golfer, anti-fan, anti-competitive’

AUSTRALIAN golf great Greg Norman says the PGA Tour is “perpetuating its illegal monopoly” after it emerged officials won’t grant releases for players to take part in the opening event of his Saudibacked tour in London in June.

Just hours after Norman revealed he’d been given an extra $2.9bn to fund the new tour in 2023 and 2024, it emerged that the PGA Tour had told players they would not be released to play in the first $25m event.

Reigning US PGA champion Phil Mickelson and Masters winner Sergio Garcia are among players facing careerdefining decisions.

Both have applied to play Norman’s inaugural 54-hole tournament at Centurion Club, just outside London, next month. At the US PGA Tour’s Wells Fargo Championship last week, Garcia was overheard saying, “I can’t wait to get out of here”.

But PGA Tour members were told on Tuesday they would not be granted a release to play in Norman’s event and anyone who chose to play would be subject to disciplinary action.

Norman hit back hard, declaring in a statement that his tour “will not be stopped”.

“Sadly, the PGA Tour seems intent on denying professional golfers their right to play golf unless it’s exclusively in a PGA Tour tournament,” he said.

“This is particularly disappointing in light of the Tour’s non-profit status, where its mission is purportedly ‘to promote the common interests of professional tournament golfers’.

“Instead, the Tour is intent on perpetuating its illegal monopoly of what should be a free and open market.

“The Tour’s action is antigolfer, anti-fan and anti-competitive. But no matter what obstacles the PGA Tour puts in our way, we will not be stopped. We will continue to give players options that promote the great game of golf globally.’’

It’s been reported that the DP World Tour, formerly the European Tour, won’t grant any release for players.

That could mean the likes of Garcia and Westwood could be penalised by both tours should they opt to play. Those players who have applied to play with Norman – and the Australian legend says he has 19 of the world’s top 100 players – will not be punished for applying, only if they actually tee it up on June 9.

Last week Australian PGA champion Jed Morgan, who has no full-time affiliation with either the PGA Tour or the DP World Tour, declared he would be playing in the London event, where there is a $25m prize pool, including $120,000 for coming last.