GOLF REBELS RISK AUSTRALIAN OPEN BAN

AUSTRALIAN players who sign up for Greg Norman’s Saudi-backed rebel tour could be stopped from playing in their national open.

May 10 is the deadline for players to declare their interest in playing the first of eight events in Norman’s LIV Golf Invitational Series in England in June. It is open to 48 players to compete in 12 teams.

Players including reigning US PGA champion Phil Mickelson and 2017 Masters champion Sergio Garcia are among those who have reportedly requested permission to play in the series opener at Centurion Club in London.

But amid reports the DP World Tour, formerly the European Tour, won’t give the necessary release to play in the London event, and penalties could be issued if players do, the consequences might extend to the Australian Open.

Last week it was confirmed that the Australian Open, which will have the men and women’s events being played on the same course at the same time in Melbourne in December, would be co-sanctioned with the DP World Tour.

That would mean entrants play under tour rules and last month DP World Tour chief Keith Pelley said players appearing at the LIV events “potentially compromises our efforts in these areas and could significantly hurt your tour in the short and long term”.