PGA Tour suspends all players in Saudi-backed LIV Golf league
The PGA Tour has reacted.
It has laid a hammer down on players competing in the Greg Norman-backed LIV Golf Series, which started its first occasion at 9 a.m. on Thursday. Within an hour of first balls being struck in the LIV occasion, being performed exterior of London, the Tour despatched out the discharge detailing its bans.
“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,” the discharge learn. “The players are being notified that they’re suspended or in any other case now not eligible to take part in PGA Tour match play, together with the Presidents Cup. This additionally applies to all excursions sanctioned by the PGA Tour: the Korn Ferry Tour, PGA tour Champions, PGA Tour Canada and PGA Tour Latinoamerica.
“The players listed below did not receive the necessary conflicting events and media rights releases — or did not apply for releases at all — and their participation in the Saudi Golf League/LIV Golf event is a violation of our Tournament Regulations.”
The players being banned are Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Talor Gooch, Andy Ogletree, Branden Grace, Matt Jones, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Kevin Na, Louis Oosthuizen, Ian Poulter, Charl Schwartzel, Hudson Swafford, Peter Uihlien, Lee Westwood and Turk Petit.
“Today’s announcement by the PGA Tour is vindictive and it deepens the divide between the Tour and its members,” LIV Golf stated in a press release. “It’s troubling that the Tour, an organization dedicated to creating opportunities for golfers to play the game, is the entity blocking golfers from playing. 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.”
