PGA Tour and LIV Golf trade blows as suspensions confirmed
The PGA Tour has indefinitely suspended any player competing in LIV Golf events.
Players were informed of the sanctions in an email from commissioner Jay Monahan, obtained by Golfweek’s Eamon Lynch, which landed in players’ inboxes merely minutes after the first LIV Golf Invitational Series event teed off at Centurion.
“The players (listed below) are being notified that they are suspended or otherwise no longer eligible to participate in PGA Tour tournament play, including the Presidents Cup,” Monahan wrote.
“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.”
The players listed in the email include the following:
Sergio Garcia*
Talor Gooch
Branden Grace*
Dustin Johnson*
Matt Jones
Martin Kaymer*
Graeme McDowell*
Phil Mickelson
Kevin Na*
Andy Ogletree
Louis Oosthuizen
Turk Pettit*
Ian Poulter
Charl Schwartzel*
Hudson Swafford
Peter Uihlein
Lee Westwood*
The asterisk, Monahan points out, represents the players who had already informed the PGA Tour of their resignation.
Crucially, the players will not be able to participate in PGA Tour events as a non-member including, Monahan adds, “via a sponsor exemption or any other eligibility category”.
“You probably have more questions,” Monahan explains. “What’s next? Can these players come back? Can they eventually play PGA Tour Champions? Trust that we’re prepared to deal with those questions and we’ll approach them in the same way we have this entire process: by being transparent and respecting the PGA Tour regulations you helped to establish.”
“Vindictive”
Moments after Monahan’s email dropped, LIV Golf released a statement of their own in response.
“Today’s announcement by the PGA Tour is vindictive and it deepens the divide between the Tour and its members,” it read.
“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.
“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.”
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George Cooper
A golf fanatic his entire life, George Cooper is NCG's man for all goings-on at the top level of the game, whether it's the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA or LIV Golf. He also looks after NCG's Twitter and Facebook accounts. George is a member of Woburn, but is not friends with Ian Poulter.
