A large number of members from the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) Tour over the past few weeks have stated their intent to jump ship from the top league in the world to go and join up with the brand new Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series.
However, it has been quite unclear as to what the PGA plans to do because of this Exodus, well at least until recently.
“Multiple sources have told The Post that the PGA Tour will reaffirm its hardline stance against the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series and announce disciplinary action on Thursday morning for the PGA players who will be competing in the LIV tournament in London this week,” stated a report from the New York Post. “That action would likely include suspensions, though the severity of the punishments could vary on a case-by-case basis.”
Dustin Johnson, who is currently the No. 13 world-ranked player who won a pair of majors, is currently the highest-ranked player to defect over to the LIV series, which now includes at least 26 of the top 150 players across the globe. Ever since the announcement went out last week, another two top players for the PGA, Patrick Reed and Bryson DeChambeau, have stated their intent to move over to the new league, and are set to play a set of eight tournaments via team play.
Quite a few other top golfers are also expected to play in the LIV Invitational, including Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Kevin Na, Lee Westwood, Louis Oosthuizen, Martin Kaymer, Charl Schwartzel, Graeme McDowell, and Talor Gooch.
However, Johnson “has not been granted permission to leave and may now face a ban from the [PGA] tour,” stated a report from the Daily Mail.
“Dustin has been contemplating the opportunity off-and-on for the past couple of years. Ultimately, he decided it was in his and his family’s best interest to pursue it,” stated David Winkle, his manager, as reported by the Mail. “‘Dustin has never had any issue with the PGA Tour and is grateful for all it has given him, but in the end, felt this was too compelling to pass up.”
The PGA is planning to host its own tournament at the exact same time as the LIV tournament is slated to happen at the Centurion Club in London this coming weekend, and this seems to be the issue. The PGA Tour, “has threatened players with potential suspensions or even banishment as punishments for playing in the LIV events. Johnson’s decision will put those threats to the test, given his lofty status in the sport,” reported the New York Post just last week.
Greg Norman, the former No. 1 player for the PGA and the current CEO of the LIV series, stated, “Free agency has finally come to golf.”
“This is an opportunity to start a movement that will change the course of history by bringing new and open competition to the sport we all love. The desire shown by the players to participate in LIV Golf demonstrates their emphatic belief in our model and confidence in what we’re building for the future,” stated Norman.
This brand new league has attempted quite heartily to try and enlist Tiger Woods, even offering a sum reaching up into the nine-figure realm. “Woods acknowledged before that he was approached by the LIV Tour before but rejected it,” stated the Post.
The new Saudi-backed league has also managed to secure a few other major names from the PGA, namely Johnson and Phil Mickelson. “LIV Golf reportedly offered Jack Nicklaus more than $100 million to run the operation (Nicklaus passed), reportedly offered Dustin Johnson $125 million to play (DJ didn’t pass) and, according to one Golf Channel report, paid Mickelson an astounding $200 million to sign up,” reported the Post in another report.