Author: Johanna Lakämper

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Highlights Tours

British Open – “Claret Jug” Victory Award

Tiger Woods with the Claret Jug in 2000. (Photo: Getty)
Tiger Woods with the Claret Jug in 2000. (Photo: Getty)

The trophy that rewards the winner of the British Open Championship is officially known as the “Championship Trophy”, but it is commonly referred to as the “Claret Jug”; it is a Bordeaux decanter. “Claret” is the English name for a dry red wine produced in the famous French wine-growing region of Bordeaux. The British Open trophy is modeled after a silver wine jug in which claret was served in the 19th century.

The Open Tournament Page | News, Leaderboard & Tee Times

Before the Claret Jug there was the Championship belt

But the winner of the British Open did not get the Claret Jug from time immemorial. The first winners were awarded with a championship belt. The first British Open was held in 1860 at Prestwick Golf Club. The first belt was also awarded in that year.

The belt was made of wide, red morocco leather and was trimmed with silver buckles and decorations. This trophy would possibly still be today’s British Open award had it not been for the special achievement of Young Tom Morris: Prestwick Golf Club hosted the first eleven British Opens. Each year the championship belt changed hands as a challenge cup. But Prestwick’s rules stated that the belt would become the property of the golfer who won the British Open three times in a row. Young Tom Morris achieved this feat in 1872, winning in 1868, 1869 and 1870. So he could take home the Championship belt after his third win in 1870.

The British Open briefly had no victory award

Suddenly the British Open had no trophy and Prestwick did not have the funds to commission its own. So club members came up with the idea of sharing a trophy with the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews and the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers. Prestwick suggested that the three clubs could take turns hosting the British Open and all contribute something to the new trophy.

While the clubs deliberated, no British Open was held in 1871. Eventually they pooled money for a new trophy.

Tom Kidd 1873 first winner of the Claret Jug

When Young Tom Morris won the British Open again, the trophy had not yet been completed. So in 1873, Tom Kidd was the first British Open winner to win the Claret Jug.

This original trophy has been on display in the clubhouse of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews since 1927, along with the Championship belt (donated by the Morris family in 1908). The trophy currently in circulation is a copy of the original and was first presented to the 1928 winner, Walter Hagen. Each winner is allowed to keep this trophy for one year after his victory, must return it to the next British Open and then receives a replica of the traveling trophy for his own use.

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Highlights Tours

British Open – Cut Rule

Not everyone plays 72 holes. (Photo: Getty)
Not everyone plays 72 holes. (Photo: Getty)

The British Open cut rule is not difficult to understand: The top 70 finishers after 36 holes make the cut. Everyone else doesn’t make the weekend. This cut rule was first used at the 1898 British Open.

British Open: briefly with two cuts

But there wasn’t always this one-cut system. In 1968, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A) installed two cuts: one cut after 36 holes, another cut after 54 holes. This cut rule lasted until 1985, during which time the top 80 players advanced after the first cut and the top 60 players advanced after the second.

In 1986, the cut rule at the British Open was changed back to the best 70 after 36 holes. It is still in place today.

The Open Tournament Page | News, Leaderboard & Tee Times

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Equipment

OGIO Europe debuts electric golf bags designed to weather any storm

New and limited: Standbag "Geo Fast" and Cartbag "Terra Texture" from OGIO Europe. (Photo: OGIO Europe)
New and limited: Standbag "Geo Fast" and Cartbag "Terra Texture" from OGIO Europe. (Photo: OGIO Europe)

The OGIO 2022 all-elements Woode hybrid golf bags have been released in eight colour schemes, ranging from ‘Black’ up to the bright red galactic design named ‘Nebula’. The stylish and imaginative patterns have been developed to ignite a sense of awe within the marketplace, and lead golfers to marvel at the creation of the unique bags on offer. 

Golfers looking to stand out on the course can select one of the other six patterns on offer – outer space ‘Terra Texture’ with white and grey hues, jungle green ‘Shibori Mountain’, fast-paced blue 

‘Warp Speed’, purple palm leaves ‘Midnight Jungle’, multi-coloured geometric ‘Geo Fast’ or camouflage-inspired ‘Double Camo’ with orange detailing. 

OGIO Europe focuses on functionality in addition to design

As well as being eye-catching, the bags are highly durable and created with functional organisation in mind for the modern golfer. But most important to European golfers, will be the fully waterproof functionality of the bags. 

Designed specifically for play in any climate, all cart and stand bags in the collection are produced in a waterproof fabric and include a premium waterproof valuables pocket, to keep even electronic items dry. Both cart and stand bags are available in all eight patterns, allowing golfers to select any of the daring designs on offer. 

Stand bags in the range come with an eight-way water-resistant Woode top, while the cart bags incorporate a 15-way Woode top, created to provide the ultimate organisational feature for golf clubs. 

Further organisational elements include a low profile ball silo. Cart bag users will benefit from push car lock-down straps and a padded single strap, while stand bag users can enjoy the double-strap fit disc system for carrying. 

European-based golfers can purchase an OGIO Golf 2022 cart bag for €359 or stand bag for €349.

You can rely on OGIO Europe

OGIO’s mission is to create the most trusted bags in sport – wherever competition happens. The brand’s expertise extends lends itself to the creation of golf bags that can cope on even the most testing of golf courses. 

Throughout the year, OGIO has its ambitions set in the direction of developing eye-catching products. The 2022 golf collection is one of multiple ranges being released in wild and imaginative patterns, including backpacks and luggage. 

Owned by Callaway Golf Company, OGIO is a premium active lifestyle company alongside a portfolio of global brands, including Callaway Golf, Odyssey, TravisMathew, Jack Wolfskin Toptracer and Top Golf.  

(Text: OGIO Europe)

Categories
Ladies European Tour

Korda-sisters set for sun-drenched showdown at the Aramco Team Series in Sotogrande

Younger sister Nelly (left) and Jessica Korda (right) will compete in Spain. (Photo: Aramco Team Series)
Younger sister Nelly (left) and Jessica Korda (right) will compete in Spain. (Photo: Aramco Team Series)

American superstar sisters Nelly and Jessica Korda are heading to Spain for the first time, with both confirmed for next month’s $1million Aramco Team Series – Sotogrande. The sibling pair will tee-it-up in front of their maiden Spanish crowd at La Reserva Club, August 18-20th, in what will be their second Aramco Team Series presented by PIF event.

The Kordas can build on great successes

Both Nelly and Jessica were part of history when they played in last year’s debut Aramco Team Series – New York, the first ever Ladies European Tour event to be played on U.S soil. And for older sister Jessica – a six-time LPGA-winner – that was just the start of a history-making week, as she captained her team to victory in the event’s unique fourball format.

Former world number one and US Olympic Gold medalist Nelly was one-shot shy of bagging the same tournament’s concurrent solo contest.Now, both will return to battle it out against the biggest and best names on the Ladies European Tour under the Sotogrande sun this summer.

Both sisters will be in Spain for the first time

“I’m so excited to be heading to play in Spain for the first time,” said major-winner Nelly, currently ranked world #3.

“It’ll actually be my first ever time visiting Spain, so I’m really looking forward to getting there and seeing and experiencing what I’ve always imagined to be this amazing culture. The golf course at La Reserva looks incredible too so it should be a great week.”

“Jess and I both played in the Aramco Team Series event in New York last year and loved the format. It’s something different having the separate team-individual formats going on at the same time which is fun.  With the Solheim Cup taking place just round the corner from Sotogrande next year, this will also be the perfect opportunity for me and some of the other Americans in the field to get a bit of a lay of the land and a feel for playing in Spain, with the hope of being back there 12 months later. I’m excited to get out there and can’t wait to see what Sotogrande has in store for us.”

“Spain has had such a massive influence on golf”

Jessica – who has finished in the top ten in all five women’s majors – said: “New York’s Aramco Team Series was a great event. Having won the team side of it was a lot of fun! I am looking forward to getting a chance to play that same format again.

“I’ve never actually played in Spain – this will be my first time. Spain has had such a massive influence on golf, from big name players like Seve, Sergio Garcia and Jon Rahm to Carlota Ciganda and the many Spanish girls making an impact on both the LPGA and LET.

“The Spanish fans are known to have some fiery passion too, so I can’t wait to tee it up in front of them for what should be a pretty special atmosphere in Sotogrande.”

The headline pair will be joined in Sotogrande by a host of big-name Spanish golfers, including Solheim Cup hero Carlota Ciganda, rising talent Ana Peláez Triviño, Nuria Iturrioz and Carmen Alonso, as part of a field packed with global stars, more of whom will be announced in due course.

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European Tour

Statement from the DP World Tour on recently issued sanctions

Keith Pelley at the JP McManus Pro-Am in Ireland. (Photo: Getty)
Keith Pelley at the JP McManus Pro-Am in Ireland. (Photo: Getty)

Following a hearing before HHJ Sycamore CBE, appointed by Sport Resolutions (UK), suspensions imposed on Ian Poulter, Adrian Otaegui and Justin Harding have been temporarily stayed, pending determination of their substantive appeals by an Appeal Panel in due course.

Keith Pelley about the lifting of the sanctions

Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the DP World Tour, said: “Out of respect for JP and Noreen McManus, their wonderful Pro-Am and the outstanding fundraising they undertake on behalf of charities in the west of Ireland, I will not be giving a detailed response on this matter right now.
 
“I will simply say we are disappointed by the outcome of today’s hearing, but will abide by the decision. It is important to remember, however, this is only a stay of the sanctions imposed, pending the hearing of the players’ appeal as to whether those sanctions were appropriate.
 
“The make-up of the field for the Genesis Scottish Open will be advised in due course, but based on this decision the field size will increase beyond 156.
 
“We will make further comment on this in due course, but not during our time at Adare Manor.”

(Text: DP World Tour)

Categories
Ladies Tours

Record: Double prize money at the Women’s PGA Championship

Preparations are underway for the Women's PGA Championship. (Photo: Twitter/@KPMGWomensPGA)
Preparations are underway for the Women's PGA Championship. (Photo: Twitter/@KPMGWomensPGA)

The organizers of the Women’s PGA Championship have doubled the prize money for the major tournament: a total of 9 million dollars is up for grabs this week. A record sum that the best ladies in golf would not have expected.

Record sums at the Women’s PGA Championship

Compared to last year, there is double the prize money this year at the Women’s PGA Championship. The president of the PGA of America, Jim Richerson, announced that this year there will be a total of 9 million dollars and of that 1.35 million dollars for the winner. Compared to the prize money of 2014, the year before sponsor KPMG stepped in, that’s a 300 percent increase. Richerson justifies the increase as part of a desire to elevate women’s golf: “We really wanted to make sure we utilised this event to showcase the best women’s players in the game and do that with one of the biggest purses.” Prize money for the five women’s majors now totals $37.3 million, up from $13.75 million in 2012.

Hysterical reactions to the announcement

Participants in the Women’s PGA Championship can hardly believe the doubling of prize money. LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan had sent an email to the players shortly before the public announcement informing them of the increase. “There have been been some ‘holy you know what’ and ‘oh, my God’,” she recalls.

The prize money will be a special incentive for the women in the field, who will have to compete against defending champion Nelly Korda, among others. The latter underwent surgery on her left arm in April and only returned to tournament action last week. Here she fought her way directly into a 3-way playoff, in which she finally had to give way to Jennifer Kupcho. A promising return to the tournament, which raises hopes for a top finish at the Women’s PGA Championship.

Several German players will also be competing: Isi Gabsa, Caroline Masson, Sophia Popov and Esther Henseleit. The two Swiss players Albane Valenzuela and Morgane Metraux will also be playing.

Categories
Highlights Tours

Windfall at US Open 2022: USGA announces record prize money

United States Golf Association (USGA) CEO Mike Whan at the 2022 US Open (Photo: Getty).
United States Golf Association (USGA) CEO Mike Whan at the 2022 US Open (Photo: Getty).

The US Open is traditionally the major with the highest prize money. And it is set to remain so this year. After the US Masters and the PGA Championship gave a total of 15 million dollars to the top-ranked players this year, the US Open 2022 will go one better.

The US Open 2022 remains the most lucrative of the four majors

Last year, there was a total of $12.5 million in prize money at the US Open. Spaniard Jon Rahm also won $2.25 million of the total prize money with first place, the trophy and the glory. This year’s winner of the third major of the year can look forward to $3.15 million. This is 18 percent of the total prize money, which accordingly amounts to 17.5 million dollars. There is only one tournament in which there is even more money to be won: the Players Championship. Here, this year’s winner Cameron Smith won the record sum of 3.6 million dollars with a total prize money of 20 million dollars.

With these figures, the US Open remains the major with the highest prize money. The US Masters, as well as the PGA Championship, paid out a total of $15 million. Scottie Scheffler, winner of the Masters, and Justin Thomas, first-place finisher at the PGA Championship, each took home $2.7 million.

It remains questionable whether the increase is a reaction to the recently launched LIV Golf Invitational Series. Here, $25 million is paid out per tournament. Charl Schwartzel got $4 million for winning last week.

The distribution of the prize money

Of course, not only the prize money of the winner increases with the increase, but also that of the other players. Those who finish in the top 20 at the US Open 2022 have every reason to be happy: there will be at least $200,000 for all finishers in the top 20.

1st: $3,150,000
2nd: $1,890,000
3rd: $1,206,040
4th: $845,464
5th: $704,190
6th: $624,396
7th: $562,916
8th: $504,158
9th: $456,282
10th: $419,104
11th: $382,472
12th: $353,636
13th: $329,517
14th: $304,128
15th: $282,365
16th: $264,229
17th: $249,721
18th: $235,213
19th: $220,704
20th: $206,196 21st: $193,683
22nd: $181,170
23rd: $169,019
24th: $157,776
25th: $147,983
26th: $139,640
27th: $133,293
28th: $127,672
29th: $122,231
30th: $116,791
31st: $111,349
32nd: $105,909
33rd: $100,468
34th: $95,572
35th: $91,582
36th: $87,592
37th: $83,784
38th: $80,157
39th: $76,530
40th: $72,904
41st: $69,276
42nd: $65,649
43rd: $62,021
44th: $58,395
45th: $54,768
46th: $51,503
47th: $48,238
48th: $45,156
49th: $43,343
50th: $41,530
51st: $40,440
52nd: $39,535
53rd: $38,808
54th: $38,445
55th: $38,083
56th: $37,720
57th: $37,358
58th: $36,995
59th: $36,632
60th: $36,270

Categories
PGA Tour

Rory McIlroy after his victory at the RBC Canadian Open

Rory McIlroy celebrating his victory in Canada. (Photo: Getty)
Rory McIlroy celebrating his victory in Canada. (Photo: Getty)

At the weekend, Rory McIlroy defended his title in Canada at the RBC Canadian Open with a fabulous final round. The Northern Irishman had to wait three years for this chance due to corona – and now he used it. With a two-stroke lead, he now holds the Canadian trophy in his hands for the second time. After a few weeks in which he always placed well, but was never enough for the top, McIlroy is particularly pleased about the victory.

McIlroy on the 18th green

You’ve waited probably the longest of anyone in golf history to defend a title, three years. What’s it like to get your name on this trophy with the names like Snead and Palmer and Trevino and Tiger and now for the second time your name?

McIlroy: Yeah, national championships are a big deal. I’m lucky enough to have won a few of them and to get my name on here again with the likes of as you say, so many iconic figures in this game, this is what golf’s about and I’m just, I’m so proud to have my name on there again.

What was this crowd like? What was it like playing in front of these people chanting your name every step of the way, cheering you on from start to finish? Tell us what it felt like from Thursday through to this last putt.

McIlroy: It was absolutely incredible. Thank you. Like from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much. This tournament is absolutely unbelievable. Thank you to the fans, St. George’s, RBC, Golf Canada, the volunteers, everyone that put this event on. I’ll remember this day for a long, long time.

There’s been six people who have won this back-to-back. Nobody’s won this three times in a row. What do you think?

McIlroy: I’m going to give it a go. I’ll be here next year.

Rory McIlroy on his round, the Canadian fans and the US Open next week

We would like to welcome our champion of the 2022 RBC Canadian Open, Rory McIlroy, into the interview room. Rory successful defends a title on the PGA TOUR for the first time, wins on the PGA TOUR for the 21st time, and moves into a tie for 31st on the all-time PGA TOUR wins list. Rory, if we could just get an opening comment on the victory and what it means to you.

McIlroy: And one more than Norman. Yeah, it means an awful lot. I feel like it’s getting tougher and tougher to win on the PGA TOUR. Even, just look at the two guys that I played with today. I went out with a lead and had to shoot 8-under par to get the job done. So the depth of talent on this TOUR is really, really impressive. And going up against guys like JT and Tony and coming out on top, that’s something to feel really good about.

So super happy to get that 21st win, to defend, even though it doesn’t feel like a defense because it’s been so long. And then just to play in a final group like that with that atmosphere all day. I mean the fans here this week have just been absolutely unbelievable. Like so good and so cool to play in an atmosphere like that. Boisterous, loud, but respectful. It was really, really cool.

It was really cool to be a part of and just really happy to get the win today and obviously sets me up well going into next week in Boston. But right now I just want to enjoy this and focus on this.

You mentioned the 8-under par score today. 62 ties the lowest final round score by a winner on TOUR this season. What was the key to the round that, you just kept your foot on the pedal the whole day, how were you able to do that?

McIlroy: Yeah, I think you needed to today. So if you look at the scoring Thursday, Friday, compared to the scoring over the weekend, we had a northerly wind direction Thursday, Friday, which makes the golf course play a little bit tougher. And then we had a southerly wind direction yesterday and today, which definitely makes the golf course play a touch easier.

So I think seeing the forecast last night and seeing that southerly wind again I knew I needed to go out and shoot 5- or 6-under par to have a chance to win.

So, yeah, you needed to keep your foot down, you needed to keep your foot on the pedal. I got off to a faster start today than I have done the previous few days. When you’ve got that little stretch around the tournament, 9, 10, 11, where you can make some birdies and I just kept it going.

I let them in, I let them back in a little bit after I got the 3-shot lead with a couple of missed short ones. But really proud of how I bounced back and birdied those last two holes to get the job done.

You mentioned earlier that this set you up well for Boston. Just wondering, playing a course like this that has some similarities to the Country Club how much confidence can you take into Brookline next week?

McIlroy: Yeah, I mean, I think that it’s not as if I win here and then we’re going to like Erin Hills or somewhere like that where it’s completely different. It’s a similar style of golf, it will probably be a similar setup in some ways. I would imagine the greens next week will be a little firmer if they get the weather they want to.

But overall I thought it was a great week to prepare for the U.S. Open and there’s no better way to prepare yourself for tournament golf than to be in contention, having to hit the shots when you need to. And I proved this week that I can do that and hopefully get myself back into position to have to do that again next week.

You and JT shared an embrace out on the 18th hole right after you won. Curious if you wouldn’t mind revealing what was said and just speak to just how special that was. I know you wanted to beat him but at the end of the day you guys are competing and both really had a great week.

McIlroy: Yeah, so JT is a tough competitor, but he’s also a really, really good friend of mine. And I have probably more respect for him than maybe anyone else out here. Just because we both live in South Florida, we practice so much together, and I see how much, how hard he works at his craft. I appreciate that and I respect that. It’s always cool to be able to go up against the best and come out on top.

And, yeah, we had that embrace on the final green and I just said, Let’s do this all again next week. That’s what I said to him. So that would be cool to be able to do it all over again with him.

Do you consider yourself an honorary Canadian yet and if not what will it take?

McIlroy: (Laughing) Hey, I’ll take it, for sure. The support and the love I’ve got — I’ve only played in Canada twice, in Hamilton and then here. It’s been two pretty good trips.

But, yeah, look, the fans are amazing. They come out and they support this event really well. I think they just really appreciate the fact that we come up here and play in your national championship.

Yeah, if there was some honorary Canadian citizenship bestowed upon me I certainly wouldn’t turn it down. That would be a very proud thing for me. But, no, I’m happy to come up here once every now and again and play some golf and take this trophy south of the border with me.

You mentioned the enthusiasm of the fans. Have you ever seen the crowd rush on to the fairway like they did on 18 there and come right up to the greenside?

McIlroy: Yeah, so I was part of the group in East Lake in Atlanta 2018 when Tiger got his first win coming back, geez, it was his first win in a long time. I’m going to say like five years. I was an afterthought in that group, but I was witness to that. That to this day is one of the coolest things that’s ever happened to me in my career. Today felt sort of similar, maybe not quite the — well it was pretty raucous out there, but it’s really cool. Whenever that happens and you can enjoy your walk and you know you’ve got the tournament sewed up you can take it in and really relish it and enjoy it and it was a cool scene on 18, yeah.

You won so many tournaments, but how much confidence and belief comes about just winning on a Sunday like this and beating two guys, just going into a U.S. Open and for the future?

McIlroy: Yeah, it does, it gives you a lot of confidence to know that, just to see where your game stacks up against the best. JT’s coming off winning his second major at the PGA Championship. He’s won I think 15 times on TOUR. He’s done a lot in the game. Tony as well. Like Tony’s struggled a little bit the last sort of six to 12 months, but he seems to have really turned it around. He had a good finish at Colonial, had another good finish here.

So to go up against guys that are not just the best players in the world but best players in the world playing somewhat near their best and coming out on top, that, it can only give you confidence. So, yeah, and I guess for me, just some of the shots that I hit coming down the stretch, those are things to certainly build on going into the next few weeks.

Categories
Panorama

The “Tiger Effect”: Tiger Woods’ Path to Billions

Legend in golf: Tiger Woods. (Photo: Getty)
Legend in golf: Tiger Woods. (Photo: Getty)

So far, there have only been two athletes who have become billionaires: American basketball legends LeBron James and Michael Jordan. According to Forbes, probably the best-known business magazine in the world, another athlete has now joined the circle of billionaires: Tiger Woods cracked the 10-digit mark. The composition of the fortune of the golfer, who has so far celebrated more victories than any other, is surprising.

The importance of winning money

Tiger Woods’ net income, estimated by Forbes Magazine at at least one billion dollars, is based only to a small extent on his sporting successes and prize money. After hard years in golf, marked by tour victories, major wins and records, the 46-year-old can boast total prize money of 120,895,206 dollars. A horrendous sum, but one that represents only a small portion of the billions he has earned.

Tiger Woods’ most profitable sources of income

Woods’ key to making money has always been his income from endorsements. As a world-renowned athlete who regularly generates buzz among non-golf fans, Tiger Woods could hardly be more valuable to his advertising partners. Joe Favorito, a veteran sports business consultant, analyzes, “He hit the right time in the right sport, being an athlete with a diverse background who was approachable. Brands love knowing they’re getting someone who is embraced not just by the traditional but also by the casual fans.”

Brands like Monster Energy, TaylorMade, Rolex and Gatorade all benefit from their contracts with the legend – as does Tiger Woods himself. Woods has been working with Nike, his biggest backer, since as early as 1996. James and Jordan were also under contract with the sporting goods manufacturer.

In addition, Woods used his earnings to buy and found companies. Whether golf design, live events, a restaurant or miniature golf courses: Tiger Woods always knows how best to invest his money. ““[He’s] been extremely skillful in taking parts of businesses, in creating their own business, in ways that athletes before them just weren’t,” explains sports agent Leigh Steinberg. Off the golf course, Tiger Woods earns more than $100 million annually.

The “Tiger Effect”

Digitization, which has undergone tremendous development over the last few decades, also made itself felt in golf. Golf tournaments without a TV broadcast have been unthinkable for many years. 95 of the 100 most-watched TV broadcasts last year were sporting events: TV contracts, and with them player salaries, have been skyrocketing since the early 21st century. The influence of Tiger Woods was clearly evident here: the ratings of tournaments in which Woods did not compete were 30 to 50 percent lower than those of tournaments in which Woods did compete. This “Tiger effect” ensured that PGA Tour earnings almost tripled between 1996 and 2008 – Woods’ most successful period.

Phil Mickelson, another major-winning golfer, is also clear about the golf legend’s influence: “Tiger has been the instigator. He’s been the one that’s really propelled and driven the bus because he’s brought increased ratings, increased sponsors, increased interest, and we have all benefited.”

Woods turned down several $100 million from Greg Norman

Considering these incredibly high earnings that have now made Woods a billionaire, it is hardly surprising that Woods turned down an “mind-blowingly enormous” offer from Greg Norman and LIV Golf. According to reports, the Saudi Golf League offered Tiger Woods a high nine-figure sum if he would participate in the LIV Golf Invitational Series. For Woods, who is at home on the PGA Tour, the offer might not have been too tempting – the estimated net worth of at least one billion dollars seems to be enough for him…

Categories
LIV Tour

PGA Tour suspends players from LIV Golf Invitational Series

Jay Monahan, commissioner of the PGA Tour, is not compromising. (Photo: Getty)
Jay Monahan, commissioner of the PGA Tour, is not compromising. (Photo: Getty)

The PGA Tour had been threatening sanctions for those players who would turn their backs on the PGA Tour and participate in the LIV Golf Invitational Series events for several weeks. Some players – including Phil Mickelson, Martin Kaymer, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood – were not impressed by this and teed off on the first day of the LIV Golf Event in London. The PGA Tour’s receipt followed just minutes later.

Jay Monahan responds to LIV Golf

A two-page letter from PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan bans players participating in the first Saudi Golf League event, as well as players who plan to participate in future events in the series, from PGA Tour tournaments. The letter states, “Simultaneous to you receiving this memo, [those] players are being notified that they are suspended or otherwise no longer eligible to participate in PGA Tour tournament tournament play.” It is not yet clear for how long this suspension will last. Nor is it known if and, if so, how the players might return to the PGA Tour.

As if that were not enough, the players will also be removed from the FedEx Cup points list and will not be allowed to participate in PGA Tour events as non-members through a sponsor exemption or other eligibility category.

The suspension applies not only to participation in PGA Tour tournaments, but also to events on the other PGA Tour tours: the Korn Ferry Tour, PGA Tour Champions, PGA Tour Canada and PGA Tour Lationamérica. Last but not least, players will also no longer be able to participate in the Presidents Cup.

Jay Monahan explained the consequences of the PGA Tour’s decision: “As you know, [those players] did not receive the necessary conflicting event and media rights releases – or did not apply for releases at all – and their participation in the Saudi Golf League / LIV Golf event is in violation of our Tournament Regulations.” Neither player will be allowed to participate in PGA Tour tournaments as a non-member via a sponsor exemption or other eligibility category.

So far, 17 players have been affected by the suspension. Ten of them have already resigned from the PGA Tour before the announcement: Sergio Garcia, Branden Grace, Dustin Johnson, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Kevin Na, Louis Oosthuizen, Turk Pettit, Charl Schwartzel and Lee Westwood. The remaining players hit by the suspension are Talor Gooch, Matt Jones, Phil Mickelson, Andy Ogletree, Ian Poulter, Hudson Swafford and Peter Uihlein.

Quick reaction of the Saudi Golf League

The Saudi Golf League shows shortly after the statement of the PGA Tour visibly attacked. It also issues a statement on Twitter, albeit much shorter: “Today’s announcement by the PGA Tour is vindictive and it deepens the divide between the tour and its members. 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.”