While Brooks Koepka has decided to finally join the LIV Golf Invitational Series and its petrodollars, Collin Morikawa (photo) is distancing himself from the dissident League supported by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia and remains faithful to the PGA Round.
He therefore officially left this morning the list of players registered this week at the Travelers Championship (PGA Tour) scheduled for Cromwell (Connecticut). Brooks Koepka decided to join the LIV Golf Invitational Series the second leg of which is due to take place next week in Portland (Oregon), at Pumpkin Ridgeover three rounds, without a cut and with a field of 48 players.
At 32, the former world No. 1, four-time Major winner (US Open 2017, 2018; USPGA 2018, 2019)thus turns his back to the PGA Toureven going so far as to change his references on his account Twitter. We are talking about a very large check of around 120 million dollars for having been convinced to take part in this “dissident” League which launched its “season” at the beginning of June in Centurion Clubin the suburbs of London (England).
Asked upstream of theUS Open in a press conference, the Floridian had appeared clearly annoyed by the questions, certainly recurring, concerning the flight of several important players from the PGA Tour to the LIV Golf. « I’m here at the US Openhe had launched. I think it sucks that we’re always talking about the same subject, about this black cloud that you install (addressing journalists) above the US Open. It’s one of my favorite events. I don’t know why you insist. The more you give it importance (referring to the LIV Golf), the more we talk about it! »
The media may have already been informed that his departure from the PGA Tour was hanging by a thread, his brother, Chase, having played in the first inaugural tournament of the LIV Golf Invitational Series at the Centurion Club (and finishing 37th with an overall score of +10). However, at the beginning of the year, Brooks Koepka seemed totally disinterested in this famous Saudi League then about to be finalized with at its head the former world n°1, the Australian Greg Norman. « But where else can you go play other than on the PGA Tour? he wondered.
Now we know! He will be from June 30 to July 2 on the west coast of the United States with Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Kevin Na, Talor Goochthe South African Charl Schwartzelwinner in London, but also new “dissidents” like Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed, Pat Perez or the Mexican Abraham Ancer.
To state for the record, once again, you all are absolutely wrong. I’ve said it since February at Riviera that I’m here to stay on the @PGATOUR and nothing has changed. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some cereal to pour in my milk
— Collin Morikawa (@collin_morikawa) June 21, 2022
There was also a rumor that Collin Morikawa could also respond favorably to the Saudi sirens. It is not so. At least for the moment. The last winner of The Openwhich will be at Genesis Scottish Open in three weeks (tournament co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour), made clear his desire to stay on the PGA Tour.
« All my life I thought about the PGA Tourhe said after the Genesis Invitational in mid-February. I thought about playing Rodr (Woods), breaking records or something that may never be broken, but I never thought of anything else. Me, it’s always been the PGA Tour (…) The best players all stay loyal to the PGA Tour and that’s where I evolve. I am very happy to be here. »
Before putting on a layer this Tuesday via his account Twitter, dissipating the last gray area on the tone of the quip. ” Nothing has changed since what I said at the Riviera (in February). I’m staying on the PGA Tour. And now, I’m sorry, but I’m going to go put some milk on my cereal! »
Photo : Getty Images
