Ahen Martin Kaymer and the other 47 participants in the controversial new Tour LIV Golf Invitational Series prepared for their first tee at Centurion Golf Club in London, the PGA Tour cracked down.
The North American professional organization suspended 17 players. “Your participation violates our tournament regulations,” Jay Monahan said Thursday. He is the commissioner of the series, which, together with the European DP World Tour, has so far stood exclusively for top-class golf.
And the PGA boss immediately sent a warning afterwards: “The same fate applies to all other players who participate in future Saudi Golf League events in violation of our regulations.” In addition to Kaymer, the suspended players also include Americans Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson. Other well-known professionals are the Spaniard Sergio Garcia and the Englishman Ian Poulter.
$20 million in prize money
The new golf series is criticized because of the million-euro investment from Saudi Arabia. The background is that the country, which has been criticized for human rights violations, is trying to improve its image with lucrative sporting events. At the start in London alone, there is prize money of 20 million US dollars (around 18.7 million euros). The winner collects four million US dollars (around 3.7 million euros).
A replica from the LIV Series followed promptly. It is worrying that the PGA Tour is preventing golfers from playing. “This is certainly not the last word on the subject,” the new series’ Instagram account said. The era of free agency, the free choice of players, has begun.
“These players made their choice for their own financial reasons,” said PGA chief Monahan reproachfully towards the suspended players. A point that Martin Kaymer did not deny. “Money is a motivator for everyone. You don’t have to deny that finances also play a role at LIV Golf,” said the former world number one in an interview with the FAZ. Last week, the 37-year-old canceled his participation in the Porsche European Open just outside of Hamburg due to a hand injury. The tournament is part of the DP World Tour.
Those affected are no longer allowed to take part in PGA events or in the Ryder Cup, the traditional continental comparison between the USA and Europe. Kaymer and Johnson are among the players who have already notified the PGA Tour of their membership termination.
However, qualifying players will be able to play the US Open from June 16th to 19th as it is not hosted by the PGA. So far there has been no reaction from the DP World Tour.
