<mediadc-video-embed data-state="{"cms.site.owner":{"_ref":"00000161-3486-d333-a9e9-76c6fbf30000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b93390000"},"cms.content.publishDate":1654813875360,"cms.content.publishUser":{"_ref":"00000180-1937-dba2-a7ba-39b778700000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b933a0007"},"cms.content.updateDate":1654813875360,"cms.content.updateUser":{"_ref":"00000180-1937-dba2-a7ba-39b778700000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b933a0007"},"rawHtml":"
var _bp = _bp||[]; _bp.push({ "div": "Brid_54813871", "obj": {"id":"27789","width":"16","height":"9","video":"1029388"} }); ","_id":"00000181-491d-d702-a3cf-4fdd57bc0000","_type":"2f5a8339-a89a-3738-9cd2-3ddf0c8da574"}”>Video EmbedPhil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, and Sergio Garcia are among 17 golfers suspended from the PGA Tour because of their participation and association with an upstart Saudi Arabian-backed tournament, LIV Golf.
A memo sent by Jay Monahan, the PGA Tour’s commissioner, on Thursday morning informed other members that the players participating in the breakaway tour’s inaugural event in St. Albans, England, had been told they were no longer eligible to compete in the PGA Tour, including the Presidents Cup.
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“These players have made their choice for their own financial-based reasons,” Monahan wrote in the memo. “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.”
In addition to Mickelson, Johnson, and Garcia, the other players who were suspended included Talor Gooch, Branden Grace, Matt Jones, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Kevin Na, Andy Ogletree, Louis Oosthuizen, Turk Pettit, Ian Poulter, Charl Schwartzel, Hudson Swafford, Peter Uihlein, and Lee Westwood. Several players had already resigned from the PGA Tour ahead of the competition.
LIV Golf Invitational – London DraftThe players are still eligible to take part in next week’s U.S. Open because the PGA Tour does not run golf’s major tournaments.
LIV Golf, which is run by Australian golf legend Greg Norman and funded by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, called the tour’s decision vindictive.
“It’s troubling that the tour, an organization dedicated to creating opportunities for golfers to play the game, is the entity blocking golfers from playing,” LIV Golf said. “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.”
Britain Golf LIV Invitational
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The Saudi league has proved controversial in its infancy, dealing with accusations of sports washing.
Mickelson, meanwhile, stepped away from the game for a brief period in January after he sparked backlash with comments he made when he acknowledged Saudi Arabia had a history of violating human rights. However, he refused to withdraw from a Saudi-backed tour because he said it was a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” according to the New York Times.
