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A16 SPORTS
Friday 24 February 2023
PGA Tour money makes it tough on LIV players’ Ryder hopes
By DOUG FERGUSON deliver the strongest field in
AP Golf Writer golf,” it said in a statement.
Players who joined Saudi- But even if it leans on the
funded LIV Golf can still world ranking, that might
play in all the majors — and not work in LIV’s favor.
qualify for the Ryder Cup — The league has filed an ap-
now that the PGA Cham- plication with the Official
pionship and British Open World Golf Ranking board
have announced only mi- and still has not received
nor tweaks to existing crite- notice when it might get
ria. approved. Even then, rank-
But the main avenue to ing points would be signifi-
golf’s biggest events still cantly less than those for
start with the PGA Tour, the PGA Tour because of
and that might become in- the 48-man LIV fields and
creasingly difficult for most only six players currently in
LIV Golf players. the top 50.
As for the Ryder Cup, LIV Of the 20 players from LIV
players such as Dustin John- Golf currently in the top
son, Brooks Koepka and 100, eight of them are at
Patrick Reed likely would No. 75 and lower, and likely
need to win at least one to keep dropping.
major to have any chance Haigh said the PGA of
of earning one of the six Keith Mitchell hits from the ninth tee during the final round of the Genesis Invitational golf tournament America would consider
automatic spots on the U.S. at Riviera Country Club, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023, in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles. LIV Golf as it would other
team for the Sept. 28-30 Associated Press circuits.
matches in Italy. “We look at other tours,
The qualifying system is has significantly different fifth at Riviera last week played an entire LIV Golf money lists and rankings as
1 point earned for every prize money.” and earned $820,000 (820 season last year but is not we have done in the past
$1,000 won in PGA Tour Haigh was alluding to 10 points). part of the 48-man roster and will do in the future,”
events this year, with 1.5 PGA Tour events that have That’s one example of the this year. he said. “It doesn’t stop
points at the majors and a $20 million purse at least movement available in the The majority of the PGA us from seeing other good
double points for winning a double what they were $20 million tournaments. Championship field comes players.”
major. “Any PGA of Amer- two years ago plus The The PGA Championship on from the PGA Tour, either Asked if the PGA of America
ica member who is a U.S.- Players Championship at Wednesday became the through winning or the would consider LIV players,
born player will be eligible $25 million. LIV players are last major organization to money list. Officials also Haigh replied, “Absolutely.”
to earn points,” Kerry Haigh, not eligible for any of those weigh in, adding one cat- rely on special invitations, Seth Waugh, the CEO of
the PGA of America’s chief events because the tour egory for three players from a vague term that presum- the PGA of America, said
championships officer, said has suspended them.The the new International Fed- ably relies on the world decisions are based on the
in an interview. “If the only four majors have not an- eration Ranking list for tours ranking. The reputation of best interest of the associa-
events they get in are the nounced their prize funds in Japan, Asia, South Africa the PGA Championship tion and running the best
majors, they would need yet. and Australia. has been to have the stron- championship possible.
to win one or more, or finish Johnson currently is No. 14 The top three will be de- gest field of the four majors. “Sadly the current division
high in a couple of others. in the Ryder Cup stand- termined on April 24. The “The PGA of America also in the professional game
“Knowing where that sixth ings. He is three spots be- current leaders include Sih- reserves the right to invite is not good for the sport or
place is will be difficult to hind Keith Mitchell, who wan Kim, who plays for LIV additional players ... in pur- the future of the game,”
predict,” he said. “This year was No. 25 until he finished Golf, and Shaun Norris, who suit of our annual goal to Waugh said. q
McEnroe, Borg returning as Laver Cup
captains in Vancouver
NEW YORK (AP) — John reaching the semifinals at before Frances Tiafoe’s vic-
McEnroe and Bjorn Borg the 2021 U.S. Open. tory over Stefanos Tsitsipas
will return as Laver Cup Auger-Aliassime helped clinched the outcome.
captains this year, when begin the comeback on “Felix was our MVP last
the team event moves to Day 3 of the Laver Cup in year. He really turned the
Canada for the first time. London last September tide for us, big time,” McEn-
McEnroe will lead Team marked by Roger Federer’s roe said in a video press
World against Borg’s Team final match, a doubles loss conference on Thursday.
Europe at Rogers Arena in alongside longtime rival “It’s a no-brainer to have
Vancouver from Sept. 22- Rafael Nadal when Team Felix on the team. I think
24. World finally beat Team Eu- he’s going to win a major in
The only player named to rope after losing each of the next year 18 months at
either six-man roster so far the initial four editions of the most.”
is Felix Auger-Aliassime, the event. Ticket packages for the La-
a 22-year-old from Mon- Auger-Aliassime paired ver Cup, which was found- Team Europe’s Captain Bjorn Borg, left, chats with Team World’s
treal who is currently No. with Jack Sock to win a ed by Federer’s manage- captain John McEnroe, on the second day of the Laver Cup
tennis tournament at the O2 in London, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022.
9 in the ATP rankings. His doubles match, then beat ment company, go on sale Associated Press
best Grand Slam result was Novak Djokovic in singles, March 3.q