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sports Diabierna 10 Juni 2022

PGA Tour says Saudi-paid players no longer eligible for tour

start to finish in responding
to those players who have de-
cided to turn their backs on
the PGA Tour by willfully
violating a regulation," he
wrote.
LIV Golf has paid enormous
signing fees, with The Daily
Telegraph reporting $150
million for Johnson and
Mickelson declining to dis-
pute reports he was paid $200
million. Both are more than
Tiger Woods' career earnings
on the PGA Tour.
Norman has said LIV would
support the players even if it
wound up in the courts. Mc-
Dowell said some players al-
ready have spoken to lawyers.
"We haven't been issued re-
leases. We feel like we should
have been issued releases.
We've done it for the last 20
years, operated all over the
world," McDowell said. "Lis-
ten, we all know the situation
is about something bigger.
It's competition and it's not
liked. They are having to play
the game the way they feel
they have to play it, which is
playing hard ball."
The European tour has not
said whether it would sus-
pend its players. It has an
alliance with the PGA Tour
commercially, including the
first co-sanctioned events
this year on both sides of the
Atlantic Ocean.
The first test for PGA Tour
Dustin Johnson and Phil said he wanted to "keep the who haven't resigned will not LIV Golf, run by Greg Nor- players figures to be the
Mickelson launched tee high moral ground" by re- affect rankings on various man and funded by Saudi Travelers Championship in
shots in the Saudi-funded signing to try to keep litiga- lists of tour players. Arabia's sovereign wealth Connecticut, the week af-
golf league on Thursday, tion to a minimum. He thinks The USGA already has said fund, responded to the tour's ter the U.S. Open. Johnson
and it wasn't long before suspensions are a healthy way eligible players can still com- decision by calling it vindic- was among those listed in the
the PGA Tour said its play- to go about business. pete in the U.S. Open next tive and divisive. field.
ers who took part were no Mickelson had nothing to say week. The PGA Tour does "It's troubling that the tour,
longer welcome, even if except that he didn't want to not run the majors. an organization dedicated to The LIV Golf Invitational
they already had resigned. talk about the PGA Tour in creating opportunities for was being streamed on You-
his first tournament in four PGA champion Justin golfers to play the game, is Tube and Facebook. Before
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay months, only to confirm he Thomas and four-time ma- the entity blocking golfers the opening round, Norman
Monahan held a hard line on will play all eight of the LIV jor champion Rory McIlroy from playing," LIV Golf said. said he was thrilled to see an
his pledge that players could events, five of which will be welcomed the decision from "This certainly is not the last effort 30 years in the making
choose one tour or the other, in the United States. the tour stop this week at the word on this topic. The era come to fruition.
but not both. When told that people were Canadian Open. of free agency is beginning He tried to start a World Golf
Those who had resigned interested in his situation, "I think anybody that's as we are proud to have a full Tour in the 1990s for only
from the PGA Tour — Mickelson replied, "I'm very shocked clearly hasn't been field of players joining us in the elite players and had a
Graeme McDowell said he flattered so many people are listening to the message that London, and beyond." TV contract lined up until
did so 30 minutes before he interested." Jay and everybody's been At issue is players competing the PGA Tour quashed the
teed off — were no longer Still to be determined is putting out," Thomas said. without a conflicting event moment with support from
eligible on any PGA Tour whether those players are "They took that risk going release from the PGA Tour. Arnold Palmer. That circuit
circuit. Those who remained ever welcome back. For now, into it, whether they thought Players typically receive three never got off the ground.
members, such as Mickelson, Monahan made it clear that it was a risk or not. I have such releases a year for tour- This one did, with the back-
were suspended. the suspensions include the great belief and great confi- naments overseas. Monahan ing of riches the likes of
Presidents Cup — the Inter- dence in the PGA Tour and denied releases for the LIV which golf has never seen.
"These players have made national team (countries out- where we're going and con- Golf Invitational because it Each tournament offers $25
their choice or their own fi- side Europe) is determined tinuing to grow to, and those is an eight-tournament series million in prize money, with
nancial-based reasons," Mo- by the world ranking. guys just aren't going to be a that plans to compete directly $4 million for the individual
nahan said in a memo to his part of it." with the PGA Tour in the winner. The PGA Tour's
membership. "But they can't Monahan said the players Ten players have resigned United States. richest event is The Players
demand the same PGA Tour who resigned will have their from the PGA Tour, a list that Championship at $20 mil-
membership benefits, con- names removed from the includes Johnson and Sergio The tour does not allow re- lion. The Canadian Open
siderations, opportunities PGA Tour standings — Fe- Garcia. Mickelson, who has leases for events in North this week, which has five
and platform as you." dEx Cup and Presidents Cup lifetime membership with America. of the top-10 players in the
Ian Poulter said he would ap- — after this week. He said 45 PGA Tour titles, is among "We have followed the tour- world, has an $8.7 million
peal the ruling. McDowell the tour will make sure those those who has not. nament regulations from purse.