adminLONDON. – The PGA Tour have brought the hammer down on defectors to the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series by suspending all current and future players involved with the rebel series.
The game’s biggest names have moved quickly to join the money-spinning rebel series, including Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Rickie Fowler and Bryson DeChambeau.
Patrick Reed is joining shortly, too.
Blasting the defectors for “willfully violating regulation,” PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan outlined suspensions in a wide-ranging letter issued to members.
The rebel tour’s debut competition got underway at the Centurion Club in St Albans yesterday and, within an hour of the first tee shots being taken, the bombshell letter was released by Monahan.
“PGA Tour members, I wish to provide you with an update and share information regarding the current and former PGA Tour players who are participating in the Saudi Golf League’s event in London today,” Monahan’s letter began.
“Thank you for your trust, patience and loyalty. We have followed the Tournament Regulations from start to finish in responding to those players who have decided to turn their backs on the PGA TOUR by wilfully violating regulation.
“Simultaneous to you receiving this memo, players (listed below) are being notified that they are suspended or otherwise no longer eligible to participate in PGA Tour tournament play, including the Presidents Cup.”
Garcia, Talor Gooch, Branden Grace, Johnson, Matt Jones, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Mickleson, Kevin Na, Andy Ogletree, Louis Oosthuizen, Turk Pettit, Poulter, Charl Schwartzel, Hudson Swafford, Peter Uihlein and Lee Westwood were all named at the end of the letter.
It revealed that Gooch, Jones, Mickelson, Ogletree, Poulter, Swafford and Uihlein all refused to resign, instead being kicked out.
A statement in response by LIV Invitational organisers took a swipe at the PGA Tour, labelling Monahan and his staff ‘vindictive’ for handing out suspensions.
“Today’s announcement by the PGA Tour is vindictive and it deepens the divide be-tween the Tour and its members,” the LIV statement read.
“It’s troubling that the Tour, an organisation dedicated to creating opportunities for golfers to play the game, is the entry blocking golfers from playing.
“As you know, players listed below did not receive the necessary conflicting event and media rights releases – or did not apply for releases at all – and their participa-tion in the Saudi Golf League/LIV Golf event is in violation of our tournament regu-lations,’ the letter continued.
“The same fate holds true for any other players who participate in future Saudi Golf League events in violation of our regulations.”
A memo to players last month warned that the Tour would not be releasing players to feature in the opening rebel series event and that has rung true.
“As a membership organisation, we believe this decision is in the best interest of the PGA Tour and its players,” that memo to players read.
Thursday’s bombshell letter enhances the pressure on the sport’s other governing bodies – Augusta National runs the Masters, the PGA of America runs the PGA Championship, and the R&A oversees the British Open – to see how serious their sanctions – if any – will be on players jumping ship.
Former world No 1 Johnson jumped before others have now been pushed as he confirmed he had resigned from the PGA Tour on Tuesday. – Mailonline.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter