There will be a lack of star power showing up at the PGA Tour events after the decision to suspend all the golfers from PGA Tour events who are taking part in the LIV Golf event in Great Britain. It will also impact those who bet online for non-major tournaments, with some heavy hitters no longer to be a part of these events.
This will impact 17 players previously connected to the PGA Tour who are in that LIV Golf fieldm but only becomes an issue for non-majors. Events like the Masters, the U.S. Open and The Open Championship do not require PGA Tour approval for players to compete.
“Their participation in the Saudi Golf League/LIV Golf event is in violation of our Tournament Regulations,” PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan wrote to players. “The same fate holds true for any other players who participate in future Saudi Golf League events in violation of our Regulations.”
PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan informed the TOUR membership today that players competing without releases are suspended and ineligible to participate in TOUR-sanctioned competition.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 9, 2022
There are some huge names on the list of players who won’t be eligible to play in PGA Tour events, including former major champions Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Sergio Garcia.
There have been reports that former U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Reed, who won the 2018 Masters, could be playing in future LIV Golf events. Rickie Fowler is among the other players reported to be in discussions with LIV Golf officials.
The number of golfers who could make the lucrative decision to play in LIV Golf events is likely to increase after the U.S. Open recently decided to allow players to remain in the field who also play in LIV Golf events.
LIV Golf is getting funding from the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia that is by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. There have been accusations of human rights violations against Salman, who is considered to be the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia.
Johnson (+2200) currently has the eighth-best odds to win The Open Championship while DeChambeau comes in at +3000 according to the sportsbook.
According to U.S. Open golf picks, the players with the best odds to win the U.S. Open (Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy) aren’t currently affiliated with any LIV Golf events. However, Johnson (+2500) is among the top 10 favorites. Garcia (+10000) and Mickelson (+20000) are well back. The event starts on June 16 in Brookline, Mass.
Some of the players withdrew from the PGA Tour once they decided to sign up for LIV Golf events. Other golfers, like Mickelson, have said they haven’t taken that step yet, although Thursday’s decision by the PGA Tour could force the hand of some players.
The inaugural LIV Golf Invitational began on Thursday at the Centurion Club. The first U.S. stop on the LIV Golf schedule is at Pumpkin Ridge in North Plains, Ore., beginning on June 30.
The ban will also include the Korn Ferry Tour, PGA Tour Champions, PGA Tour Canada and PGA Tour Latinoamérica events.
