St Albans (United Kingdom) (AFP) - The US PGA Tour slapped a ban on players who are competing in the divisive Saudi-funded LIV Golf series on Thursday -- just half an hour after the inaugural event teed off outside London.
The richest tournament in the sport's history -- with a purse of $25 million -- got under way at the Centurion Club in St Albans after a trumpet fanfare and with vintage fighter planes circling.
As LIV Golf chief executive Greg Norman looked on, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Scott Vincent began their rounds on the first hole during a "shotgun start", in which all players start at the same time.
But the action was quickly overshadowed by a PGA Tour memo to all its members informing them the players competing without releases at the 'rebel' event had been suspended.
"These players have made their choice for their own financial-based reasons," wrote Tour commissioner Jay Monahan.
"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."
The banned players include six-time major champion Mickelson and former world number one Johnson.
LIV Golf immediately responded, calling the PGA's action "vindictive" and saying it "deepens the divide between the Tour and its members".
The dispute could be heading for the courtroom if any of the 17 players named by the PGA, 10 of whom have resigned their Tour membership, pursue a legal challenge.
Norman, himself a former world number one, has said previously he is braced for a legal battle, anticipating fierce opposition from the established tours.
Alongside lifetime member Mickelson, LIV players banned by the PGA include Talor Gooch, Matt Jones and Ian Poulter.
Among the other golfers who had already resigned their membership but were also listed are Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Louis Oosthuizen and Lee Westwood.
That group of players will be removed from the FedEx Cup points list following the end of this week's Canadian Open and will not be able to compete on the Tour as non-members via a sponsor exemption or any other eligibility category.
On the course, Mickelson and Johnson both carded one-under-par 69s to trail leader Charl Schwartzel, the 2011 Masters champion, by four shots.
The left-handed Mickelson, who has not played for four months, said he had enjoyed his return but that he was "not going to discuss publicly" PGA Tour matters.
Tournament clash
Players asked for releases to compete in the LIV event in England but their requests were rejected by the US-based PGA Tour, partly because there was a clash with the Canadian Open.
Monahan warned any players who took part in future LIV Golf events would face the same fate, with multiple reports that US stars Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Reed plan to sign up.
Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy and two-time major champion Justin Thomas, currently playing in Toronto, supported the action taken by the PGA Tour.
The DP World Tour, formerly the European Tour, has yet to announce what action it will take over its players who are competing in St Albans.
The United States Golf Association said earlier this week that LIV players would be able to play in next week's US Open.
The eight LIV tournaments scheduled for this year, bankrolled by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, are worth an eye-watering combined $255 million.
Organisers have pledged to "supercharge" golf, offering 54-hole tournaments with no cuts, "shotgun starts" and a team element.
Players have faced tough questions over Saudi Arabia's human rights record and have been accused of greed in chasing the huge rewards on offer.
Mickelson did not dispel rumours he was receiving a fee of $200 million to compete, while Johnson is reportedly getting $150 million in appearance fees.
Mickelson, who had not played since the publication of comments in February in which he criticised the PGA Tour and LIV Golf's Saudi backers, was grilled by reporters on the eve of the tournament.
The 51-year-old American insisted he did not "condone human rights violations", adding golf could be a force for good.
But Amnesty International renewed its call for players to speak out about "human rights abuses" in Saudi Arabia, rather than being "willing stooges of Saudi sportswashing".
