The Saudi-backed breakaway golf circuit, the LIV Invitational Series, has been dealt a major blow after both the PGA and DP World Tour blocked players from competing in its inaugural event next month. The series - funded by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund - was set to lure in a number of the sport’s top players to its opening tournament at Centurion Club, London.
The likes of Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia and Phil Mickelson all openly revealed their interest to compete for the mouth-watering prize money on offer in London in June. However it appears the event will go ahead without the household names that had been initially linked to 54-hole tournament.
The sport’s two leading tours have decided not to grant the interested players release to compete, with the DP World Tour following in the footsteps of the PGA Tour, according to the Telegraph .
The news on the DP World Tour’s decision came just hours after it was revealed the PGA Tour made the choice to decline all applications . It was initially thought that the American-based circuit would allow those interested to tee it up at the LIV Golf event, due to the tournament not being played Stateside.
However, in a dramatic turn, Tour commissioner Jay Monahan revealed in a memo to all players that those interested would not be allowed to compete. The memo read: “We have notified those who have applied that their request has been declined in accordance with the PGA Tour Tournament Regulations. As such, Tour members are not authorised to participate in the Saudi Golf League's London event under our regulations.
“As a membership organisation, we believe this decision is in the best interest of the PGA Tour and its players." One man who will be less than impressed with the decision of the two leading tours, Saudi series CEO Greg Norman. Following the news of Monahan's announcement, Norman hit back with a statement of his own.
Outraged with the player block Norman said: “Sadly, the PGA Tour seems intent on denying professional golfers their right to play golf, unless it's exclusively in a PGA Tour tournament. This is particularly disappointing in light of the Tour's non-profit status, where its mission is purportedly to promote the common interests of professional tournament golfers.
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“Instead, the Tour is intent on perpetuating its illegal monopoly of what should be a free and open market. The Tour's action is anti-golfer, anti-fan, and anti-competitive.” Despite the setback for his series, the former world No. 1 vowed in his statement that LIV Golf will ‘not be stopped’.
Norman added: “No matter what obstacles the PGA Tour puts in our way, we will not be stopped. We will continue to give players options that promote the great game of golf globally.”
