The controversial Saudi-backed golf series is set to unveil the 'marquee names' who have signed up for the tour.
The venture is the brainchild of the legendary Greg Norman, but has proved divisive with the game's top stars having been offered huge sums to leave the PGA or European Tour. Thus far, a number of leading players have rejected offers, with Rory McIlroy already labelling it 'dead in the water.'
The likes of Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau have also confirmed they won't be signing up, while Henrik Stenson quashed rumours of joining be taking the Ryder Cup captaincy for Team Europe. Former world No 1 Jon Rahm has also refused to embrace the concept, officially titled the LIV Golf Invitational Series.
Six-time major winner Phil Mickleson however, took aim at the PGA Tour for threatening to ban players from the major tournaments if they signed up. The 51-year-old then caused further furore by labelling the Saudi government "scary motherf*****s" in what appeared a scattergun attack on both sides.
Following a backlash to his comments, Mickleson has now taken an indefinite break from golf. He didn't play at the Masters last week and seemingly wasn't invited to the traditional champions dinner.
However, the likes of Bubba Watson, Ian Poulter, and Lee Westwood are continued to be linked with the $225m tour. And according to reports, the big names to have signed will soon be revealed.
Despite outside criticism, Norman has remained defiant ahead of the first event of the series at the Centurion Club in St Albans in June. A 28-man field will compete for a $25m purse, with both individual and team rewards on offer.
“We've respected the Masters and let it go off, but now our journey is finally coming to fruition - for the players not for me,” he told the Daily Telegraph. “Their rightful place to have what they want. That's why they are still very, very, very interested.
"We have players signed, contrary to the white noise you're hearing out there. The interest level we’ve had, well, I had a player who's won a couple of major championships sitting in my very office here 48 hours ago."
However, 'The Great White Shark' insisted things would be going ahead regardless of who signed up: "Quite honestly, it doesn't matter who plays, we're going to put the event on," he said.
"There's a $4 million first prize. I hope a kid who’s 350th in the world wins. It’ll change his life, his family’s life. And then a few of our events will go by and the top players will see someone winning $6m, $8m, and say ‘enough is enough, I know I can beat these guys week in week out with my hands tied behind my back’."
Norman, 67, has become renowned for his business ventures since retiring from golf. In his playing days, he spent 331 weeks as the world No 1 and won 89 professional tournaments, including two Open Championships.
