It came as expected, it was swift and to the point — PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan announced on Thursday that players who defected from the PGA Tour and teed off this morning in the first LIV Series event outside London — have all been suspended.
And it sure sounds like that suspension has no end date.
The memo to all players was issued as the LIV players were finishing their first hole of the day.
“In accordance with the PGA TOUR’s Tournament Regulations, the players competing this week without releases are suspended or otherwise no longer eligible to participate in PGA TOUR tournament play, including the Presidents Cup. This also applies to all tours sanctioned by the PGA TOUR: the Korn Ferry Tour, PGA TOUR Champions, PGA TOUR Canada and PGA TOUR Latinoamérica.
“Their participation in the Saudi Golf League/LIV Golf event is in violation of our Tournament Regulations,” Monahan wrote. “The same fate holds true for any other players who participate in future Saudi Golf League events in violation of our Regulations.”
Also in accordance with PGA TOUR Tournament Regulations, the players who have resigned their membership will be removed from the FedExCup Points List when the official statistics following the RBC Canadian Open are posted on Sunday evening. These players will not be permitted to play in PGA TOUR tournaments as a non-member via a sponsor exemption or any other eligibility category. The memo included an additional commitment that the TOUR’s current membership will not be negatively impacted – in the way of Priority Rankings, tournament eligibility or eligibility to compete in the FedExCup Playoffs – by those suspended members who have yet to resign.
“These players have made their choice for their own financial-based reasons, 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.”
Players named in the suspension memo were: Sergio Garcia, Talor Gooch, Branden Grace, Dustin Johnson, Matt Jones, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Phil Mickelson, Kevin Na, Andy Ogletree, Louis Oosthuizen, Turk Pettit, Ian Poulter, Charl Schwartzel, Hudson Swafford, Peter Uihlein and Lee Westwood. Garcia, McDowell, Kaymer, Grace, Na, Oosthuizen, Pettit, Schwartzel, Westwood and Johnson all resigned as Tour members prior to the LIV event in London.
The common theme for those who left the Tour is that it was for the massive amounts of money offered by the LIV Series.
Rory McIlroy, who has steadily become the voice of PGA Tour players, gave his take on Wednesday, prior to the announcement of the suspensions:
“Any decision that you make in your life that’s purely for money usually doesn’t end up going the right way. Obviously, money is a deciding factor in a lot of things in this world, but if it’s purely for money, it never seems to go the way you want it to.”
McIlroy added: “It’s a weird time in professional golf, and we’re just going to have to see how this season plays out and if any other guys decide to go another direction than the established tours and see what the consequences are,” he said. “I can only speak personally, but it’s not something that I envision ever doing. I’m happy playing the PGA Tour, and I have a nice schedule that I can pick for myself. I can spend a lot of time at home with my family if I want to, prioritize the majors, and there’s nothing about my schedule or my life or my earnings or anything that I would change.”
Rory Opens With 66, Trails Wyndham Clark By Three:
Rory McIlroy waited three years to defend his Canadian Open title and he got to work at St. George’s Thursday with a four-under par 66 that left him three shots behind first round leader Wndham Clark, whose seven-birdie effort was good for 63.
Matt Fitzpatrick was a shot back of Clark with a 64 while Doug Ghim’s 65 put him by himself at five-under par.
The rough was a factor as the course setup gave players a chance to prepare for the type of conditions they’ll face next week at the U.S. Open, fairways were a must. Scottie Scheffler missed too many and his bogey-bogey finish thanks to errant tee shots left him at one-under (69) for his first round.
Justin Thomas joined Scheffler at one-under while the other top 10 guy — Cam Smith, had a brutal first day and finished with 76 and in danger of missing the weekend.
6 Comments
baxter cepeda
I guess We don’t need to make time to watch the Presidents cup this year. At least it might be competitive but without so many stars, it become even more of an exhibition.
Like some Indiana Jones scene, Tom, The pga tour is crumbling under your new boo Monahan, Tom.
Tom Edrington
Baxter: I don’t think the PGA Tour is crumbling in anyone’s eyes but yours and Greg Norman’s. Wait until I publish the sheets of “answers” players were given so they could respond in a manner the Saudis wanted them answered!!! Can’t wait til this comes to American soil when the writes descend and rip this apart for what it is….
baxter cepeda
While you are at it please publish the pga tours policy on what players can and cannot say about them.
Everyone on the socials seem to think so about the pga tour being in huge trouble. The only people that don’t think the pga tour is crumbling is the reporters whom are or have been too close to the pga tour to see it.
Tom Edrington
Baxter, the LIV is nothing more than an “exhibition”…..you probably don’t recall when the PGA Tour was sued in court, the plantiffs bringing complaint that the Senior Tour was exclusionary and a closed shop……under oath, then Tour commish testified and terms the Senior circuit an “exhibition” rather than an actual competition.
baxter cepeda
A 4$ million dollar check to the winner exhibition. Lol. Sure doesn’t feel like one.
Tom Edrington
The field feels like a joke, Schwartzel needs the 4 mil…..can’t break an egg on Tour anymore