Golf-PGA Tour warns players against signing up for breakaway tour -
reports
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[May 05, 2021]
(Reuters) -The PGA Tour has
threatened the world's leading golfers with instant suspension and a
lifetime ban if they join a proposed breakaway world tour promising
multi-million dollar deals, Britain's Daily Telegraph and other
media outlets reported.
The controversy echoes last month's unsuccessful attempt by 12
European soccer clubs to create a breakaway European Super League,
prompting a backlash from fans, players and politicians.
The Telegraph said players have been offered contracts of between
$30 million-$100 million to take part, but that the PGA had warned
of severe consequences during a meeting ahead of the Wells Fargo
Championship.
"PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monagan on Tuesday night warned the
would-be rebels that they face an instant suspension and a lifetime
ban. The mandatory players meeting here at Quail Hollow fell silent
as the audience took in the seismic consequences," the Telegraph
said.
The PGA Tour did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for
comment.
European Tour Chief Executive Keith Pelley said that the
organisation was aligned with the PGA Tour in "opposing, in the
strongest possible terms" any proposal for an alternative golf
league, in the interests of players and fans.
"Since the launch of our strategic alliance last November, our two
organisations have been working together to make global golf less
fractured and not create further division," he said.
The British-based World Golf Group had publicly unveiled its plan in
2020 for a new global tour - the Premier Golf League (PGL) -
comprising 18 yearly events featuring 48 players. Each tournament
would have prize money of $10 million.
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General view of the silhouette of
Denmark's Joachim Hansen in action during the final round Action
Images via Reuters/Paul Childs/File Photo
The PGL had said it wanted to work with established tours rather
than as a breakaway circuit, but the PGA and European Tours were
dismissive about the circuit which had planned to launch in 2022.
Former world No. 1, Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, had also
rejected the idea, saying he wanted autonomy over his career
choices.
But media reports said the latest attempt at a breakaway tour -
recast as the Super Golf League - was backed by Saudi money and a
team of negotiators have set up camp in South Florida where several
top golf players reside.
The Telegraph said the Saudi team believes the PGA Tour cannot expel
members and faces a legal battle if they do. It was unclear who or
which groups in Saudi Arabia might be involved.
(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru;Editing by Andrew
Cawthorne and Estelle Shirbon)
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