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PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan sent a letter to members not
long after play in the lucrative breakaway series began outside
London to address the 17 golfers who he said "decided to turn
their backs" on the U.S.-based circuit.
"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," Monahan wrote. "That expectation disrespects you, our
fans and our partners.
"You have made a different choice, which is to abide by the
Tournament Regulations you agreed to when you accomplished the
dream of earning a PGA Tour card and – more importantly – to
compete as part of the preeminent organization in the world of
professional golf."
Mickelson, who counts six major championships among his 45 PGA
Tour wins, former world number one Dustin Johnson and 2017
Masters winner Sergio Garcia are among the higher-profile
golfers in the 48-player field at Centurion Club this week.
According to the memo, players who join the LIV series that
threatens to blow apart men's professional golf, are no longer
eligible to participate in PGA Tour events, including the
Presidents Cup and all other tours sanctioned by the circuit.
Even if players resigned from the tour ahead of the first LIV
Golf event, as Johnson announced this week, they will not be
permitted to play as a non-member via a sponsor exemption or any
other eligibility category.
Both the PGA Tour and DP World Tour had declined requests from
members who had asked for releases to compete at Centurion where
$25 million is up for grabs, including $4 million for the
winner.
'VINDICTIVE' DECISION
Players who decided to take part in the inaugural LIV Golf have
faced plenty of criticism given the alleged human rights abuses
by the Saudi Arabian government.
The PGA Tour's decision triggered a quick and scathing response
from LIV Golf, which is bankrolled by Saudi Arabia's Public
Investment Fund and has lured players over with a $255 million
purse spread over eight events this year.
"Today's announcement by the PGA Tour is vindictive and it
deepens the divide between the Tour and its members," LIV Golf
said in a statement.
"It's troubling that the Tour, an organization dedicated to
creating opportunities for golfers to play the game, is the
entity blocking golfers from playing.
"This certainly is not the last word on this topic. The era of
free agency is beginning as we are proud to have a full field of
players joining us in London, and beyond."
Monahan did not say how long the suspensions, which also impact
former major winners Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Charl
Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen, would be in place.
"What's next? Can these players come back?," wrote Monahan.
"Trust that we're prepared to deal with those questions, and
we'll approach them in the same way we have this entire process:
by being transparent and respecting the PGA Tour regulations
that you helped establish."
The decision by the PGA Tour, which does not run golf's four
majors, came after the United States Golf Association said it
would allow LIV golfers to play in next week's U.S. Open if they
are exempt or had already qualified.
The Royal and Ancient, which runs the British Open, said it was
not planning to comment on entry conditions until after the U.S.
Open while organisers of next May's PGA Championship said it
would be premature to speculate.
Organisers of the Masters, traditionally held in April, did not
respond when asked if they were evaluating entry conditions for
the year's first major.
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Jon Boyle,
Toby Davis and Ed Osmond)
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