PGA Tour declines release to players looking to compete in London’s inaugural LIV event next month, according to memo
The PGA Tour declined the release to players who wanted to play in the first event of the Saudi Arabia-sponsored LIV Golf Invitational Series, according to a memo obtained by ESPN.
The first tournament, which will take place in London from June 9-11, coincides with the PGA Tour’s RBC Canadian Open that week. As a result, PGA Tour players will have to get permission to leave the tour to compete in the LIV.
The expectation was that the PGA Tour would issue releases to players, similar to the releases it has given out for other international events, but that will not happen, as the tour has announced. to its players via a memo on Tuesday.
“We have informed those who have registered that their request has been denied in accordance with the PGA Tournament Rules. As a result, Tournament members are not allowed to participate in the Golf Federation event. Saudi Arabia by our rules ”,” the memo read. “As a member organization, we believe this decision is in the best interest of the PGA Tour and its players.”
In response, LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman issued a statement to multiple media outlets, calling the tour’s decision “anti-golfers, fans and anti-competition.”
“Sadly, the PGA Tour appears intent on denying professional golfers the right to play, unless it takes place exclusively during a PGA Tour tournament,” he said as part of the statement.
“But no matter what obstacles the PGA Tour poses, we will not be stopped. We will continue to provide players with options to promote great golf globally. “
Norman told ESPN last week that he has signed up players willing to challenge the PGA Tour position in court.
“I can only speak to the information provided to me by our legal team and I have an extremely talented legal team in antitrust and anticompetitive law and we believe we are in the right place”. “We believe that the players are independent contractors and have the right to go anywhere they want.”
The eight-event LIV series will feature four tournaments taking place in the United States. It will include seven regular-season events and a team championship playoff final at Trump Doral in Miami from October 28-30.
Saudi Arabia’s second event is scheduled for July 1-3 at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in Portland, Oregon. May 17 is the deadline to request a withdrawal from the tour for that event.
It is anticipated that releases may be issued for events abroad, but not for tournaments in the US.
“Portland can be a fun beach for players and people who want to come and play,” Norman said last week. “But regardless, it will happen. Portland will happen. Same thing with Trump Bedminster, International, Rich Harvest Farms and Trump Doral. All will happen.”
Phil Mickelson His longtime agent, Steve Loy of Sportfive, said last month he was among a number of players who had sought a departure to play during the London event. Longtime PGA Tour member Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia have also confirmed that they claim a release from the tour.
Norman told ESPN last week that more than 200 players had signed up for the first event, including about 15 of the top 100 in the Official World Golf Rankings.
Norman said he tried to work with the PGA Tour, but Monahan was unwilling to do so.
“For the PGA Tour to say we’re a breakaway league is completely wrong,” Norman said. “We are not a tourist breakaway, we are an additive to the ecosystem of the game of golf. To bring this aversion against me [is wrong]. It also applies to other organizations. Just because I am so lucky and lucky enough to be the CEO of this opportunity to develop the game of golf, don’t target me for specific things and reasons. This is crazy.”
