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Phil Mickelson defended and explained his decision to join LIV Golf at a long and sometimes awkward press conference for the six-time grand champion.
Phil Mickelson defended and explained his decision to join LIV Golf at a long and sometimes awkward press conference for the six-time grand champion.
After months of speculation and transitions between the LIV Golf and the PGA Tour, the new Saudi-backed series is set to begin on the outskirts of London on Thursday. Here’s everything you need to know about who’s participating, what the format is and why the new league is so controversial …
Who will play?
The event is not recognized by the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), which means that no points will be offered for the world rankings during the tournament, although this did not prevent a number of famous names from agreeing to play at the Centurion Club.
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Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood declined to answer questions about whether there would be a place where they would not play at the LIV Golf Press Conference.
Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood declined to answer questions about whether there would be a place where they would not play at the LIV Golf Press Conference.
Former world number one Dustin Johnson and Ryder Cup legends Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood were among the most notable names to take part, with major champions Martin Kaimer, Graham McDowell and Louis Osthuisen. Phil Mickelson was added to the list on Monday night after months of controversy over comments he made about the breakaway series.
Former British Masters champion Richard Bland and PGA Tour veteran Kevin Na also signed up, while current US amateur winner James Payot is among the young players to play in England.
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Dustin Johnson, Graham McDowell and Louis Osthuisen had to ask difficult questions at the press conference for the opening event of the LIV tour.
Dustin Johnson, Graham McDowell and Louis Osthuisen had to ask difficult questions at the press conference for the opening event of the LIV tour.
About 42 players were initially named on the pitch for the inaugural event, with five more added after Sunday’s Asian Tour at Slaley Hall.
How did the idea come about?
The reports first began to appear for the competitive league of PGA Tour in 2019, but only at the end of 2021 the proposal really began to take shape with the formation of LIV Golf Investments.
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Dustin Johnson has confirmed his resignation from the PGA Tour to compete in the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series.
Dustin Johnson has confirmed his resignation from the PGA Tour to compete in the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series.
The new company, with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) – owners of Newcastle United – as the majority shareholder, made an initial commitment of $ 200 million for the Asian tour, later increased to $ 300 million and renamed the former world number 1 and Open champion Greg Norman as its CEO.
In March, although the PGA Tour threatened to hand out lifelong bans to players deviating from a rival league, LIV Golf announced a schedule for a series of invitations from eight events, $ 225 million, starting at the Centurion Club in St. Albans on Thursday.
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Author and golf journalist Alan Shipnuk explains how the Saudi Golf League can change golf as we know it and how it threatens the PGA tour.
Author and golf journalist Alan Shipnuk explains how the Saudi Golf League can change golf as we know it and how it threatens the PGA tour.
LIV is the Roman numeral for 54, which is the number of holes to be played in each event. It also refers to the lowest score that a player can shoot if they upload every hole on the par-72 court.
Why is it so controversial?
Due to PIF’s ties to the Saudi government, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as chairman, LIV Golf faces charges of sports laundry.
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Greg Norman told Jamie Weir of Sky Sports News that LIV Golf Investments is independent and will not be accountable to the Saudi government or Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.
Greg Norman told Jamie Weir of Sky Sports News that LIV Golf Investments is independent and will not be accountable to the Saudi government or Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.
Norman flatly denied such allegations, telling Sky Sports in May that Saudi Arabia was “changing its culture within its country” and insisting that I did not respond to Saudi Arabia. I do not answer to their government or MBS. “
Comments from Mickelson’s interview with author Alan Shipnook, who is writing an unauthorized biography of the six-time big winner, came to light in February, in which the 51-year-old questioned the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia and called the regime “terrible.”
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Paul McGinley says Dustin Johnson’s decision to take part in the opening event of the LIV Golf Invitational Series, backed by Saudi Arabia, could be a “historic moment in the game”.
Paul McGinley says Dustin Johnson’s decision to take part in the opening event of the LIV Golf Invitational Series, backed by Saudi Arabia, could be a “historic moment in the game”.
Mickelson has since apologized for his “reckless” comments.
What is the format?
All 48 players compete against each other in the traditional strike format, with the lowest total of 54 holes from the uncut event being the winner, while the draft will help distribute the players in the team format.
Each team will have a team captain appointed by the LIV, who will select their three open team positions using a snake format similar to that used on the European women’s tour of the Aramco team series.
For the first two rounds, the best results in the two-stroke game will be considered for each team. The best three results will be considered for the third and last round, as the lowest overall result of the team after 54 holes is determined as the team winner.
The format is changing in the team championship, which is a four-day, four-round, elimination tournament with matches. The first four teams automatically get bye in the first round, with the other eight teams playing against each other to see who will reach the quarterfinals.
Names of teams and captains
The captains are in bold, the field of 48 people is divided into 12 teams
4 ASA – Dustin Johnson, Sean Norris, Oliver Becker, Kevin Yuan
HY FLYERS – Phil Mickelson, Justin Harding, TK Chantananuwat (a), Chase Koepka
PUNCH – Wade Ormsby, Matt Jones, Ryosuke Kinoshita, Blake Windred
CLEEKS – Martin Cimer, Pablo Larazabal, JC Richie, Ian Snyman
IRON HEADS – Kevin Na, Sadom Kaewkanjana, Hideto Tanihara, Viraj Madappa
SMASH – Sihwan Kim, Scott Vincent, Jinichiro Kozuma, Itthipat Buranatanyarat
KRASHI – Peter Wichline, Richard Bland, Fachara Hongwatmai, Travis Smith
MAJESTICKS – Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Sam Horsfield, Lori Cantor
STINGER – Louis Osthuisen, Henny du Plessis, Charles Schwarzell, Branden Grace
Fireballs – Sergio Garcia, David Puig (a), James Payot (a), Jedi Morgan
NIBLIX – Graham McDowell, Bernd Wisberger, Turk Petit, Oliver Fisher
CURRENT – Talor Guch, Hudson Swaford, Adrian Otegi, Andy Ogultree
How much money will the players earn?
The first seven events have a prize bag of $ 25 million, with $ 20 million split between the 48-member field and the remaining $ 5 million shared between the top three teams at the end of each week.
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