Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson and other members of the PGA Tour, who competed in the Saudi-funded golf league on Thursday, are no longer eligible for PGA Tour events with penalties Commissioner Jay Monahan shared shortly after the first hit.
It remains to be seen whether these players will ever be welcome.
The ban includes participation in the President’s Cup, which will feature the South African trio of Louis Osthuisen, Charles Schwarzel and Brandon Grace.
The USGA has already said eligible players can still compete in the US Open next week. PGA Tour does not manage specialties.
In a note to tour members, Monahan said that even if players canceled the tour before the first LIV Golf Invitational outside London, they would not be allowed to play PGA Tour events as non-members, receiving a sponsor’s waiver.
Nine players have dropped out of the PGA Tour, a list that includes Johnson and Sergio Garcia. Mickelson, who won a lifetime membership with his 45 PGA Tour titles, is not.
“These players made their choice for their own financial reasons,” Monahan wrote. “But they may not require the same benefits, considerations, opportunities and platform for PGA Tour membership as you. The expectation does not respect you, our fans and partners. “
The point is that players compete without releasing a controversial event from the PGA Tour. Players typically receive three such editions a year, but Monahan has denied LIV Golf Invitational editions, as it is a series of eight tournaments that have five events in the United States.
The tour does not allow editions for events in North America.
“We followed the rules of the tournament from start to finish to respond to those players who decided to turn their backs on the PGA Tour by intentionally breaking the rules,” he wrote.
The 17 removed players are:
Sergio Garcia Talor Guch Brandon Grace Dustin Johnson Matt Jones Martin Cimer Graham McDowell Phil Michaelson Kevin Andy Oglutrie Lewis Osthuisen Türk Petitie Ian Poulter Charles Schwarzell Hudson Swidney Swiftford Peter
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