As soon as the balls went up in the air at the first event of the LIV Golf Series, the PGA Tour announced indefinite bans on those of their membership – including Phil Mickelson – who participate in the Centurion Club.
In a letter to PGA Tour members, Commissioner Jay Monahan listed 17 golfers who are not eligible to compete in upcoming competitions. Among them are Sergio Garcia, Dustin Johnson, Brandon Grace, Martin Cimer, Graham McDowell, Kevin Na, Louis Osthuisen, Charles Schwarzell and Lee Westwood, who resigned from the PGA Tour. Others, including life member Mickelson, did not.
“These players made their choice for their own financial reasons,” Monahan said. “But they may not require the same benefits, considerations, opportunities and platform for PGA Tour membership as you. This expectation does not respect you, our fans and partners.
“You made a different choice, which is to follow the rules of the tournament that you agreed to when you fulfilled your dream of winning a PGA Tour card and – more importantly – to compete as part of the leading organization in the world of professional golf.”
The letter does not mention Bryson Deschambo or Patrick Reed, who were prompted to join the LIV scene. The suspicion remains that Mickelson has already served his sentence after comments related to the PGA Tour were published in February. Speaking before the LIV tournament, the six-time big winner said he did not feel compelled to retire from the PGA Tour.
Those who are suspended or have left will not be able to play in the PGA Tour – or its co-sanctioned tours – even at the invitation of sponsors. Monahan added: “You probably have more questions. What next? Can these players return? Can they end up playing PGA Tour Champions? Believe that we are ready to deal with these issues and will approach them in the same way we have this whole process: by being transparent and complying with the provisions of the PGA Tour, which you helped to establish.
Works of art in the fan village. Photo: Tom Jenkins / Guardian
“I am sure that our fans and partners – who are certainly tired of all this talk about money, money and more money – will continue to have fun and be forced by the world-class race you show every week, where there are real consequences for every shot you make and your worthy place in history when you reach the circle of this elusive winner. ”
In an immediate response, the LIV Golf statement said: “Today’s announcement of the PGA Tour is vindictive and deepens the division between the Tour and its members. It is worrying that the Tour, an organization dedicated to creating opportunities for golfers to play the game, is the entity that blocks the game of golfers. This is certainly not the last word on this topic. The era of free agencies is beginning, as we are proud to have a full field of players joining us in London and beyond. ”
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