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Phil Mickelson has defended and explained his decision to join LIV Golf in a long and sometimes awkward press conference for the six-time major champion.
Phil Mickelson has defended and explained his decision to join LIV Golf in a long and sometimes awkward press conference for the six-time major champion.
After months of speculation and back and forth between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour, the new series with the support of Saudi Arabia will begin on the outskirts of London on Thursday. Here’s everything you need to know about who is participating, what the format is and why the new league has been so controversial …
Who will play?
The event is not being recognized by the Official Golf World Ranking (OWGR), which means that no world ranking points will be offered during the tournament, although this has not prevented several high profile names from agreeing to play. at the Centurion Club.
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Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood refuse to answer questions about whether there is a place where they would not play at the LIV Golf Press Conference.
Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood refuse to answer questions about whether there is 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 top names to commit, with top champions Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell and Louis Oosthuizen. Phil Mickelson was added to the list on Monday evening after months of controversy over his comments on the separatist series.
Former British Masters champion Richard Bland and PGA Tour veteran Kevin Na also signed up, while the winner of the American amateur James Piot is one of the young players to appear in England.
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Dustin Johnson, Graeme McDowell and Louis Oosthuizen had to answer difficult questions at the press conference of the inaugural event of the LIV tour.
Dustin Johnson, Graeme McDowell and Louis Oosthuizen had to answer difficult questions at the press conference of the inaugural event of the LIV tour.
About 42 players were initially nominated on the field for the opening event, with five more added after the Asian Tour event at Slaley Hall on Sunday.
How did the idea come about?
Reports from a rival PGA Tour league began to appear in 2019, but it was not until the end of 2021 that the proposal 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 LIV Golf Invitational Series, backed by Saudi Arabia.
Dustin Johnson has confirmed his resignation from the PGA Tour to compete in the LIV Golf Invitational Series, backed by Saudi Arabia.
This new entity, with the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia, owners of Newcastle United, as the majority shareholder, made an initial commitment of $ 200 million with the Asian Tour, which later increased to at $ 300 million, and named the former world and Open champion. Greg Norman as general manager.
In March, despite the PGA Tour threatening to impose lifetime penalties on players leaving a rival league, LIV Golf announced the schedule for a series of eight-event, $ 225 million invitations that will begin Thursday at the Centurion St Albans Club.
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Golf author and journalist Alan Shipnuck explains how the Saudi Golf League can change golf as we know it and how it threatens the PGA Tour.
Golf author and journalist Alan Shipnuck 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 of 54, which is the number of holes to be played in each event. It also refers to the lowest score a player can shoot if they make birds in every hole in a par-72 field.
Why is it so controversial?
Due to the PIF’s links with the Saudi government, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as president, LIV Golf has faced allegations of sports laundering.
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Greg Norman told Sky Sports News’ Jamie Weir that LIV Golf Investments is independent and will not answer to the Saudi government or Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.
Greg Norman told Sky Sports News’ Jamie Weir that LIV Golf Investments is independent and will not answer to the Saudi government or Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.
Norman has flatly denied the allegations, telling Sky Sports in May that Saudi Arabia is “changing its culture within its own country” and insisting that “it is not responding to Saudi Arabia. I am not responding to its government or MBS.” .
Comments on an interview by Mickelson with author Alan Shipnuck, who is writing an unauthorized biography of the six-time big winner, came to light in February, in which the 51-year-old questioned his rights record. human beings from Saudi Arabia and described the regime as “fearful”.
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Paul McGinley says Dustin Johnson’s decision to participate in the inaugural event of the LIV Golf Invitational Series, backed by Saudi Arabia, could turn out to be a “historic moment in the game.”
Paul McGinley says Dustin Johnson’s decision to participate in the inaugural event of the LIV Golf Invitational Series, backed by Saudi Arabia, could turn out to be a “historic moment in the game.”
Mickelson has since apologized for his “reckless” comments.
What is the format?
The 48 players compete against each other in a traditional punch format, with a total of 54 holes lower in the uncut event as the winner, while a draft will help assign players to the team format.
Each team will have a LIV-designated team captain who will select their three open team positions using a snake draft format, similar to those used on the Ladies European Tour in the Aramco Team Series.
For the first two rounds, the best doubles results will count for each team. For the third and final round, they will have the top three scores, with the team’s lowest overall score after 54 holes being named the winning team.
The format changes to the Team Championship, which is a four-day, four-round, eliminatory tournament. The top four finishers automatically receive a farewell to the first round, with the remaining eight teams playing each other to see who reaches the quarter-finals.
Names of teams and captains
Captains in bold, with the field of 48 people divided into 12 teams
4 ACES – Dustin Johnson, Shaun Norris, Oliver Bekker, Kevin Yuan
HY FLYERS – Phil Mickelson, Justin Harding, TK Chantananuwat (a), Chase Koepka
PUNCH – Wade Ormsby, Matt Jones, Ryosuke Kinoshita, Blake Windred
CLEEKS – Martin Kaymer, Pablo Larrazabal, JC Ritchie, Ian Snyman
IRON HEADS: Kevin Na, Sadom Kaewkanjana, Hideto Tanihara, Viraj Madappa
SMASH – Sihwan Kim, Scott Vincent, Jinichiro Kozuma, Itthipat Buranatanyarat
CRUSHERS – Peter Uihlein, Richard Bland, Phachara Khongwatmai, Travis Smyth
MAJESTICKS – Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Sam Horsfield, Laurie Canter
STINGER – Louis Oosthuizen, Hennie du Plessis, Charl Schwartzel, Branden Grace
FIREBALLS – Sergio Garcia, David Puig (a), James Piot (a), Jediah Morgan
NIBLICKS – Graeme McDowell, Bernd Wiesberger, Turk Pettit, Oliver Fisher
TORQUE – Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford, Adrian Otaegui, Andy Ogletree
How Much Money Will Players Make?
All seven top events have a $ 25 million prize pool, with $ 20 million spread across the 48-person field and the remaining $ 5 million among the top three teams at the end of each week.
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