Phil Mickelson plays on the 18th during Pro-Am at Centurion Club, Hertfordshire, before the LIV Golf Invitational Series.
Steven Paston | Images PA | Getty Images
The PGA Tour has suspended 17 golfers, including major championship winners Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson, who are competing on Thursday at the Saudi-sponsored LIV golf event near London. Suspensions are indefinite.
The players “did not receive the necessary conflicting event and release of media rights, or did not request any release,” according to an internal note from the PGA. The PGA will also suspend future tour players from playing at LIV events, the note, which is scheduled for Thursday, says.
“These players have made their choice for their own financial reasons,” the note says. “But they can’t demand the same benefits, considerations, opportunities and platform for PGA TOUR membership as you.”
Mickelson has been one of the leading recruiters for LIV Golf, which is funded primarily by the Saudi Public Investment Fund. He has not participated in a golf tournament since February. His deal with LIV is worth about $ 200 million.
Greg Norman, another former PGA star, is the CEO of LIV Golf Investments. Norman, Mickelson and others have been quietly aligned with the company despite past human rights abuses by the Saudi government, including its involvement in the assassination of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.
Mickelson did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNBC. Johnson said he had no comment.
LIV Golf in a statement called the decision “vindictive” and said it “deepens the division between the Tour and its members.”
“It’s worrying that the Tour, an organization dedicated to creating opportunities for golfers to play the game, is the entity that prevents golfers from playing. This is certainly not the last word on this subject. “We are proud to have a full field of players to join us in London and beyond,” said the organization.
The LIV event in England is the first of eight scheduled tournaments. Five of them are destined for the United States, including two in courses owned by former President Donald Trump.
Here is the list of players. Asterisks denote players who have already told the PGA to resign their members.
- Sergio Garcia *
- Talor Gooch
- Branden Grace *
- Dustin Johnson *
- Matt Jones
- Martin Kaymer *
- Graeme McDowell *
- Phil Mickelson
- Kevin Na *
- Andy Ogletree
- Louis Oosthuizen *
- Turk Pettit *
- Ian Poulter
- Charl Schwartzel *
- Hudson Swafford
- Peter Uihlein
- Lee Westwood *
This is a developing story. Please check for updates again.