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The exodus of PGA Tour star players continued Wednesday with Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Reed preparing to join the LIV Golf series.
By James Corrigan of the TelegraphDeChambeau and Reed have agreed “multimillion-dollar deals” to abandon the PGA Tour in favor of the Saudi-funded event.
At least eight players, including DeChambeau and Reed, have resigned from their PGA Tour membership to join LIV Golf.
Dustin Johnson, Kevin Na, Sergio Garcia, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel and Branden Grace previously announced they were moving away from the PGA Tour.
Phil Mickelson has also announced that he will be playing LIV, but maintains his PGA Tour membership card.
Corrigan noted that it is “understood” that Rickie Fowler is also “close to being confirmed” for the LIV tour.
By Dan Report Golf Digestplayers preemptively resign from the PGA Tour to join LIV to avoid possible PGA discipline.
“It’s to avoid any kind of sanction,” an agent told Rapaport. “It’s a perceived leverage game. Basically, you can’t fire me if i give up. “
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said in a statement that members “have not been allowed to take part in the London event of the Saudi Golf League” and would be subject to “disciplinary action” for violating the rules. of the tournament.
There has been no official confirmation of how much money is being paid to players to participate in LIV Golf, but Brentley Romine of Golf Channel reported that Mickelson’s contract with the series is worth about $ 200 million.
An issue that has not been clarified is whether LIV players can participate in golf majors that are not operated by the PGA Tour.
The U.S. Golf Association says LIV golfers can compete at the U.S. Open, which begins June 16.
LIV will hold its first event at the Centurion Club in London, starting on Thursday.