Unlike Bryson DeChambeau, who recently said he wasn’t tempted by LIV Golf before making the jump to the Saudi-backed tour this week, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan kept his word.
Monahan skipped all the pointless fines and did what he had to do:
Protect his tour and substantiate his talk from the past few months.
Monahan sent a memo on Thursday to those who “have decided to turn their backs on the PGA Tour,” saying they have been “suspended or otherwise ineligible to participate in PGA Tour tournaments, including the Presidents Cup.” .”
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So in addition to those who were proactive and canceled all of their tour membership—Jupiter’s Dustin Johnson, Palm Beach Gardens’ Charl Schwartzel, Sergio Garcia, and others—Monahan banned defectors like Phil Mickelson, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, and Jupiter’s Peter Uihlein.
DeChambeau and Patrick Reed, who announced their plans this week, are expected to play in LIV’s next event from June 30 to July 2 in Portland, Oregon.
Monahan’s memo came as the first event of the LIV Golf Invitational Series, which is funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which kicked off Thursday in London.
Monahan’s decision is supported by two of the biggest names in the sport, Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy, both from Jupiter.
Speaking at the Canadian Open, Thomas said he is “satisfied” and that anyone “shocked” by the ban has not listened to Monahan’s message. McIlroy added: “I think the majority of members who are here this week and haven’t played anywhere else really appreciate that. So I think he did the right thing.”
None of this should come as a surprise to those who are chasing the money. Every player, from Mickelson, who is reportedly receiving a $200 million signing bonus, to the golfer who finishes last in London this week and receives $120,000, knew that joining LIV would mean the consequences and blow to their reputation. would face.
They just decided money is more important.
The Monahan ban also applies to all tours approved by the PGA Tour: Korn Ferry, Tour Champions, Tour Canada and Tour Latinoamerica. Chase Koepka of West Palm Beach joined LIV after being banned from the PGA Tour for six years. Koepka has made $8,500 this year playing 11 events on the Canada, Korn Ferry and Latinoamerica tours.
For those like Koepka and other struggling golfers who have joined LIV, the money robbery outweighs the fallout and eventual impact on a career that is completely unremarkable.
For the likes of Thomas and McIlroy and many others, including Chase’s more successful brother Brooks, their loyalty to the PGA Tour outweighs LIV’s financial gain.
And for many, those conversations with financial advisors, sponsors and agents must have been intense. One of them, Rickie Fowler of Jupiter, refuses to close the door when he joins LIV.
Fowler, 33, looks like a prime candidate to join LIV as his game has fallen off a cliff in recent years. He hasn’t won a tournament in the last three years with one top three finish in that time, missing nearly 40% of cuts.
Fowler’s world ranking of 145 is as low as it has been in about twelve years. He is an alternate for next week’s US Open – in which LIV tour golfers can participate – and fails to qualify for the second year in a row.
On Monday, Fowler reiterated his desire to continue playing on the PGA Tour, but did not rule out joining LIV.
“My plans now are to continue playing the PGA Tour,” he told the Golf Channel. “But I also think competition is a good thing, always has been. LIV is certainly interesting and intriguing and worth looking at. But no, I haven’t made any decisions about that and it will be interesting to watch.” see how of how everything continues to play.”
Fowler, like Mickelson, DJ, Garcia and a handful of others, must also weigh the ramifications of sponsors. Fowler has had strong relationships with the likes of Rocket Mortgage and Farmers Insurance, and it’s likely that he’s made more money from sponsors than the $41 million he’s made on the course.
Fowler would be a nice addition to LIV as his popularity has endured the decline in his game thus far. But for Fowler, who is still cashing sizable checks, would it be worth the kickback?
How to watch LIV Golf Invitational
Where: Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, Portland, Oregon
When: Thursday-Saturday (54 holes)
TV: LIV Golf has no broadcast deals. Stream on LIVGolf.com† LIV Golf’s YouTube Channel and LIV Golf’s Facebook page†
Tom D’Angelo is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post† You can reach him at [email protected]†
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: PGA Tour Commissioner Suspends LIV Golfers. And Rickie Fowler?