Golf

LIV players give PGA Tour cold shoulder as Saudis plan further expansion

Golfers reluctant to return to PGA Tour competition with LIV expansion on the cards

LIV chief executive Greg Norman talks with Lee Westwood during day one of LIV Golf event at Valderrama. Photograph: Octavio Passos/Getty Images
LIV chief executive Greg Norman talks with Lee Westwood during day one of LIV Golf event at Valderrama. Photograph: Octavio Passos/Getty Images
Ewan Murray at Valderrama
Fri Jun 30 2023 - 20:22

A number of LIV Golf’s leading players have made it clear to Yasir al-Rumayyan, the governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, that they have no interest in returning to regularly compete on the PGA Tour. Al-Rumayyan has made a commitment to those featuring in this week’s $25 million (€23 million) LIV event in Valderrama that it is full steam ahead with plans for 2024.

Al-Rumayyan promised LIV expansion plans during conversations with players on Thursday evening. The sense that LIV will wither on the vine has been comprehensively contradicted by the mood in southern Spain. After a successful tournament in Adelaide this year, LIV is giving strong consideration to a second stop in Australia in 2024. A first visit to Korea is also a serious option.

LIV golfers’ position towards the PGA Tour raises further questions about the validity of the controversial framework agreement that is in place between that organisation, LIV, the DP World Tour and the PIF. A key element of that, which attempts to end golf’s civil war, regards the establishment of a pathway for players to feature on existing tours, which they effectively left to join LIV.

The agreement states: “The PGA Tour and DP World Tour will work cooperatively and in good faith to establish a fair and objective process for any players who wish to reapply for membership after completion of the 2023 season.” The clause also mentions terms of re-entry that are “consistent with each tour’s disciplinary policies.”

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However, the overriding sense here is that LIV members want to remain fully focused on the rebel tour. This will serve as a blow to the PGA Tour, which would hope to enhance fields by allowing LIV golfers to play from next year.

The prospect of meeting disciplinary demands does not appeal and some also remain bruised by the way the PGA Tour dealt with them upon joining LIV in 2022.

Speaking earlier this week Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Sergio García were noticeably cold on the idea of future appearances on the PGA Tour. “I’m definitely not looking to play more golf than I’m playing now, that’s for sure,” said Johnson. LIV for now offers 14 events, with the likes of Johnson, Cameron Smith and Koepka also eligible for all four Majors.

That Al-Rumayyan was in the company of Greg Norman on Thursday has widely been interpreted as a show of support for LIV’s commissioner. Norman, a polarising figure within this sport, has sat in staunch opposition to the PGA Tour for years. Norman has been described as perfectly relaxed during his visit to Valderrama.

A schedule for the PGA Tour’s 2023-24 season is expected imminently. The DP World Tour is likely to follow suit by the end of summer. The feeling that PGA Tour players who refused lucrative offers to join LIV may not be entirely happy with current events was implied by a social media posting shared by a number of them on Thursday. The message referred to players being given time to digest “what is palatable and what is not, after an about-face of tour management policy”.

Johnson’s four-under-par 67 has him tied for the lead after day one here. The two-time Major winner has Jason Kokrak for company. García, the local favourite, managed a round of 70.