PIF has 9 days left to invest in PGA Tour
LIV CEO Norman says “OWGR is not official”
PGA Tour goes on the offensive
As LIV Golf gives up on world rankings, the offensive of the PGA Tour begins.
Last June, the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced its investment plan for the PGA Tour. The deadline for the formal contract from the initial agreement was until December 31 last year.
This deadline has been extended until THE PLAYERS Championship, which takes place from March 14th to March 17th at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, with a total prize of $25 million.
Now, there are only nine days left. LIV Golf will hold its fourth tournament in Hong Kong this week.
Ahead of the tournament, Commissioner and CEO Greg Norman sent a message to the players regarding the withdrawal of LIV Golf from the Men’s Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).
LIV Golf, which started in June 2022, applied for the OWGR one month later during the 150th The Open Championship held at St. Andrews Old Course in Scotland.
The response came in October last year, stating that the application was rejected for failing to meet the criteria.
LIV Golf plays without a cut in a shotgun format for three days (54 holes). Recently, it has increased from 12 teams (48 players) to 13 teams (52 players). Wildcards have also been added.
LIV Golf also held promotions after the rejection. This was due to a lack of routes to LIV Golf.
CEO Norman told the players, “For several years, the achievements of LIV Golf players have not been recognized. The OWGR cannot be an ‘official’ ranking system.”
Players who transferred to LIV Golf saw their rankings plummet as they did not receive OWGR points. The possibility of participating in major tournaments became slim as they fell out of the top 50.
The players who were able to participate were major winners or invited players like Joaquin Niemann. Niemann was recently invited to the PGA Championship and the Masters Tournament after securing two wins in LIV Golf.
The Board of Directors of the OWGR consists of eight people. Chairman Peter Dawson, Executive Director Will Jones of Augusta National Golf Club, CEO Keith Pelley of DP World Tour, CEO Seth Waugh of the PGA of America, Commissioner Jay Monahan of the PGA Tour, CEO Martin Slumbers of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club (R&A), CEO Mike Whan of the United States Golf Association (USGA), and Keith Waters, who is in charge of the International Federation of PGA Tours.
There is one chairman, three PGA Tour officials, and four major hosting and organizing bodies.
The Asian Tour and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Tour, which are affiliated with LIV Golf, were not included in the board.
The withdrawal from the OWGR was a signal for an escalation of war.
On this day, Tiger Woods participated in the Seminole Pro-Member, an event competition. It was his first appearance since withdrawing from the Genesis Invitational last month due to the flu. Key figures attended the tournament. Woods rounded with Waugh, a member of the OWGR board, on this day, and nearly recorded an albatross, demonstrating his robust playing ability.
Brandel Chamblee, a PGA Tour official, targeted Saudi Arabia and the recently returned Anthony Kim.
Chamblee claimed on his social media X (formerly Twitter), “Anthony Kim did not return because of competition. He received millions of dollars for helping to launder the murderous reputation of a dictator. However, his return will be called a success.”
In retaliation, the PGA Tour is hosting the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by Mastercard this week at the Arnold Palmers Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, Florida. As a signature event, the total prize is $20 million.
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