The PGA Tour initially confirmed to its players that they would be able to compete at LIV Golf Promotions without the fear of sanctioning, but it appears their may have been a change in policy
PGA Tour officials have reportedly changed their minds on members competing in LIV Golf’s first-ever Qualifying School event at Abu Dhabi Golf Club next month.
LIV Golf Promotions will see a number of hopefuls compete to earn a place with the breakaway league contest in a 72-hole qualifier across three days in December. Following the end of the event the top three finishers from will earn a LIV tour card for 2024.
A number of players from the Asian Tour have committed to competing in the Q-School event in the Middle East, but it remains to be seen whether PGA Tour and DP World Tour members will enter.
Both circuits have taken a zero tolerance approach to the breakaway league, after the PGA Tour opted to suspend any player who teed it up with the rival league. Earlier this month the Tour appeared to softened their stance after given players the green light to take part in the promotion tournament.
However, it seems that Jay Monahan and company have made yet another mistake just a few weeks later. A former major winner and a “multi-time” winner from the PGA Tour are scheduled to compete in the Q-School tournament in early December, according to Monday Q Info.
But it looks like there might be repercussions because the report says that Tour executives are now threatening to suspend players who participate in the competition. A PGA Tour representative first declared that anyone wishing to compete at LIV Promotions would face no consequences.
The statement said, “It is determined to be a qualifying event only and not a part of an unauthorised series, based on the information publicly available regarding the LIV Golf Promotion event.” Thus, the LIV Golf Promotion event does not fall under the category of “unauthorised tournament.”
Regarding a possible u-turn, the PGA Tour did seem to cover their bases by stating that “this classification is subject to change should the details of the event change.” The Tour may be about to lose Jon Rahm, the winner of the Masters, one of its prize assets.
Rahm was reportedly in talks about a possible transfer with the breakaway league, according to Bunkered earlier this week. Although the Spaniard has shown little bias throughout the PGA Tour’s conflict with the LIV format, many would be surprised if Rahm decided to switch after previously criticizing the breakaway league’s 54-hole, no-cut structure.
Rahm is good friends with Phil Mickelson, who last summer joined the LIV setup as perhaps the biggest name. When speaking at the Team Championship in October, Phil Mickelson mentioned that he had heard from players on other tours who were interested in joining LIV Golf.
Players want to be a part of LIV when they see it, he stated in Miami last month. “Everyone in this room is content and loving what we are doing, as well as the collaborative nature of it, each other, and the friendship that accompanies playing golf all over the world and the perks that come with being a part of this tour.
Many players observe that and wish to participate in it. How many spots are available is the question. There are far more players interested in attending than there are available spots.”
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