The most lucrative golf tournament in history got under way this afternoon as golf began a new ‘fractured’ era which was quickly followed by the PGA Tour suspending their players who started the event.
The Saudi Arabian-backed breakaway series has divided the sport’s players and led to accusation of sportswashing as a basis behind the tournament.
As LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman watched on, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Scott Vincent teed off on the opening hole in the first $25 million Invitational Series event at Centurion Club.
It is a tournament which has thrown the world of men’s professional golf into turmoil, with Johnson resigning from the PGA Tour to take part and Mickelson committing at the last minute for a fee reported to be $200 million.
All 48 players in the field teed off at the same time in a “shotgun start”, the 16 groups of three spread around the course in Hertfordshire.
Critics say the series, bankrolled by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) amounts to blatant ‘sportswashing by a nation trying to improve its reputation in light of human rights concerns.
The players signed up have hardly disguised the attraction of the riches up for grabs with Ireland’s Graeme McDowell saying he would have been crazy to turn it down.
The PGA Tour and the Europe-based DP World Tour have declined requests from members for releases to compete at Centurion where finishing last guarantees a cheque of $120,000.
Thirty minutes after play got under way, the PGA Tour sent a memo to all members informing them that the players competing at Centurion were being suspended.
“In accordance with the PGA Tour’s Tournament Regulations, the players competing this week without releases are suspended or otherwise no longer eligible to participate in PGA Tour tournament play, including the Presidents Cup,” the statement from PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan read.
“This also applies to all tours sanctioned by the PGA Tour: the Korn Ferry Tour, PGA Tour Champions, PGA Tour Canada and PGA Tour Latinoamerica.
“Their participation in the Saudi Golf League/LIV Golf event is in violation of our Tournament Regulations.
“The same fate holds true for any other players who participate in future Saudi Golf League events in violation of our Regulations.”
American and European players taking part also risk sacrificing Ryder Cup ambitions.
“We all know why everyone’s playing in London this week,” former world number one Rory McIlroy, who has shunned the LIV Series, said on the eve of the Canadian Open which is taking place at the same time.
“It’s boatloads of cash and it’s money up front.”
The LIV Series opener’s super-sized prize money dwarfs the $8.7million on offer at the Canadian Open.
But the field is nowhere near as strong, despite the presence of six-time major champion Phil Mickelson, former world number one Dustin Johnson, European Ryder Cup stalwarts Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood and former British Open winner Louis Oosthuizen.
Twice major champion Johnson, who initially said he was loyal to the PGA Tour, upped the ante on Tuesday when he confirmed he had resigned from the PGA Tour, a move also made by joining American Kevin Na and Spaniard Garcia.
“It’s a new chapter for golf,” Johnson, playing alongside Mickelson, said on the first tee. “I can’t wait to get started.”
Players arrived at their allotted tees in a fleet of London black taxis.
The 12 teams of four, with names such as Stinger, Majestic and Crushers, were selected by 12 captains at a glitzy “draft party” on Tuesday.
The novelty value of the tournament attracted large crowds to the course near St Albans, with fans who paid €80 for a ground pass, welcomed by swish branding such as “Don’t Blink” in reference to the quick-style format.
A fly-past of vintage planes heralded the start and daily music concerts will help “super-charge” the fan experience, according to organisers.
The event is being streamed for free with 60,000 watching live on average this afternoon.
After London, the LIV Series has four events in the United States, one in Thailand, one in Saudi Arabia before a team finale at Donald Trump’s Doral course in Miami.
