The clearly structured golf world has faltered: The controversial new tour LIV Golf Invitational Series wants to compete fiercely with the established events in North America and Europe. The Saudi Arabian-funded series kicks off today in London, where Bernd Wiesberger is also competing, with a new format and causing headaches for those responsible for the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour. It’s about power, prestige and a lot of money.
The LIV series is criticized because of the millions invested from the state on the Persian Gulf. The background is that the country, which has been criticized for human rights violations, is trying to improve its reputation with lucrative sporting events. According to rumours, stars from the USA and Europe have been lured with sometimes up to three-digit million amounts. Top players such as Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy immediately rejected the lucrative offer, with world number one Dustin Johnson giving the go-ahead.
The 37-year-old has canceled his membership of the PGA Tour and is therefore no longer allowed to compete in the prestigious Ryder Cup, the continental comparison between the best golfers from America and Europe.
The PGA and the DP World Tour had announced that they would sanction participants in the LIV series. However, the organizers of the US Open, which will take place next week, announced that those affected may also tee off at the major tournament in Brookline, Massachusetts.
Source: Nachrichten
