The first event of the LIV Golf Invitational Series will be attended by 19 of the 100 best players in the world, six of whom are currently in the top 50.
The source told SI.com/Morning Read that LIV Golf Investments received 170 applications for the 9-11 event. June at Centurion Golf Club near London, with 36 ranking among the top 150 in the official world golf rankings.
The 48-member field will also include several amateurs who appear to have developed the NIL (name, picture and portrait).
The names of the players are held until official news of the PGA Tour and DP World Tour in the coming days, although LIV Golf is expected to wait for next week’s PGA Championship to make them public.
Among the publicly announced players who have applied for permission to play are Phil Mickelson, Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia and Martin Kaymer.
Greg Norman, CEO and Commissioner of LIV Golf, on Tuesday announced an infusion of $ 2 billion in 2024 from the Saudi Public Investment Fund, which will help kick-start the league, which will have 14 tournaments in 2024 and 2025, involving 12 four-player players. teams. Norman is in London for a promotion linked to the first tournament.
The tournaments will take place in Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Europe and North America.
“We have a long-term vision and we are here to stay,” Norman said in a press release. “We are going to expand the game, give players more opportunities and create a more fun product for fans. We believe in adding new experience and energy to golf, and that includes building our future plan in more global markets.
“We are creating a fun product that will increase golf participation and attract new fans on a wider global scale. We recognize that this will not happen overnight, and we are excited about the opportunities that LIV Golf will bring to the game as we continue.” grow up.”
Although Norman will not have a number of top players, as originally expected when trying to plan 14 tournaments for this year, the numbers are better than expected. The organizers of LIV Golf believe that there are weak points on the PGA Tour that represent an opportunity.
For example, the recent Mexico Open had only 31 of the top 100 players in the world, with winner Jon Rahm being the only one to rank among the top 15. Rory McIlroy was the only player in the top 10 at the Wells Fargo Championship to win Max. Homa.
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The first LIV Golf tournament will be played against the RBC Canadian Open, which is expected to have a strong field as it is played for the first time in three years due to a coronavirus pandemic. It’s a week before the US Open.
However, organizers Norman and LIV Golf expect a $ 25 million cash prize – with 4 million to go to the winner – along with a 54-hole uncut concept with a shotgun launch and 48-player fields. and added team format.
Norman told the BBC that the first event will be broadcast on YouTube.
LIV Golf announced its schedule of eight tournaments in March after having had to deviate from the original plan to compile 14 tournaments, of which 12 included 12 teams each week. His plan for 2023 will consist of 10 events.
This happened after comments from Phil Mickelson, who was very critical of the PGA Tour as well as the Saudi regime – all of which caused several star players who were believed to be on board to retreat. Meanwhile, Mickelson lost several sponsors, apologized, and took a vacation he had marked.
Mickelson, who won the PGA Championship last year for his sixth major title, has not played since early February and has been harshly criticized for joining the league. His status for next week’s PGA Championship remains unclear.
Norman was appointed CEO of LIV Golf Investments and commissioner of the new league in October. Its original plans have been changed, the league concept has been abolished for two years and replaced by a series of events in which players can participate as often or as little as they want.
In order for PGA Tour players to be able to play at LIV events, they had to request a release 45 days before the scheduled start of the event.
As the event is overseas and the tournament at this point is not part of the new tour, players were expected to receive releases. Several top winners and former PGA Tour winners are expected to attend.
It is not clear what will happen in July, when LIV Golf will play its first home event outside of Portland, July 1-3. The PGA Tour, by policy, does not grant releases for home tournaments. This event is played against the John Deere Classic.
Of course, the monetary rewards offered are a great attraction. The 54-hole events have no cut and the first two rounds will use a shotgun start. The first seven events will have $ 25 million, with $ 20 million for the individual section: $ 4 million will go to the winner, with around $ 120,000 paying for last place. The best teams play for another $ 5 million. Some players are also expected to receive performance fees. The team event at the end of the season has $ 50 million.
The LIV Golf Invitational Series is part of LIV Golf Investments, which says its mission is to “make strategic investments in golf to improve the global golf ecosystem and unlock the untapped global potential of the sport.” is a major shareholder.
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