One of the major golf tournaments, “The Open 2022,” has started, and the fanatics have been more than excited to watch their favorite player in the match. The European Tour dates from 14 July to 17 July long, with the Purse of $14,000,000.
However, the LIV Golf tour controversy has left the public in hurly-burly for the moment. The Saudi Arabia-funded LIV tour has taken its chance and spent millions of dollars for the world’s top golfers. Many famed players have accepted the offers; meanwhile, the British Open organizer has shown their frustration on the matter.
Following the events, Martin Slumbers, the R&A’s chief executive, stated, “Professional golfers are entitled to choose where they want to play and to accept the prize money that’s offered to them. I have absolutely no issue with that at all. But there is no such thing as a free lunch.”
He then decried the new LIV Golf series as “not in the best long-term interests of the sport” & “entirely driven by money.” It appears that the officials on Open have been planning or might have decided to change the rules in the following years; as he continues, “review our exemptions and qualifications criteria.”
PGA has suspended 17 members for their presence in the first LIV event. The banned affected the top players like Martin Kaymer, Richard Bland, Ian Poulter, Graeme McDowell, Lee Westwood, and Sergio Garcia till now.
The beef between the two excellent golf series, LIV Golf and Open, only seems to have left the golf fans at sixes and sevens. Nevertheless, here is the list of ten must-watch Liv Golf players you would not want to miss.
10. Ian Poulter
An English professional golfer Ian Poulter is ranked 96 by the OWGR ranking but has gone as high as five in the world rankings. He is one of the players to has joined LIV Golf but is currently up for the British Open.
As per Telegraph, Saudi Arabia has offered Poulter £22 million to join their golf tour. 46-years-old golfer speaks before the LIV Golf Invitational tournament, “I regard myself as a global golfer. I have been for 24 years. I have played on European Tour since 1999, the PGA Tour since 2004, I’ve held multiple cards and I’ve played on numerous Tours at numerous times. I have played events around the world, and that is what I continue to do.”
“I love it, love playing golf, love the opportunity that LIV gives us from the standpoint of playing slightly less golf which gives me the ability to be fresher and ready to go. It’s a massive opportunity that I am really looking forward to.”
“I think there is so much more to it than the money.”
9. Phil Mickelson
An American professional golfer Phil Mickelson, also known by his field name “Lefty,” is ranked 84, following the OWGR ranking. As per The Sporting News, he has joined the LIV Golf tour with a deal of reportedly around $200 million and is currently playing for The Open 2022.
Moreover, with all the controversy going around in the new golf tour, he stated his reason behind joining LIV Golf while asking for an apology. He tweeted, “First and foremost, I want to again apologize to the many people I offended and hurt with my comments a few months ago.”
He then explained, “I am ready to come back to play the game I love, but after 32 years, this new path is a fresh start, one that is exciting for me at this stage of my career and is clearly transformative, not just for myself, but ideally for the game and my peers.”
“I am thrilled to begin with LIV Golf, and I appreciate everyone involved. I also intend to play the majors.”
8. Patrick Reed
31-years-old American golfer Patrick Reed has joined the LIV Golf for new series. As per OWGR, he is ranked 39 on the list, recently up for The Open Championship.
ESPN has reported that the Masters champion has joined the Saudi-funded LIV Golf series. Reed has denied the rumors of receiving millions of dollars for the new Golf series while remaining silent about his deal for the moment.
He has won nearly $37 million during his decades of playing on the PGA Tour. Further, Reed stated, “It’s refreshing to see team golf again. It takes me back to college and Ryder Cup days. You’re not just playing for yourself- you’re playing for your team over there and that camaraderie.”
“I’m excited about seeing more golf.”
7. Talor Gooch
An American professional golfer, Talor Gooch, recently on the playing list of the British Open, has signed his deal with LIV Golf’s new series. He is ranked 38, following the OWGR ranking.
Each player in the LIV Golf Invitational Series tournament has the Purse of $25 million, of which $5 million will be for the team. However, the player has been facing criticism over the LIV Golf Stars.
He responded, “I’m not that smart… golf is hard enough. I don’t think that’s fair, Also, I’m a golfer. I’m not that smart. I try to hit a golf ball into a small hole… I try to worry about golf, and I’m excited about this week.”
6. Kevin Na
A Korean American professional golfer Kevin Na is ranked 33 by OWGR ranking. The champ has joined the Saudi-finance LIV Golf Invitational with around $25 million and resigned from the PGA Tour.
While making the contract breakdown official, saying, “This was a very difficult decision for me. I hope my fans will continue to support me wherever I choose to play. Thank you.”
He tweeted, “For 19 years, I’ve played on the PGA Tour, and I have loved every minute of it… I would like the freedom to play wherever I want, and exercising my right as a free agent gives me that opportunity.”
“I am sad to share that I have chosen to resign from the PGA Tour. This has not been an easy decision and not one I take lightly.”
“For now, please keep an eye out for LIV Golf. It is an exciting new product, and I hope you will enjoy the buzz it brings to golf.”
5. Bryson Dechambeau
An American golfer Bryson Dechambeau, who won the PGA Tour eight times, has joined the Saudi Arabian LIV Golf. As per OWGR ranking, he is number 31 on the list.
He reportedly signed over a $100 million contract with LIV Golf. In Bryson’s decision, Bridgestone reported to GOLF.com, “The PGA Tour is an extremely important part of professional golf, and Bridgestone has a sports marketing relationship with this highly visible series of tournaments.”
“In considering that Bryson DeChambeau will no longer be participating in these events, Bridgestone and Bryson have agreed to end their brand ambassador partnership.”
He then opened up in the podcast, “I’m not going to say the details; I mean, for what’s reported, it’s somewhat close, It’s a 4 1/2 year deal, I can definitely tell you that, and a lot of it was upfront, which is great.”
4. Abraham Ancer
A Mexican-American professional golf player, Abraham Ancer, has signed a contract with LIV Golf Portland Invitational on a silent amount. He is ranked 22 by OWGR ranking and has a record of winning different championships and tournaments.
Abraham mentioned his new golf journey, “It was really about the quality of life. If I take the feeling out of it and just as a businessman, it’s not even a question; it’s not even a question, it’s an absolute no-brainer.”
He added, “We are obviously playing for bigger purses. It would be a lie if you don’t look at the purses when you enter tournaments; it doesn’t matter where you’re playing. Being able to do that and also having more time by cutting the number of tournaments that I play per week is beneficial.”
3. Louis Oosthuizen
A South- African professional golfer Louis Oosthuizen, who is ranked 21 by OWGR, has signed a deal with LIV Golf. Looking at the champion records, he seems to have a handsome amount for the new series.
With all the fuss about the LIV Golf and his contract with it, the player mentioned, “I think the players know what it’s all about. (It’s) about golf and playing, and it’s a pity there is just so much politics involved.”
“I don’t see why not. I mean, I made my decision where I want to play, and you know, I’m grateful for everything that the PGA Tour did for me and meant for my career. I honestly don’t see that everyone is on about. At the end of the day, this is a great championship that we all work hard to be and play here, and we’re going to be focused on that this week.”
2. Brooks Koepka
An American professional golfer, Brooks Koepka, became World Number 1 for 47 weeks in 2018 and is ranked 19 by the OWGR ranking. He has jumped into the LIV Golf while reportedly cutting off the deal with seven figures.
For now, Brroks got presumed to have a somewhat similar amount as Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau. He stated, “Money doesn’t matter. It’s not something that’s important. I just want to be happy. Money’s not going to make me happy. I just want to play against the best.”
“If somebody gave me $200 million tomorrow, it’s not going to change my life. What am I going to get out of it? I already have that I could retire right now, but I don’t want to. I just want to play golf.”
1. Dustin Johnson
An American professional golf star, Dustin Johnson, has resigned from the PGA Tour to make a deal with LIV Golf. Meanwhile, the player has also been listed among the players in T31 to play British Open 2022.
OWGR ranked him number 17, but his jump to LIV Golf shocked his followers the most after talking about his total commitment to the PGA Tour. At that time, he said, “I feel it is now to put such speculation to rest. I am fully committed to the PGA Tour.”
As mentioned in the Telegraph, he has a deal of $150 million with LIV Golf.
Tiger Woods Reacts To LIV Golfers
In this all-golf series drama, Tiger Woods, who rejected the LIV Golf offer, reacted to the players accepting the deal. He stated, “To play there, I disagree with it… They’ve turned their back on what has allowed them to get to this position.”
“To play there, I disagree with it … They’ve turned their back on what has allowed them to get to this position.” https://t.co/hrg8CaOG9B
Tiger asked, “What these players are doing for guaranteed money? What is the incentive to practice?”