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Bryson DeChambeau has officially joined the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series and will play in the second event in Portland starting later this month
Bryson DeChambeau has officially joined the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series and will play in the second event in Portland starting later this month
Former US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau has officially joined the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series, tournament officials announced.
DeChambeau confirmed his intention to join the escape circuit on Wednesday and will play in the second event in Portland which begins later this month.
The hugely successful 28-year-old will join the likes of Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter who will perform in the inaugural event at St Albans’ Centurion Club this week.
Minutes after the first shots were made on Thursday, the PGA Tour suspended all 17 players on the pitch who were taking part, despite being turned down for the requested releases, and stated that “the same fate holds” for the players. participating in the future LIV Golf events, so also DeChambeau, eight-time winner of the PGA Tour including the 2020 US Open, will be suspended.
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DeChambeau revealed Wednesday that he would play the second LIV Golf Series event in Portland at the end of the month, despite last week hinting that he would not join the escape series.
In February, DeChambeau denied that he had been offered £ 100 million to join the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series and wrote on his official Twitter account: “While there has been a lot of speculation about my support for another tour, I want to to do it it’s very clear that as long as the best players in the world play on the PGA Tour, I will too. “
“He’s not afraid to think outside the box and supports our mission to do things differently to grow our game. The power and energy he brings to the pitch will provide additional electricity to our competition in Portland and beyond.”
Greg Norman on Bryson DeChambeau
Even the world number 28, who has struggled with a hand injury in recent months, has also distanced himself from the tour last Thursday, arguing that he would “not risk” joining this phase of his career.
However, he has now changed his mind with his agent Brett Falkoff who said earlier in the week, “Bryson has always been an innovator. Having the opportunity to step into the ground floor of something unique has always been intriguing to him. Pro. golf as we know is changing and happening rapidly. “
The second tournament in the series is at Portland’s Pumpkin Ridge from June 30th to July 2nd.
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Sky Sports reporter Jamie Weir has further details as the PGA Tour has suspended all current and future players who have decided to join the LIV Golf Invitational Series
LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman, who is expected to sign more players before the second event with Patrick Reed, Rickie Fowler and Bubba Watson, among those connected, said, “Bryson DeChambeau is an exciting addition to LIV Golf’s supercharged style of play. .
“He is passionate about this sport, innovative in his approach and committed to pushing the boundaries in the pursuit of excellence.
“He is not afraid to think outside the box and supports our mission to do things differently to grow our game.
LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman poses with Phil Mickelson before the inaugural event
“The power and energy it brings to the field will provide additional electricity to our competition in Portland and beyond.”
While many of the top players have so far shunned the huge cash offered by LIV Golf, the series now boasts eight big winners in its ranks.
The London event, played over 54 holes, without cuts and gunshots, is the richest golf tournament ever with $ 4 million going to the individual winner and $ 5 million shared between the top three teams.
No questions from Johnson for DP World Tour
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Dustin Johnson admitted that he plans to play golf only in major tournaments and the LIV Tour, following his decision to join the Saudi Arabian-backed tour.
Dustin Johnson said he plans to only play in the golf majors and LIV events after his suspension from the PGA Tour.
Johnson was among the players who were banned from participating in the PGA Tour following their involvement in this week’s inaugural event at Centurion Club.
However, contrary to what the British media reported, the American did not apply to join the DP World Tour, which would have allowed him to collect points in the world rankings and potentially earn a place in the future majors.
Johnson was expected to apply by May 1 to become a DP World Tour member for this season.
Johnson spoke to Sky Sports after the second round of the LIV Invitational opening event at the Centurion Club on Friday, where he was asked if there was a legal recourse after he was banned from the PGA Tour.
“At this point my plan is to play LIV events, some majors, that’s all,” Johnson replied.
“This is the whole reason why I started playing on the LIV, to play less golf, not more.
“What am I going to do for the other 40 weeks of the year? I can do what I want.”
“Bryson DeChambeau is at the box office”
Sky Sports News reporter Jamie Weir is at the Centurion Club this week and provided his thoughts on DeChambeau’s pass …
“Bryson DeChambeau is marmite. Love him or hate him though, he’s at the box office and PGA Tour fans love him. He hits the ball a country mile, does things as Greg Norman suggests, very differently, does some weird things that ruffle even a few feathers, but it’s fun to watch.
DeChambeau’s powerful hits have been a feature of the PGA Tour for the past couple of years
“So this is another major blow to the PGA Tour. It is now 18 players, including Bryson DeChambeau, who will have lost their PGA Tour status and how many other superstars they can afford to lose before perhaps even being forced into an awkward climb and these guys are told you can stay on the PGA Tour and you can also play in the Saudi golf series.
“It’s a fascinating time right now in the world of golf and who knows what will happen next.”
And on the other PGA Tour players who have been linked to the LIV Series …
“Patrick Reed is a name I keep hearing. Matt Wolff, a young superstar of the game who has lost his way a little bit, has lost some confidence but he is a talent. Jason Kokrak is another name that keeps coming. out. Pat Perez.
2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed has also been strongly linked to the series
“Rickie Fowler is a name I’ve heard a lot, but from what I understand they haven’t gotten that deal over the line yet. And another Bubba Watson: he’s injured, he’s probably out of action at the moment until early fall. , but you’d think it would also be a stellar name for LIV Golf to get your hands on. “
Shipnuck expects a compromise
Journalist Alan Shipnuck, who is Mickelson’s biographer, believes there will eventually be a compromise to allow wayward players to continue playing on the PGA Tour.
Talking with Sky Sports News at the Centurion Club, he said: “I think everything will be negotiated and eventually the players will get what they want, which is to keep their Tour membership but play some of the Saudi events.
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Phil Mickelson biographer Alan Shipnuck says LIV Golf is a great time for golf and believes players will eventually get what they want
“Maybe if the Tour is smart, it will forge another strategic alliance where they will absorb the Saudi tournaments, play the ones in the fall when there is no good golf in the US and then the players can make their money, the fans can watch it. and the The tour has made its way out of the competition.
“We don’t know how it will turn out, and the lawyers will certainly be involved, but everything is up for grabs.
“It’s a very chaotic time and the whole world order of golf is at stake, but I think they will create some sort of compromise where it will probably help everyone involved.”
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