Golf's divisive LIV series prepares to tee off

Dustin Johnson speaks to the press at the Centurion Club, near London

Phil Mickelson has signed up to play in the lucrative Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series

Phil Mickelson headlines a field of 48 golfers at this week's LIV Golf Invitational London -- the inaugural event in a breakaway series threatening to tear the sport apart.

Other big-name players who will tee off at the Centurion Club on Thursday include Dustin Johnson, Martin Kaymer and Sergio Garcia.

Format

Seven are regular-season events -- in North America, Europe, Middle East, and Asia -- where players will compete as individuals and in teams for points and prize money.

At the end of the seven tournaments, an individual champion will be crowned based on points accumulated throughout the season.

Since each event will be made up of a different field, teams will be decided via a draft each time.

The golfers in the LIV series will be playing for the biggest prize pots in history -- putting even the rewards on offer at the four majors in the shade.

Following the first seven events, an individual champion will be crowned, offering a total purse of $30 million for the top three individuals of the season.

Star power

Mickelson has not played since the publication of comments in February, in which he criticised the PGA Tour and LIV Golf's Saudi backers.

European Ryder Cup stars Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood are also in the field at St Albans, on the outskirts of London.

The LIV series is controversially bankrolled by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, the chairman of which is Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia.

Human rights issues were raised during a press conference on Tuesday and are likely to keep cropping up.

Tour troubles

Those opting to play have done so despite warnings of disciplinary action from the US PGA Tour.

The move means they have effectively taken themselves out of the picture when it comes to potential punishment.

Ranking points

Another area of uncertainty is the four major championships, which are separately governed.

The situation over the Ryder Cup appears clearer and Johnson has effectively made himself ineligible to play in the team competition again by quitting the PGA Tour.

jw/jc

...

Originally published as Golf's divisive LIV series prepares to tee off