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Inside the $359M series that could blow up Golf
Golf
Backed by Aussie Greg Norman, the LIV Golf Invitational Series is the $AU359m golf league that is threatening the power of the PGA Tour. Here’s what you need to know about it.
What is the series?
Norman was once spruiking that there would be 18 tournaments in the LIV series, but since then the tour has been downsized dramatically.
Eight events are scheduled, starting at the Centurion on June 9 and finishing at the Trump National Doral in Miami on October 30.
Unlike the PGA Tour, there is no cut, meaning all players in the 48-person field are guaranteed a pay day at the end of each 54-hole tour event.
Who is playing?
Phil Mickelson has been the player most associated with the tour. The full list will be announced over the next month, with 15 of the world’s top 100 players set to feature.
Yet, importantly, no-one from the top 10 is said to be on the list. Key figures such Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have hit out at the series, with the latter describing it as “dead in the water”.
Who is backing it?
LIV Golf Investments is running the series, with CEO Greg Norman as its front man. But the money comes from the PIF, which is the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia.
What's the issue?
Firstly, the PGA Tour and, to a lesser extent, the DP World Tour, don’t want another rival stealing their thunder — and eyeballs.
While PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan could permit players to play, he has warned he has the right to punish any player who defects with immediate suspensions and lifetime bans.
The other concern is the human rights issue of where the funds come from. The murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi is one example of the questionable human rights of Saudi Arabia.
Mohammed bin Salman, who is the chair of PIF, where the money comes from, was implicated in the murder by both a UN investigation and the CIA.
Phil Mickelson recently described the LIV backers as: “...scary motherf*****s to get involved with.”
We know they killed Khashoggi and have a horrible record on human rights ... Knowing all this, why would I even consider it? Because it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour operates.
“
— Phil Mickelson
What will happen?
Generally when tectonic plates move, an explosion of sorts happens. Lawyers will undoubtedly be ready to pounce if players aren’t given permission to play in opposing tour events.
How much wriggle room the PGA Tour offers could determine whether Norman’s Saudi project gets off the ground. If it does, golf could change forever.
Words: Christy DoranProducer: Andrew Piva

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/web-stories/free/herald-sun/liv-golf-invitational-series-what-we-know-about-us-pga-tour-threat