Brooks Koepka to affix Saudi-backed sequence; Koepka has eliminated all references to the PGA Tour from his social media; Koepka will play within the second LIV occasion subsequent week; Collin Morikawa says he’s “right here to remain” on the PGA Tour; US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick “not apprehensive” about defectors
By Jamie Weir
Final up to date: 21/06/22 17:38
Brooks Koepka is the most recent high-profile participant to affix the LIV Golf sequence
Brooks Koepka will go away the PGA Tour and be part of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Collection.
Sky Sports activities Information understands that the four-time main winner – who has eliminated all references to the PGA Tour from his social media profiles – will play within the second occasion in Portland subsequent week.
The 32-year-old would be the newest huge identify to affix the controversial sequence, after Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson, however world No. 4 Collin Morikawa has denied speeches that he’s subsequent to observe of their footsteps.
The 2-time main winner and defending champion of the Open champion tweeted on Tuesday: “To state for the report, once more, you’re all fully incorrect. I’ve stated it since February on the Riviera that I’m right here to remain on @PGATOUR and nothing has modified. “
Newly-crowned US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick has additionally reiterated his dedication to the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, saying he “was probably not apprehensive” in regards to the present record of defectors.
“I believe at any time when you could have Justin Thomas, Rory McIlroy – I noticed Collin Morikawas come out and make a press release at the moment – Scottie Scheffler, I really feel like you could have some nice gamers there,” stated Fitzpatrick.
“For me, they’re greater than adequate to compete with any rival tour which may need to attempt to seize the golf course. I am probably not apprehensive about that.
Use the Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Matt Fitzpatrick was speechless after profitable his first main title with a sensational victory on the US Open.
“I do know the PGA Tour is just not going wherever, the DP World Tour goes nowhere and I really feel that what issues to me is that I’ve a spot to play and that is the place I need to play.
“I believe the Tour is just not going wherever and so long as they’ve Tiger Woods help and Rory’s help, Justin Thomas, there will likely be no issues for my part.”
Koepka was requested to stop earlier than final week’s US Open and gave a sly reply as to why he had apparently determined to remain on the PGA Tour. He stated: “There was no different various up to now, so the place else are you going?”
Use the Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Brooks Koepka was annoyed by the query he was requested throughout his US Open press convention, saying that journalists “throw a darkish cloud” over rivals.
When the reporter identified that the LIV occasions had begun, Koepka added: “From final week. That was all. I didn’t play final week.”
He added: “I am right here. I am right here on the US Open. I am able to play the US Open and I believe it is a bit of sucky too, you are throwing all this black clouds over the US Open. It is one among my favourite occasions. I have no idea why you retain doing it.
“The extra bones you give it, the extra you retain speaking about it.”
Sky Sports activities Information understands that the world’s No. 20 Abraham Ancer from Mexico can even be part of the LIV sequence.
Abraham Ancer seems set to be the following golfer to affix the LIV Golf sequence
It was introduced earlier this month that each one gamers concerned within the LIV sequence can be suspended from the PGA Tour indefinitely.
A letter confirming that it was despatched to PGA Tour members by Commissioner Jay Monahan shortly after the inaugural LIV Golf Match kicked off at Centurion Membership in Hertfordshire on 9 June.
The overall prize fund for the primary eight LIV occasions is £ 200 million, with Charl Schwartzel profitable £ 3.86 million when he gained the primary 54-hole match at Centurion Membership – virtually 3 times as a lot as he claimed for his huge success at Masters 2011.
Use the Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
After Charl Schwartzel claimed the inaugural LIV Tour opening, the talk continues over whether or not the variety of jumps from the PGA Tour will start to develop.
Schwartzel and runner-up Henni Du Plessis have been each a part of Stinger GC, which gained the staff competitors with Branden Grace and Louis Oosthuizen, the place the quartet all earned one other $ 750,000 in a part of the staff’s first prize of $ 3 million.
The controversy over LIV Golf: defined
Gamers within the LIV Golf Collection have repeatedly been grilled at press conferences about Saudi Arabia’s human rights report and whether or not they compete within the league for purely financial causes.
Use the Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Paul McGinley used Mo Salah and the Premier League to elucidate how the LIV Golf Collection differs from the construction and group of the PGA and DP World Excursions.
The breakaway sequence is backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Funding Fund (PIF) – the homeowners of Newcastle United – and entails large sums of cash for rivals.
No official World Golf Rating factors will likely be awarded for LIV occasions, though CEO Greg Norman says an software will likely be submitted for change.
The primary occasion passed off on the Centurion Membership final week, with former main winners Dustin Johnson and Phi Mickelson among the many 48-man area, whereas one other seven tournaments are deliberate within the coming months.
Use the Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
There was a blended response to the LIV Golf Collection from followers on the US Open at Brookline.
Pumpkin Ridge GC in Portland from June 30-July 2 and Trump Nationwide Golf Membership Bedminster from July 29-31 are the following two venues, with extra US-based tournaments happening in Boston from September 2-4 and Chicago from September 16- 18.
Stonehill Golf Membership in Bangkok is the venue from October 7-9 and Royal Greens Golf Membership – the venue for Saudi Worldwide lately – is internet hosting subsequent week, with the season-ending Group Championship then hosted on the Trump Nationwide Doral Miami from October 27-30.
Get one of the best costs and ebook a spherical on one among 1,700 programs throughout the UK and Eire