LIV Golf Invitational Series: Ian Poulter to appeal PGA Tour ban as power struggle takes dramatic turn | Golf News

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan sent a memo to players on Thursday saying that all players involved at Centurion Club were “suspended or otherwise no longer eligible to participate in PGA Tour tournament play, including the Presidents Cup.”

Ian Poulter plans to appeal against his suspension from the PGA Tour after golf’s bitter power struggle took a dramatic turn at the LIV Golf Invitational Series.

Within minutes of the first shots in the opening event of the run of Saudi-funded tournaments being struck, the PGA Tour responded by banning the 17 players in the field who were playing.

Among them were six-time major winner and lifetime member Phil Mickelson, former world No 1 Dustin Johnson and European stars Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia and Graeme McDowell, although all bar Mickelson had already resigned from the Tour.

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Graeme McDowell and Sergio Garcia explain why they have decided to resign from the PGA Tour, as well as giving their view on the LIV Golf Series.

Poulter had not resigned and repeatedly insisted he had done nothing wrong, despite being denied the required release to play in the controversial circuit, telling reporters after his opening-round 75: “I’ve played a lot of tournaments all around the world, this event is no different. It’s a shame if they view this as something different.

“I will appeal for sure. It makes no sense. Having two Tour cards and the ability to play golf all over the world, what’s wrong with that? I believe I’ve been given permission in the past to play in events around the world.”

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Highlights of the opening round of the LIV Golf Invitational London.

Asked why he had been refused permission on this occasion, Poulter added: “I don’t know why. We can all make assumptions as to why. Competition is probably the real reason. It’s a power struggle and it’s just disappointing.”

A legal battle between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour has always looked inevitable, with the players viewing themselves as independent contractors who should be able to play wherever they wish.

“I have spoken to some players, obviously we have spoken to the lawyers,” added McDowell, who said he resigned from the PGA Tour to put himself in a “less litigious situation”. We have the LIV legal team which are fantastic. We have our own legal team. Some players have decided that, out of an abundance of caution, they were going to resign and try to stay away from any litigation.

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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.

“Some guys believe that they shouldn’t be in the situation where they have to resign. They don’t feel like they are doing anything wrong. OK, we haven’t been issued releases. We feel like we should have been issued releases. We’ve done it for the last 20 years, operated all over the world.

“We’re in the UK. You’ve players like myself and Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood, we are in our home markets here. We should be allowed to operate here as professional golfers. But hey, we all know the situation is about something bigger.

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Golf channel analyst Brandel Chamblee heavily criticises the players participating in the LIV Golf Invitational Series.

“It’s competition and it’s not liked. They are having to play the game the way they feel they have to play it, which is playing hard ball. We feel confident that we are well-protected and we are going to just try and do our best.”

Sergio Garcia revealed he had resigned his PGA Tour membership more than a week ago and therefore felt he could not be banned.

“I’m not banned because I’m not a member of it,” he said. “He (PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan) received my letter. That’s up to him. It doesn’t bother me. I’m very happy where I am and I’m excited. I thought that today was a great start and that’s what I’m going to focus on.

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Sky Sports’ Andrew Coltart believes it won’t be long until bigger players’ heads are turned as they see lower-ranked players picking up big money on the LIV Golf Tour.

“Obviously we’re going to have to wait and see what the European Tour does. But I definitely would like to keep my membership there, play at least my minimum (number of events) and get as good a chance as I can to make the Ryder Cup team because I love that event.”

Mickelson revealed he will play all eight LIV Golf events this year and all 10 in 2023, but otherwise refused to comment on today’s events.

“Any PGA Tour matters I’m not going to discuss publicly at this time,” he said.