May 5, 2021 | BY AAGD STAFF
The world’s best golfers have been warned they will be suspended immediately and most likely a career ban from the PGA Tour if they agree to join a breakaway event being proposed by Saudi Arabia.
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan laid out his position in no uncertain terms on Tuesday afternoon during a scheduled meeting with players at Quail Hollow. According to reports, the European Tour would also adopt an identical position regarding those who sign up to leave their domain, which means players eligibility for the Ryder Cup would be impacted.
In what bears resemblance to the failed European Super League (ESL) scheme, the Saudis want to coax leading players – including Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Justin Rose and Phil Mickelson – away from competition on the PGA Tour, and, according to reports each of these players have already been approached. The Saudi Arabia project is based on individual and team formats taking place over 12 to 18 events and it was years in the making, hoping to become a Premier Golf League. However, the event was recently rebranded as Super Golf League. What remains unclear is whether the ESL collapse has triggered a rethink on that front.
The launch date is targeted for September 2022, which is being fronted by Majed al-Sorour, the chief executive of Golf Saudi.
Impact on Player Eligibility
The PGA Tour, though, is standing firm and Monahan communicated to players that he will fiercely abide by regulations that protect the PGA Tour membership, which guard against those trying to cause fiscal or reputational harm to the organization. Anyone signing up with the Saudis will immediately lose PGA Tour status.
The PGA Tour is well aware the Saudis have been on a Florida-based recruitment drive for a concerted period but has stressed to its own players the lack of solid proposals in relation to tournaments or media deals. There were no questions from the floor on the Saudi plan, let alone any of the reactions speculated elsewhere, after Monahan’s speech.
Monahan delivered added detail on the recently introduced player impact fund. The commissioner said the incentive is for the benefit of the entire PGA Tour membership and will be administered by a brand new executive department.
Despite reports elsewhere, the Guardian reports that players do not yet have contracts and offer letters signed by the Saudis. The brief delay to that scenario has been linked in part to the ESL debacle. When the paperwork does become formal, leading players will be offered a very tempting carrot: equity in the new tour. The Saudi’s will also offering be offering huge signing on fees as incentives. It is hard to determine what the total financial package will be for certain players who are willing to depart the PGA Tour. Some speculations are at more than $100 million. The professional risk, though, is huge.
Representatives of Rose, Mickelson and Johnson failed to respond to a request for comment, relating to their clients’ current position on a new tour. DeChambeau’s manager delivered a “no comment”.
DeChambeau and Mickelson are both in the field for this week’s PGA Tour event in Charlotte. So too is Rory McIlroy, who denounced the PGL last year while expressing ethical concerns about the origin of its funding. McIlroy is the chairman of the PGA Tour’s player advisory council and therefore an important figure beyond his global sporting status.
The Greg Norman Factor
Through a strategic alliance with the PGA Tour the European Tour gained additional strength last year. Saudi Arabia has claimed an element of legitimacy via its high-profile invitational tournament staged on the European Tour. That event is not understood to be on any provisional schedule for 2022 and it would be a major shock if that changes. Firming up their plans, the Saudis have also tried to build relationships with the Asian, Japan and Sunshine Tours. The two-times Open champion Greg Norman is believed to be among those advising the Saudis. Norman’s spokesperson offered no comment when approached.
