Saudi Golf League Standings: Who Signed Up Ahead Of The PGA Championship?

The Saudi Golf League, known as the LIV Golf Invitational Series, has generated a lot of controversy – but that hasn’t stopped several big names from signing up

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Saudi Arabian organizers have revealed their plans to hold the inaugural event of the LIV Golf Invitational Series in June at the Centurion Club outside London – but who will be playing?

LIV Golf Investments and its CEO Greg Norman announced that the LIV Golf Invitational Series will host eight events beginning with the round in London in June – just a week before the US Open. The PGA Tour reportedly turned down requests from players, including Phil Mickelson, to play the first event and players had until Tuesday to apply for approval to play in the second LIV event.

Funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, the LIV Golf Invitational Series offers stunning prize pools.

Total prize money for the eight events – five of which are set to take place in the United States – will be in excess of £200m and the seven regular season tournaments will have total purses of £20m, which would be the richest in professional golf. with £16m in individual prizes and £4m for the top three teams.

The top three players after the seven regular season events will also receive a £24m bonus, while the end-of-season Team Matchplay Championship is scheduled for October 27-30 at Trump National Doral in Miami. A further £40m in prize money will be made available.

Norman insists LIV Golf has received more than 200 registration requests for its first tournament in London, which will feature 48 players in 12 teams of four. According to the 67-year-old, the list of registered players includes around 15 of the top 100 players in the official golf world rankings and two players who were previously ranked number one.

Norman suggested that six of the world’s top 50 had applied to take part in the opening event, including Phil Mickelson, Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia, Louis Oosthuizen and Martin Kaymer. Mickelson explained, “Pretty much every player in the top 100 has been contacted at some point.”

Robert Garriqus was the first known PGA Tour player to officially submit an application to the Tour for participation in the Tour. The American was later joined by Mickelson, Westwood, Garcia, Kaymer and Oosthuizen – who will be the top players in the series opener.

Ahead of the PGA Championship at Southern Hills, Rickie Fowler revealed he had been approached but had not yet made a decision about his move. The American admitted he was aware the PGA Tour was denying players clearance before the series kicked off and is aware of the consequences of his actions should he play.

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It is also believed that the top six male amateur players in the world were invited and, crucially, allowed to win prize money. The top six in the World Amateur Golf Ranking are currently Keita Nakajima from Japan, Pierceson Coody from the USA, Ludvig Aberg from Sweden, Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra Coto from Spain, Sam Bennett from the USA and Alex Fitzpatrick from England.

Jason Kokrak and Kevin Na are sponsored by Golf Saudi but have not revealed if they will be there at this point. Australian Adam Scott suggested the schedule was “very appealing” but he is yet to give a definitive answer.

Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson have also reportedly received offers, but any move would likely put their involvement in future Ryder Cups in question. Stenson has been named captain of the European Ryder Cup team ahead of Rome 2023, suggesting he will remain loyal to the DP World Tour and PGA Tour.

Several stars including Jon Rahm, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas have all declared their allegiance to the PGA Tour. It remains to be seen if their loyalty will be tested in the future.