This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
What Is The Future Of Golf With The LIV Golf Tour?
After months of speculation, the inaugural Saudi-backed LIV Golf event gets underway today to open the breakaway series that threatens to change the sport as we know it.
Phil Mickelson, former world No 1s Dustin Johnson and Lee Westwood as well as Ian Poulter are among the biggest names competing at Centurion Club in St Albans, with six-time major champion Mickelson set to end his four-month break from golf following his explosive comments about the PGA Tour and the breakaway spearheaded by Greg Norman.
The PGA Tour have responded by threatening players with fines and legal action but that has not put off some stars from joining the 48-player entry list - no doubt aided by reportedly huge appearance fees - for an event that features new competition rules and what tournament organisers say is an “exciting” new format.
The event at Centurion club will be played over three days and 54 holes, rather than the traditional four-day tournaments with 72 holes. There won’t be a cut, so the 48 players who start the week will play all three rounds, while there will also be a team competition in addition to the traditional individual competition.
This is the first of seven events on the LIV Golf tour, with each having a prize fund of $25m - every player in the field receives a cut, with a guaranteed $4m for the winner and $120,000 for last place. Of the $25m, $5m will be split between the top three teams.
Follow all the action and reaction to the inaugural event of the controversial tour, below:
Youngsters lead the way
The Majesticks GC is certainly a tale of two halves. The two younger members are in the top five with Laurie Canter the furthest back of the two just three shots away from the lead.
Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter at struggling. The Englishmen are four and five over par respectively.
Michael Jones9 June 2022 17:47
Into the sand!
Dustin Johnson is plugged in the greenside bunker at the 13th. He was going for the green on the par-five in two but now he has a horrendous shot.
He just has to get it out and he succeeds but smokes it to the other side of the green and he’ll have a long putt for birdie.
Mickelson was on in two and his eagle putt is short but he rolls home a three footer for birdie! Back to evens for Phil.
Michael Jones9 June 2022 17:43
PGA Tour suspend LIV Golf players with immediate effect
As the first round of LIV Golf enters it’s final phase here’s a reminder of what happened off the course ealrier today.
The PGA Tour has contacted all PGA Tour members informing them that all participants on the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series, both in Thursday’s opening competition and in future, are suspended immediately.
The suspensions also apply to players on other PGA Tours including the Champions, Canada, Latinoamerica and Korn Ferry Tours.
Michael Jones9 June 2022 17:39
Sam Horsfield (-2) has snuck up to within two shots of the lead as the Majesticks GC are challenging for the top of the team leadrboard.
Laurie Canter (-1) is hanging in there as well.
Michael Jones9 June 2022 17:30
Back to one
Phil Mickelson generates a loud cheer from the watching crowd as he rolls his most recent birdie in on the 12th to move back to one over par.
Dustin Johnson has to settle for a bogey and he drops a shot to join Phil at (+1) for the round.
Michael Jones9 June 2022 17:20
Close to an albatross!
We’ve had the first LIV Golf par, the first LIV Golf birdie, the first LIV Golf eagle and Australian Wade Ormsby comes within a few inches of the first albatross with his approach from the fairway!
His ball spins back and rolls over the right edge of the hole. It hasn’t been the greatest of days for Ormsby but he’s back to evens for the day.
Michael Jones9 June 2022 17:11
Oosthuizen struggling
Louis Oosthuizen is letting the Stingers GC down here and he’s the captain! The all South African team have three of their members in the top four spots with the combined score of Hennie Du Plessis and Brandon Grace taking them to (-5) in the team tournament.
Michael Jones9 June 2022 17:03
Khongwatmai back in front
Phachara Khongwatmai has arguably been the most consistent player today. The Taiwanese moves back to four under par and has another one shot lead over Hennie Du Plessis.
Michael Jones9 June 2022 16:58
What a shot from Poulter
It’s a been a difficult day for Ian Poulter who started well but has dramatically fallen off the pace. He’s battling hard though and pulled this beauty out of the bag:
Michael Jones9 June 2022 16:55
Good start to the back nine
Dustin Johnson is over the back of the green in two on the par-4 10th. He’s right on the edge of the second cut but is within puttable distance of the hole.
A poor day for the Aces captain gets a little better as he rolls it in for a three! DJ moves back to level par for the round.
Michael Jones9 June 2022 16:54