Saudi cash, blockbuster names and a novel format: the whole lot it's good to know concerning the LIV Golf collection

Fronted by former world No. 1 Greg Norman, the team-based collection runs from June to October with the intention, it says, to "holistically enhance the well being of professional golf on a world scale to assist unlock the sports activities' (sic) untapped potential."

It's backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Funding Fund (PIF) -- a sovereign wealth fund chaired by Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and the person who a US intelligence report named as liable for approving the operation that led to the 2018 homicide of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Bin Salman has denied involvement in Khashoggi's homicide.

The PIF has pledged to award $250 million in complete prize cash. Every of the primary seven occasions may have a complete prize purse of $25 million, with $20 million break up between particular person gamers and the remaining $5 million shared between the highest three groups on the finish of every week.

Forward of the primary occasion in London, the 12 groups have been introduced, in addition to their captain. On Tuesday, captains chosen the remainder of their groups in a draft format akin to the NFL and NBA drafts.

Not like typical golfing occasions, London's occasion is over three days, not 4, with the 48-man subject starting with a shotgun begin -- all on the identical time -- within the hopes of being a extra partaking, action-packed model occasion.

Competing in a conventional stroke play format, the bottom rating would be the winner.

Whereas within the first two rounds, the perfect two scores will depend for every staff, within the closing spherical, the perfect three scores will depend, with the bottom general staff rating after 54 holes being named the staff winner.

For the ultimate occasion -- a staff championship -- the format modifications to a four-round, match-play knockout event.

Which golfers have signed up?

The attention-watering cash on provide has attracted a mixture of golfers to join the opening occasion in London, from all ages, backgrounds and success on the golf course.

Six-time main winner Phil Mickelson and former world No. 1 Dustin Johnson are amongst these to headline the occasion, whereas different main winners Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel additionally participated.

Ryder Cup stalwarts Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood additionally have been a part of the primary cohort to enroll, and the sphere consists of 18 gamers ranked within the prime 100 on this planet.

Why is it so controversial?

The LIV Golf collection hasn't come with out its query marks.

The supply of the cash, Saudi Arabia's PIF, has led to queries and criticism aimed toward organizers and gamers about selecting to play for cash from the nation given its human rights file.

One other avenue of controversy surrounding the league is the breakaway nature from golf's established excursions.

The PGA Tour and the DP World Tour -- previously the European Tour -- have lengthy been the place gamers have plied their commerce throughout the golfing calendar, outdoors of the 4 majors.

However, offering financial and life stability points as excuses, the choice from a faction of gamers who broke away to play within the LIV Golf collection has been met with blended response from their fellow tour members.

What do the gamers say?

On the eve of the collection, the world's most profitable golf occasion, the opponents have been grilled by journalists in an often-tense press convention in St Albans, England.

Mickelson was the principle focus of consideration, primarily as a result of he is among the sport's largest stars but in addition as a result of this will likely be his first aggressive occasion since his controversial feedback concerning the Saudi Arabian-funded occasions have been revealed earlier this yr by his biographer.

The six-time main winner was quoted from a 2021 interview with creator Alan Shipnuck for his upcoming ebook, "Phil: The Rip-Roaring (and Unauthorized!) Biography of Golf's Most Colourful Celebrity," as saying that he would think about becoming a member of the proposed Tremendous League as a result of it's a "once-in-a-lifetime alternative to reshape how the PGA Tour operates."

Shipnuck quoted Mickelson as saying disparaging issues about Saudi Arabia's human rights file and asserting that the dominion killed journalist Khashoggi.

In his opening reply in Wednesday's press convention, when requested concerning the human rights file of the nation offering funding for the enterprise, Mickelson seemed to be remorseful.

"I do not condone human rights violations in any respect," he repeatedly mentioned.

Johnson -- the highest-ranked participant within the competitors at 15 on this planet -- resigned his PGA Tour membership and mentioned on Tuesday: "I do not wish to play for the remainder of my life, this offers me a possibility to do what I wish to do."

Europe's Ryder Cup stalwart Graeme McDowell was additionally requested concerning the killing of Khashoggi throughout his press convention.

"All of us agree that was reprehensible. Nobody's going to argue that truth however we're golfers. We're not politicians.

"If Saudi Arabia wish to use the sport of golf as a manner for them to get to the place they wish to be, we're proud to assist them on that journey, utilizing the sport of golf and the talents now we have to assist develop the game."

What about these not collaborating?

The primary LIV occasion is happening on the Centurion Membership. That and the PGA Tour's Canadian Open are being held virtually concurrently and is the primary head-to-head showdown between the 2 excursions.

The Centurion's $25 million purse virtually triples the Canadian Open's $8.7 million. Defending his title in Canada will likely be Rory McIlroy, the world No. 8.

"Any choice that you just make in your life that is purely for cash often would not find yourself going the precise manner," mentioned McIlroy on Wednesday, as reported by Reuters.

"Clearly, cash is a deciding think about lots of issues on this world, but when it is purely for cash, it isn't, it by no means appears to go the way in which you need it to."

When it comes to star energy, the Canadian Open will simply trump the Centurion line-up. Among the many headliners in Toronto will likely be world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas.

"Persons are entitled to decide on as they want," mentioned Thomas. "I do not dislike DJ now. I do not suppose he is a foul dude. I am not going to deal with him any in a different way.

"He is entitled to decide on as he needs.

"Now, I am dissatisfied and I want that he and others would not have executed it, however that is their choice."

What does it imply for the way forward for golf?

It's unclear what it will imply for the way forward for golf, and the place gamers will select to ply their commerce sooner or later.

Most of the gamers impacted by the ban -- Mickelson, Westwood and Poulter -- are within the twilights of their careers, maybe decreasing the severity of the suspension.

Just a few gamers, together with Johnson, Garcia and Kevin Na, resigned their PGA Tour standing earlier than play began on Thursday in London.

However for six-time main winner Mickelson, who has already earned lifetime standing on the PGA Tour, it throws into query his long-term dedication to the tour. He mentioned in his press convention on Wednesday forward of the inaugural LIV Golf collection occasion that he did not wish to surrender his lifetime membership of the PGA Tour, saying: "I've earned that, and I do not plan on simply giving it up."

And for the younger expertise within the recreation, the suspension provides a conundrum.

The PGA Tour is the preeminent golf tour on this planet for the time being, and subsequently seen as the top. Nonetheless, the brand new, big-money tour provides a major incomes alternative for gamers across the globe, particularly the up-and-coming expertise.

Do youthful gamers determine to decide to the LIV Golf collection, thereby ruining their probabilities at enjoying on the PGA Tour, or stick with the 'conventional' route and play on the PGA Tour and doubtlessly cut back their incomes capabilities?

The DP World Tour -- the game's present second largest tour -- has but to announce any potential sanctions to gamers. When contacted by Muricas News, it mentioned it had "no remark to make" on the LIV Golf collection.

As for golf's 4 majors, gamers' appearances on the LIV Golf collection have additionally thrown their participation in these into disarray.

Though subsequent week's US Open has mentioned gamers are free to play in the event that they're certified, subsequent month's Open Championship at St. Andrew's has but to make a public choice.

Shortly after the announcement, LIV Golf launched a strongly worded response, calling the suspension "vindictive."

"In the present day's announcement by the PGA Tour is vindictive and it deepens the divide between the Tour and its members," it mentioned.

"It is troubling that the Tour, a corporation devoted to creating alternatives for golfers to play the sport, is the entity blocking golfers from enjoying. This definitely shouldn't be the final phrase on this subject. The period of free company is starting as we're proud to have a full subject of gamers becoming a member of us in London, and past."