LIV Golf will make its debut this week at London without Tiger Woods, despite making a substantial offer to lure the 15-time Major winner to the new international golf league.
But archrival Phil Mickelson has finally confirmed his involvement, after making disparaging comments about the Saudi sponsors and weeks of speculation over his future.
LIV Golf chief executive Greg Norman has told the Washington Post that Woods was offered a "mind-blowingly enormous (deal)... we're talking about high nine digits".
Woods, who has played just two tournaments since suffering a devastating leg injury in a car crash in February 2021, has maintained his loyalty to the PGA Tour as recently as last month at the PGA Championship.
The new golf league has landed some top names, with reports that Mickelson will play in the inaugural event that starts Friday at the 7100-yard Centurion Club outside London. Dustin Johnson also will participate, along with Sergio Garcia, Louis Oosthuiszen and Kevin Na, among other top names.
The PGA Tour has threatened a ban of any players that compete in an LIV Golf event. Woods, 46, was not ready to sever ties with the tour where he made a name for himself and where he has won 82 total events, tied for the most all-time with Sam Snead.
"I've been playing out here for a couple of years over decades and I think there's a legacy to it," Woods said during the PGA Championship. "I still think that the tour has so much to offer, so much opportunity.
"I understand different viewpoints, but I believe in legacies, I believe in Major championships, I believe in big events, comparisons to historical figures of the past. There's plenty of money out here."
Jack Nicklaus, who won 18 Major titles in his illustrious career, says he turned down an offer "in excess of $100 million" to be the CEO of LIV Golf, leading to Greg Norman's appointment.
Mickelson signs up
Meanwhile, six-time Major winner Mickelson will make his debut at this week's inaugural event.
"Phil Mickelson is unequivocally one of the greatest golfers of this generation," said Norman. "His contributions to the sport and connection to fans around the globe cannot be overstated, and we are grateful to have him.
"He strengthens an exciting field for London, where we're proud to launch a new era for golf."
Mickelson, 51, has not played in a tournament since competing in the Saudi International in February. His last event on the PGA Tour was the Farmers Insurance Open in January.
"I am ready to come back to play the game I love, but after 32 years, this new path is a fresh start, one that is exciting for me at this stage of my career and is clearly transformative, not just for myself, but ideally for the game and my peers," Mickelson said.
Last week, LIV Golf announced 42 of the 48 players who were participating in the inaugural tournament.
Johnson, the biggest name on that list, was reportedly offered $125 million to join the rival tour. The sum negotiated for Mickelson was not disclosed.
Other notable names in this week's field include Englishmen Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Richard Bland, Spaniard Sergio Garcia, Americans Kevin Na and Talor Gooch, Germany's Martin Kaymer, and South Africans Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel and Branden Grace.
Garcia, Oosthuizen, Schwartzel and Grace have resigned from the PGA Tour to pursue LIV. They followed Na, who made his resignation announcement Saturday. Garcia, Oosthuizen and Schwartzel have won one major apiece in their careers.
Garcia made his feelings toward the PGA Tour clear during last month's Wells Fargo Championship, when he was heard on a television feed telling a rules official that he "can't wait to leave this tour... just a couple more weeks and I won't have to deal with you anymore".
In addition to Mickelson, the remaining five entrants announced are Thailand's Itthipat Buranatanyarat, India's Viraj Madappa, Australia's Travis Smyth and Kevin Yuan, and South Africa's Ian Snyman.
Rickie Fowler denied rumours he is jumping to the LIV tour - at least for now - when he spoke to the Golf Channel last week at the Memorial.
"I've been in talks with them for a long time," Fowler said. "It's something to definitely look at.
"At this point, it wasn't the right move or decision for us, but I'm not saying I'm for sure here or I'm going to go there. I'm going to just kind of leave my options open and see how things play out."
The PGA Tour did not grant its members a release to play in the event, which will be contested opposite the RBC Canadian Open. Johnson, who won the Canadian Open in 2018, and other members could face punishment for choosing the LIV Golf event without the tour's permission.
The start-up series became radioactive, after Mickelson told author Alan Shipnuck that the Saudis were "scary (expletives) to get involved with", but that he planned to deal with them anyway, as a leverage play to get more money out of the PGA Tour, including getting players their individual media rights.
Mickelson later apologised for his "reckless" comments and took a leave of absence from the game. He did not compete at the Masters or the PGA Championship - the first two Majors of the season. His participation in next week's US Open at Brookline, Massachusetts is unclear.
"I am thrilled to begin with LIV Golf and I appreciate everyone involved," Mickelson said. "I also intend to play the Majors.
"I fully realise and respect some may disagree with this decision and have strong opinions, and I empathise with that. I have a renewed spirit and excitement for the game."
Mickelson is a 45-time winner on the PGA Tour, including three wins at The Masters (2004, 2006, 2010), two at the PGA Championship (2005, 2021) and The Open Championship in 2013.
Reuters
