The PGA Tour has suspended the rebel golfers who have joined up to the LIV Golf Invitational Series.
This week, the likes of Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia are playing at the breakaway tour’s first event at the Centurion Club in St Albans.
Stars were refused permission to feature in the tournament but decided to enter without the PGA Tour’s blessing.
In response the PGA Tour have suspended the defectors and say those who have resigned will not be granted sponsor invites to future tournaments.
In a letter to PGA Tour members, CEO Jay Monahan said: ‘We have followed the Tournament Regulations from start to finish in responding to those players who have decided to turn their backs on the PGA TOUR by willfully violating a regulation.
‘Simultaneous to you receiving this memo, the players (listed below) are being notified that they are suspended or otherwise no longer eligible to participate in PGA TOUR tournament play, including the Presidents Cup.
‘This also applies to all tours sanctioned by the PGA TOUR: the Korn Ferry Tour, PGA TOUR Champions, PGA TOUR Canada and PGA TOUR Latinoamérica.
‘As you know, players listed below did not receive the necessary conflicting event and media rights releases – or did not apply for releases at all – and their participation in the Saudi Golf League/LIV Golf event is in violation of our Tournament Regulations.
‘The same fate holds true for any other players who participate in future Saudi Golf League events in violation of our Regulations.’
LIV Golf has also released a statement following the PGA Tour’s decision to suspend 17 of its members: ‘Today’s announcement by the PGA Tour is vindictive and it deepens the divide between the Tour and its members.
‘It’s troubling that the Tour, an organisation dedicated to creating opportunities for golfers to play the game, is the entity blocking golfers from playing. This certainly is not the last word on this topic. The era of free agency is beginning as we are proud to have a full field of players joining us in London, and beyond.’
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MORE : Tiger Woods declined $1billion offer to join golf’s Saudi-backed rebel series
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