The PGA Tour has long threatened to shut down the golfers who have chosen to play on the new and controversial LIV tour, which is funded by authoritarian Saudi Arabia.
On Thursday, the threat was carried out. Most of them – for example Dustin Johnson and Sergio García – had already resigned their membership, but now it is clear that Phil Mickelson will also be stopped from playing.
“It’s boring”
– I think it’s sad that the players leave the tour and that you are not allowed to play against them. Especially Dustin, who I think is incredibly good. I do not mind his decision, but it’s just sad that you can not play against him, says the Swedish USA professional Alex Norén after his initial round (one over pair) of Scandinavian Mixed in Halmstad.
Normally, players must apply for leave from their “home tour” to play on other tours, but the PGA Tour was out early and said no leave will be granted for play on the LIV tour.
– According to the rulebook, that’s right. They have signed the PGA Tour’s rulebook and if you do not get a “release” (leave) you will get a suspension. I guess it’s just reading inside, says Norén.
He does not want to go into the moral concerns of playing on a tour funded by Saudi Arabia. The country is accused of trying to wash away its reputation (“sportswashing”) when it comes to, for example, human rights through sport.
“Gave me enough money”
However, Norén stated earlier in May to TT that he himself is not interested in playing on the new tour. Something he also talked about during the week in Halmstad.
– Golf has given me enough money. I would like to give back 90 percent of them against better “scores”, says Norén and continues:
– I do not need so much money, I would like to have a couple of majors instead. At the beginning of your career, you might think you want some money, but I think many in this industry would trade money for better results. To be in the top of the majors against Rory (McIlroy) and Tiger (Woods) and beat them.
In general, Norén believes that if money is to be invested anywhere at all, it is in women’s golf.
– Money is needed in the ladies’ tour, so that more ladies can make a living from golf and play as much golf as we men can, says Alex Norén.