Saudi golf league takers

By Neville Idour

It is hard to know how to react to a headline that said “Saudi Golf League gets first Major Signing.”

Yes, a PGA Tour player by the name of Robert Garrigus. Who? I hear you say.

Wells Fargo Championship - Round Two
POTOMAC, MARYLAND - MAY 06: Robert Garrigus of the United States plays an approach shot on the 15th hole during the second round of the Wells Fargo Championship at TPC Potomac Clubhouse on May 06, 2022 in Potomac, Maryland. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

He has been, at best, a journeyman on the PGA Tour for more than a decade. He has one win in 2010 and has 33 top 10s in 362 starts with 212 cuts made.

His best finishes this season are 16th, 36th and 46th. He currently ranks 202 in the Fedex Cup and has a world ranking of 1053.

But get this. New Zealander’s world rankings are Ryan Fox 116, Daniel Hillier 231, Danny Lee 281, Ben Campbell 422, Josh Geary 571, Michael Hendry 750, Nick Voke 877.

So we can see it is all about opportunity and getting onto the main tours. This is not to discredit Garrigus as he is one of the huge number of very modestly successful professional golfers worldwide. The bottom line is he has won almost $US15 million in his career and that is not to be sneezed at.

There are also reported to be up to six DP World Tour players who have asked for permission to play in the inaugural eight tournament series, plus and including Bubba Watson, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Kevin Na, although Na said: “I have not signed anything.”

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan was pointed when saying if you want to play “walk out the door now.” DP World Tour chief Keith Pelley asked players to stay loyal rather than jeopardise the future of the DP World Tour which has several “heritage events”.

The Liv Golf Invitational Series will involve seven regular events with a season ending Team Championship Tournament. The regular events will have three rounds with no cut. With prizemoney of a staggering $US25 million for each regular event and $US50 million for the final and limited numbers in the fields it will not surprise if a number of players, particularly journeymen or those past their best, look at it as a once in a lifetime opportunity to bank a significant retirement fund and some.

Adding more intrigue is the news that Trump National Golf Club in New Jersey is set to host the third event while the opening event is at the Centurion Club in London which is probably causing indigestion at world golf governing body The R&A.

The final event, called the Team Championship, is mooted to be held at Trump’s Doral Course in Miami. If this is true it seems certain there will be no chance of The Open Championship returning to Turnberry which Trump has owned since 2014.

As for chief executive Greg Norman’s involvement with this series he recently said he wanted to play his last tournament at the 150th Open and had filled out his entry form. He thought he would get in as a two-time winner despite being 67 years old, seven years outside the exemption age and not having won in the last 10 years. Fat chance.

The R&A in a statement said: “We have no plans for any additional exemptions.”

You could be forgiven for wondering if his involvement with the Saudi Tour had anything to do with that blunt decision. After all, who can forget Tom Watson all but winning having been given an exemption despite being well over age.

So Norman’s only way in is through the qualifying process. Doesn’t look likely, he not having played a ranking points round of golf since 2012.

Norman is adamant the LIV Golf Series will go ahead and hopes someone ranking about 350 in the world has a win and it changes his life. That is looking a possibility. Enough said.