PGA Tour bans Saudi rebels as they tee off at opening LIV Series event

The PGA Tour has banned members who are competing in the Saudi rebel circuit’s opening event here, timing the email sent out to all the players to coincide with their opening tee shots at the Centurion Club.

While the LIV Golf Series was busy billing the shotgun start at 2.15pm as a milestone in the game’s history, then Jay Monahan’s decisive action across the Atlantic can also be viewed as a seminal moment in this saga. 

It has dragged on for more than two years but at last the event has begun and finally the rebels know the price they will pay. The balls were in the air and the bans were in the inboxes.

"Simultaneously to you receiving this memo, the players listed below [in a list containing Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson and all the PGA Tour members playing here this week] have been told that they are suspended or are no longer eligible to participate in PGA Tour tournament play,” Monahan wrote.

"These players have made their choice for their own financial-based reasons. But they can't demand the same PGA Tour membership benefits, considerations, opportunities and platform as you. The expectation disrespects you, our fans and our partners.

"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.”

However, there was no mention of a "lifetime ban", with Monahan promising the membership that the Tour “will deal with these questions”.

But Monahan did announce that even if players have resigned from the Tour  - nine of this 48-man field have - they will not be allowed to play PGA Tour events as a non-member via sponsor invites. The Tour has sought to block every avenue; presumably with the