Richest event ever begins as players tee off at LIV Invitational opener

ST ALBANS, England : The first balls were struck at the most lucrative tournament in golf's history as 48 players teed off at the Centurion Club north of London on Thursday to begin the eight-event LIV Invitational Series.

The divisive Saudi Arabian-backed breakaway series fronted by Australia's twice British Open champion Greg Norman offers $25 million per event in prizemoney with an eye-watering $4 million going to this week's individual winner.

A 54-hole format, with no cuts and a team element bolted on, is being trumpeted as an exciting new era for golf by Norman who seems determined to shake up the status quo.

But critics say the series, bank-rolled to the tune of $250 million by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) amounts to blatant 'sportswashing' by a nation trying to improve its reputation in light of human rights concerns.

The players signed up have hardly disguised the attraction of the riches up for grabs with former U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell saying he would have been crazy to turn it down.

But the PGA Tour and the Europe-based DP World Tour have declined requests from members for releases to compete at Centurion where finishing last guarantees a cheque of $120,000.

Last week the PGA Tour reiterated a warning to members that those featuring in the breakaway circuit would be "subject to disciplinary action", although no sanctions have been announced.

American and European players taking part also risk sacrificing Ryder Cup ambitions.

"We all know why everyone's playing in London this week," former world number one Rory McIlroy, who has shunned the LIV Series, said on the eve of the Canadian Open which is taking place at the same time.

"It's boatloads of cash and it's money up front."

The LIV Series