Saudi-backed LIV event begins as PGA suspends players

The most lucrative golf tournament in history got under way this afternoon as golf began a new 'fractured' era which was quickly followed by the PGA Tour suspending their players who started the event.

The Saudi Arabian-backed breakaway series has divided the sport’s players and led to accusation of sportswashing as a basis behind the tournament.

As LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman watched on, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Scott Vincent teed off on the opening hole in the first $25 million Invitational Series event at Centurion Club.

It is a tournament which has thrown the world of men's professional golf into turmoil, with Johnson resigning from the PGA Tour to take part and Mickelson committing at the last minute for a fee reported to be $200 million.

All 48 players in the field teed off at the same time in a "shotgun start", the 16 groups of three spread around the course in Hertfordshire.

Critics say the series, bankrolled 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 Ireland’s Graeme McDowell saying he would have been crazy to turn it down.

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.

Thirty minutes after play got under way, the PGA Tour sent a memo to all members informing them that the players competing at Centurion were being suspended.

"In accordance with the PGA Tour's Tournament Regulations, the players competing this week without releases are suspended or otherwise no longer eligible to