Multiple LIV Golfers Set To Tee It Up At BMW PGA Championship

Poulter and Westwood and caddie chat on the tee

(Image credit: Getty Images)

published 27 August 2022

The DP World Tour, formerly European Tour, flagship event gets underway on the 8th September at Wentworth. A bumper field is set to tee it up, including Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, defending champion Billy Horschel, Viktor Hovland and recent US Open winner, Matt Fitzpatrick.

However, it is perhaps the addition of the LIV golfers that are causing the headlines as the tournament begins at the start of September, with around 20 individuals of the Saudi-backed series currently entered into the BMW PGA Championship field.

Horschel waves to the crowd while holding the BMW PGA Championship — Horschel will look to defend his title that he won in 2021

Back at the end of June, the PGA And DP World Tours strengthened their alliance amid the LIV Golf threat, as the two organisations struck a deal that will hold until 2035.

Despite the deal, the DP World Tour is still operated separately from its American counterpart, thus players from the Saudi-backed series are in the field for the tournament despite being banned by the PGA Tour.

Abraham Ancer, Kevin Na, Talor Gooch, Patrick Reed and Jason Kokrak are just some of the players who have entered the event. This is thanks to an exemption category that allows the top 60 players in the world to take part.

According to the Golf Channel, the LIV players who do tee it up in Surrey will be given a six-figure fine, with the tournament their second in as many weeks due to the fourth LIV Golf event getting underway in Boston the week prior.

Kaymer, Westwood and Garcia pose in front of the LIV Golf banner — Kaymer, Westwood and Garcia are just a few of the LIV Golf names featuring at Wentworth

So, how have some of the current PGA and DP World Tour crop reacted to the news? Well, according to Fitzpatrick, it will be "odd" seeing LIV Golf players at Wentworth, with the Major winner stating that: "It's going to be a bit weird, and obviously it's a little bit disappointing."

A full list of current and former LIV golfers, who are listed in the field on the DP World Tour website, is included below:

Abraham Ancer
Kevin Na
Jason Kokrak
Talor Gooch
Patrick Reed
Lee Westwood
Martin Kaymer
Sergio Garcia
Bernd Wiesberger
Sam Horsfield
Pablo Larrazabal
Richard Bland
Graeme McDowell
Justin Harding
Shaun Norris
Branden Grace
Ian Poulter
Laurie Canter
Adrian Otaegui
Wade Ormsby

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Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover weekend news and social media, as well as help look after Golf Monthly’s many buyers’ guides and equipment reviews.

Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round came in 2016, where he shot a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine holes. He currently plays at Witney Lakes in Oxfordshire and his favourite player is Rory McIlroy, despite nearly being struck by his second shot at the 17th during the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.

Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?

Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°

Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Rocketballz Stage 2, 15°, 19°

Hybrid: Adams Super Hybrid, 22°

Irons: Mizuno MP54, 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°

Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

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