Multiple LIV Golfers Set To Tee It Up At BMW PGA Championship
Around 20 players from the Saudi-backed series are set to descend on Wentworth in September
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.
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.
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."
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
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
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
-
Short Putts... Dead-Weight Or Firm? Our Experts Debate This Common Conundrum
Standing over a short putt with the match on the line is enough to make even the best putter feel a little uneasy. But, is it best to hit dead-weight or firm?
By Barry Plummer Published
-
TGL Off To Strong Start After ESPN Viewing Figures Released
The first night of TGL action drew viewing figures that peaked at over one million says broadcaster ESPN
By Paul Higham Published
-
Report: Viewing Figures For The Showdown Lower Than Most Editions Of The Match
The Las Vegas contest, which saw PGA Tour stars play LIV golfers, reportedly had relatively disappointing viewing figures across two networks that broadcast it
By Mike Hall Published
-
What Rory McIlroy Thinks The TGL Will Do 'A Little Bit Better' Than LIV Golf
The Boston Common Golf player believes the team element of the TGL will be more appealing to fans than the LIV Golf format
By Mike Hall Published
-
Rory McIlroy And Scottie Scheffler Spotted Wearing Prototype Nike Shoes At The Showdown
The World No.1 and No.3 have worn Nike footwear for years and, in Las Vegas on Tuesday, the pair were spotted donning some never-seen before models
By Matt Cradock Published
-
The Coat, Hit-It-Further Juice, And Player's Dad Struck With Ball: The Showdown Moments You Might Have Missed
Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy cruised to victory at the much-anticipated TV match against Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka, and there were a handful of notable moments along the way at Shadow Creek
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
The Showdown Payout: What Did Scottie Scheffler And Rory McIlroy Win In Vegas?
Scheffler and McIlroy dominated proceedings at The Showdown and, in the process, secured a $5 million payday each in the form of the crypto-based coin 'CRO'
By Matt Cradock Published
-
How To Watch The Showdown: Live Stream, TV Channels For Scheffler & McIlroy vs Koepka & DeChambeau
The PGA Tour vs LIV Golf League pairs match is being played for a reported purse of $10million in cryptocurrency
By Roderick Easdale Last updated
-
The Showdown: What You Need To Know Ahead Of PGA Tour Vs LIV Golf Clash
Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy are preparing to take on Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau in an exhibition match at Shadow Creek Golf Club
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
'It Was Really About Us Taking This Into Our Own Hands' - McIlroy On How PGA Tour-LIV Golf Showdown Came To Fruition
Rory McIlroy says the players organized the PGA Tour-LIV Golf Showdown match themselves to show fans they're trying to bring the sport back together
By Paul Higham Published