Both males have certified to play in subsequent week’s U.S. Open, a match DeChambeau gained in 2020. On Tuesday, the USGA introduced that golfers who had certified for the match could be allowed to play, irrespective of their tour affiliation.
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan has threatened to completely ban any participant who takes the course for LIV Golf, although quite a few LIV golfers — together with Johnson, Kevin Na, Louis Oosthuizen, Sergio Garcia, Charl Schwartzel and Branden Grace — have preempted any punishment by resigning from the PGA Tour.
The LIV tour reportedly will pay Johnson and Mickelson greater than $100 million every merely to join the brand new league. Such financial-driven motivation doesn’t sit effectively with four-time main winner Rory McIlrory, who has maintained a steadfast devotion to the PGA Tour.
“Any decision you make in your life purely for money doesn’t usually end up going the right way. I’ve had that before, a couple times in my life,” McIlroy stated Wednesday forward of this week’s Canadian Open occasion on the PGA Tour.
Requests for remark from LIV Golf and representatives of DeChambeau and Reed weren’t returned, and it’s unclear whether or not DeChambeau and Reed have forfeited their PGA Tour membership. On Tuesday, DeChambeau dedicated to play within the PGA Tour’s Travelers Championship, which takes place later this month in the course of the week between the U.S. Open and the second LIV Tour occasion.
At the Memorial final week, DeChambeau stated leaving the PGA Tour was not definitely worth the threat.
“I think that’s mostly — a lot of it is private,” stated DeChambeau, an eight-time winner on tour. “There’s not really any conversations that need to be made about that, other than the fact that, like, every person out here has their own opinion on it. Me, there’s obviously a lot of conversation. For me, I personally don’t think that at this point in time I’m in a place in my career where I can risk things like that.”
Both DeChambeau and Reed, the 2018 Masters champion, have battled current accidents and sicknesses which have brought on them to tumble down the world rankings. DeChambeau has been coping with a torn left hip labrum for a number of years and in addition damage his left hand final fall, accidents that have been exacerbated in February when he slipped whereas enjoying desk tennis throughout a February match in Saudi Arabia. He underwent surgical procedure on his hand in April and has performed in just one match since, lacking the minimize ultimately week’s Memorial (he has missed the minimize in 4 of his final 5 tournaments).
Reed had a case of double pneumonia final August that at one level had him fearing for his life. This calendar yr, he has missed 4 cuts and has just one top-10 end, ultimately month’s Charles Schwab Challenge.
DeChambeau, who ascended to No. 4 within the Official World Golf Ranking after the 2021 PGA Championship, has slipped to No. 28. Reed, who rose to No. 7 on this planet final yr, sits at No. 36. Their transfer to the LIV circuit means it now will characteristic six of the world’s high 50 golfers and 20 of the highest 100.
DeChambeau and Reed are two of essentially the most polarizing gamers in skilled golf. Already seen as one of many sport’s most cerebral gamers, DeChambeau bulked up considerably in the course of the early coronavirus pandemic, turning into the longest driver on tour, however he additionally has gotten into feuds with each fellow professional Brooks Koepka and with on-course guidelines officers. Reed has been on the heart of a number of guidelines controversies over his profession.
Still, their fame and their standing as previous main champions signify two extra massive wins for LIV golf in its nascent battle with the PGA Tour.
PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas on Wednesday stated the LIV-associated golfers are free to do as they select but in addition referred to as the PGA Tour “the best place to play in the world.”
“I’ve thought a lot about it, and it’s just like, people are entitled to choose as they wish. Like, I don’t dislike [Johnson] now; I don’t think he’s a bad dude; I’m not gonna treat him any differently. He’s entitled to choose as he wishes,” Thomas stated throughout a news convention forward of the Canadian Open. “Now, I’m disappointed, and I wish that he and others wouldn’t have done it, but that’s their decision. … Selfishly, I know the PGA Tour is the best place to play in the world. …
“I wish it wouldn’t be taking away from the great storylines and the things that are going on on a tour that’s been around for a very long time and is in one of the best places it’s ever been. I’m just bummed that those guys won’t be a part of it.”
Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, in the meantime, downplayed the absences.
“I haven’t really noticed anyone missing this week. Maybe outside of DJ,” he stated Wednesday of Johnson, who additionally had dedicated to play within the Canadian Open earlier than saying his transfer to LIV Golf.
