PGA

Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau and nine other LIV Golf Invitational Series players filed suit Wednesday against the PGA Tour after they were suspended for joining the Saudi Arabia-backed league.

On Friday, Golf Magazine's Dylan Dethier reported about text messages between 2017 Masters champion Sergio Garcia and LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman.

Interesting to see how insistent Norman was (in these texts with Sergio) that the PGA Tour wouldn't and couldn't suspend players.

"They cannot ban you for one day let alone life." pic.twitter.com/foSDSIOg2L

— Dylan Dethier (@dylan_dethier) August 5, 2022

Garcia, who was announced as one of the many LIV Golf players in May, texted Norman on Feb. 11 with concerns about joining the breakaway circuit because of potential punishment from the PGA Tour.

The Spaniard said in a message that it seemed "like a lot of those guys that were loving [LIV Golf] and excited about it last week, now are [s--tting] in their pants."

Norman asked Garcia who was nervous, and the 42-year-old responded that he believed the PGA Tour had reached out to younger players "and scared them a bit and because they are young, I think it worked."

Six days later, Garcia texted Norman: "Hi Sharky! It's official, the Tour has told our managers this week that whoever signs with the League, is ban from the Tour for life! I don't know how are we gonna get enough good players to join the League under this conditions. What do you think?"

Norman responded that the PGA Tour could not ban players "for one day let alone life."

"It is a shallow threat," Norman wrote. "Ask them to put it in writing to you or any player. I bet they don't. Happy for anyone to speak with our legal team to better understand they have no chance of enforcing."

On June 9, Commissioner Jay Monahan suspended 17 players, including Garcia, from competing in the PGA Tour after they began play in the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational Series event at the Centurion Club in London.

Eleven players filed an antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour on Wednesday in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California to challenge the bans and other restrictions.

The lawsuit alleges the PGA Tour engaged in "anticompetitive behavior" to control its hold on professional golf and that it "ventured to harm" the players' careers.

Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford and Matt Jones are also seeking a temporary restraining order so they can compete in the FedEx Cup playoffs, which begin next week in Memphis, Tennessee.

The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating whether the PGA Tour engaged in anticompetitive behavior.

Augusta National representatives allegedly threatened to disinvite LIV Golf players from this year's Masters if they left the PGA Tour to join the Saudi-backed league, according to a lawsuit filed by Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau and nine others looking to obtain a temporary restraining order to compete in the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup playoffs.

The lawsuit reads, per Golfweek's Adam Schupak:

“Augusta National, the promoter of The Masters, has taken multiple actions to indicate its alignment with the PGA Tour, thus seeding doubt among top professional golfers whether they would be banned from future Masters Tournaments. As an initial matter, the links between the PGA Tour and Augusta National run deep. The actions by Augusta National indicate that the PGA Tour has used these channels to pressure Augusta National to do its bidding. For example, in February, 2022 Augusta National representatives threatened to disinvite players from The Masters if they joined LIV Golf.”

The lawsuit also alleges that Augusta National officials were asked by the PGA Tour to attend a player advisory council meeting in May to discuss consequences for players that joined the LIV Golf Invitational Series.

According to the lawsuit, officials didn't attend the meeting but did tell players that the PGA Tour and Augusta National agreed to work together in response to LIV Golf.

It also accuses Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley of working against the Saudi-backed league. He allegedly told players that participated in the 2022 Masters to not play in the LIV Golf Invitational Series.

"Plainly, these threats to top players served no beneficial purpose, as they would only serve to weaken the field in the Masters," the lawsuit said.

In addition, Ridley also declined to meet with LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman to "understand the new circuit's business model," per ESPN's Mark Schlabach.

Mickelson, DeChambeau and nine others filed their lawsuit against the PGA Tour on Wednesday in the U.S. District Court of Northern California.

They requested that Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford and Matt Jones be given temporary restraining orders in order to compete in the FedEx Cup playoffs, which begin next week in Memphis, Tennessee.

"The punishment that would accrue to these players from not being able to play in the FedEx Cup Playoffs is substantial and irreparable," the golfers' attorneys wrote in the lawsuit, per Schlabach, "and a temporary restraining order is needed to prevent the irreparable harm that would ensue were they not to be able to participate."

Players who have joined the LIV Golf Invitational Series are facing significant suspensions from the PGA Tour. According to the lawsuit, players who appeared in the Saudi-backed league's first three tournaments are facing two-year suspensions through March 2024.

The U.S. Department of Justice has since opened an investigation into the PGA Tour's treatment of players and whether or not it has engaged in "anticompetitive behavior" amid its feud with LIV Golf, per ESPN.

Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau are among the 11 golfers on the LIV Golf Circuit who reportedly filed an antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour on Wednesday, per Louise Radnofsky and Andrew Beaton of the Wall Street Journal.

Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford, Matt Jones, Ian Poulter, Abraham Ancer, Carlos Ortiz, Pat Perez, Jason Kokrak and Peter Uihlein were the other golfers attached to the lawsuit.

The golfers on the Saudi Arabia-backed circuit are challenging the PGA Tour's decision to suspend them for participating in LIV events.

"The Tour's conduct serves no purpose other than to cause harm to players and foreclose the entry of the first meaningful competitive threat the Tour has faced in decades," the motion says.

As part of the lawsuit, Gooch, Swafford and Jones are looking for a temporary restraining order that would allow them to play in the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup Playoffs. They each accumulated enough points to qualify for the 125-player field prior to joining LIV, but the PGA Tour said they cannot compete.

The PGA Tour will allow players from outside the top 125 in the rankings to compete and take the place of those associated with LIV.

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan responded to the lawsuit:

Memo from PGA Tour commissioner to players in response to antitrust lawsuit that was filed Wednesday in California. pic.twitter.com/T0UR9FMoud

— Rex Hoggard (@RexHoggardGC) August 3, 2022

Radnofsky and Beaton noted the new lawsuit also illuminates some details on Mickelson's status with the PGA Tour. Lefty is arguably the face of LIV Golf at this point and, according to the suit, was suspended in March for allegedly recruiting players. The PGA Tour denied his application for reinstatement and said he cannot reapply until March 2024 after playing in multiple LIV events.

This is not the only legal issue the PGA Tour is facing, as Radnofsky and Beaton previously reported the Justice Department is investigating it for anticompetitive behavior. However, the PGA Tour has also received some bipartisan support from lawmakers on Capitol Hill given LIV's financial backers.

"We welcome good, healthy competition," Monahan said. "The LIV Saudi Golf League is not that. It's an irrational threat; one not concerned with the return on investment or true growth of the game.

"If this is an arms race and if the only weapons here are dollar bills, the PGA Tour can't compete. The PGA Tour, an American institution, can't compete with a foreign monarchy that is spending billions of dollars in an attempt to buy the game of golf."

This comes after LIV Golf announced it will expand its schedule to 14 tournaments for $405 million in purses next year (h/t ESPN's Mark Schlabach).

It debuted this year with eight tournaments and $255 million in purses.

LIV Golf has received plenty of criticism because of the financial backing of the Saudi Arabian government, which has been accused of attempting to sportswash its human rights violations.

Darren Clarke and Paul Broadhurst are tied for the lead after three rounds of the Senior Open Championship at Gleneagles in Scotland.

Clarke shot one under and Broadhurst shot four under to grab a share of the lead Saturday. They are nine under for the tournament and hold a one-stroke advantage on Steven Alker and Jerry Kelly.

Here's a look at the leaderboard and a deeper dive into the performances of Clarke and Broadhurst.

---

Leaderboard

T-1. Paul Broadhurst, -9

T-1. Darren Clarke, -9

T-3. Jerry Kelly, -8

T-3. Steven Alker, -8

T-5. Ernie Els, -6

T-5. Padraig Harrington, -6

T-5. Colin Montgomerie, -6

T-5. Stuart Appleby, -6

T-5. Thongchai Jaidee, -6

T-10. Bernhard Langer, -5

T-10. James Kingston, -5

Full leaderboard available at EuropeanTour.com

---

Clarke entered Saturday in the lead at eight under through two rounds.

The 53-year-old didn't have the best performance in Round 3, however. After sinking a birdie on the first hole, he shot for par through the rest of the front nine before carding another birdie on hole nine.

Leader @DarrenClarke60 wasting no time with birdie on No. 1 👏#SeniorOpen pic.twitter.com/xwDrFQPONX

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) July 23, 2022

Sure was the right line, @DarrenClarke60 🎯 pic.twitter.com/AI7oyHjFTj

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) July 23, 2022

Clarke stumbled on the 12th and 13th holes, carding back-to-back bogeys before ending the day with a birdie on hole 18.

Meanwhile, Broadhurst had one of the most impressive performances after entering the day tied for third at five under.

Like Clarke, Broadhurst carded a birdie on the opening hole. However, he had a better performance on the front nine than Clarke, carding another birdie on the third hole and a bogey on the fifth.

Where Broadhurst really made a difference was on the back nine with four birdies and a bogey.

Kelly also entered the day tied for third, and while he improved to eight under for the tournament, he remains in third place going into the final round. The 55-year-old carded four birdies and a bogey to help separate himself from the remainder of the field.

Alker, meanwhile, started the day at four under but was able to climb to third on the leaderboard with six birdies and two bogeys.

The final round of the Senior Open Championship is set for Sunday. If Clarke were to win this year's tournament, it would be his first victory in the event since 2011. If Broadhurst wins, it will be his first victory in the event in his career.

The European Ryder Cup team announced Wednesday that Henrik Stenson has been stripped of his captaincy ahead of the 2023 event.

BBC Sport reported the decision comes amid rumors Stenson is set to join LIV Golf.

"It is not possible for him to continue in the role of captain. His tenure as captain has been brought to an end with immediate effect," Ryder Cup Europe said. "In light of decisions made by Henrik in relation to his personal circumstances, it has become clear that he will not be able to fulfill certain contractual obligations to Ryder Cup Europe."

Stenson was announced as Europe's new Ryder Cup captain in March and shot down speculation he'd consider jumping to a rival tour, which would threaten that role.

"There's been a lot of speculation back and forth, but I am fully committed to the captaincy and to Ryder Cup Europe and the job at hand," Stenson told reporters. "The captain does sign a contract. He's the only one that does that."

Rumors about his future re-emerged after he missed the cut at last week's Open Championship. He was asked about his upcoming schedule and said he was "undecided."

Ewan Murray of The Guardian reported the 46-year-old Swede is indeed heading for LIV Golf, and he could debut as soon as next week in New Jersey after accepting a "lucrative offer."

LIV, which is financially backed by Saudi Arabia and has been accused of being a "sportswashing" venture, has been able to attract several high-profile golfers through the allure of massive guaranteed contracts and a limited schedule of 54-hole, no-cut events.

Tiger Woods is among the PGA Tour stars who've criticized players who made the switch.

"I think that what they've done is they've turned their back on what has allowed them to get to this position," Woods said before The Open last week.

So far, both Team United States and Team Europe have operated as if golfers who play in LIV Golf won't be eligible for next year's Ryder Cup, which is scheduled to take place at Italy's Marco Simone Golf and Country Club starting Sept. 29, 2023.

ESPN's Mark Schlabach noted potential replacements for Stenson include Luke Donald, Paul Lawrie and Robert Karlsson.

Stenson is a five-time member of Europe's Ryder Cup squad, making his debut in 2006 and most recently playing in the 2018 event.

Individually, he twice won the European Tour's Race to Dubai (2013 and 2016) and captured his only major championship at The Open in 2016.

He's now set to join a LIV roster that also features Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed and Sergio Garcia, among others.

World No. 2 golfer Cameron Smith is coming off a victory at The Open Championship last weekend, and it appears he's gearing up for a change of scenery.

According to TMZ Sports, Smith is "closing in" on a deal to join LIV Golf, which would make him the latest star to jump from the PGA Tour in favor of the Saudi Arabia-backed organization.

Smith, who shot an eight-under 64 on Sunday to seal his victory at St. Andrews, was asked after the tournament if he planned on joining LIV Golf. While he seemed to be annoyed by the question, he didn't deny the possibility.

"I just won the British Open, and you're asking about that. I think that's pretty not that good," Smith said. "I don’t know, mate. My team around me worries about all that stuff. I’m here to win golf tournaments."

Smith was also congratulated by LIV Golf Commissioner Greg Norman on Twitter, which further fueled speculation that he's set to join LIV's lineup of competitors.

If the deal is completed, Smith would join a long list of recognizable names to jump to LIV Golf, including Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau. However, Smith would be the highest-ranked player to join the controversial breakaway league.

LIV Golf has enticed top players to make the leap from the PGA Tour by handing out substantial contracts. Mickelson reportedly received a $200 million deal to sign with the league. While Smith likely won't command that value, it can be expected that the 28-year-old Australian is attracted to the prospect of earning a nine-figure deal.

The PGA Tour has said it will ban any players who compete in LIV Golf events with the possibility of barring them from participating in the four major championships beginning in 2023.

Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland will be locked in a duel at the British Open for a second straight day.

The only difference between Saturday and Sunday's trips up and down the Old Course at St. Andrews is the two players reside in the final pairing instead of the penultimate group.

McIlroy and Hovland shot dueling 66s on Saturday to leapfrog Cameron Smith and Cameron Young on the leaderboard. The two leaders sit at 16 under with a four-shot lead over Smith and Young.

The Northern Irishman and Norwegian have the best chances to win the Claret Jug based on history. No player has won The Open Championship at St. Andrews from four or more shots back going into Sunday.

History suggests Sunday's winner will be either McIlroy or Hovland, but that does not mean they will be the only golfers to turn in marvelous performances.

Scottie Scheffler, Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Matt Fitzpatrick and Adam Scott are among the previous major winners that sit in the top 12 and could make some noise on the Old Course to finish inside the top five before the championship showdown begins between McIlroy and Hovland.

---

Notable 4th-Round Tee Times

7:15 a.m. ET: Jon Rahm, Victor Perez

8:15 a.m. ET: Bryson DeChambeau, Francesco Molinari

9 a.m. ET: Patrick Cantlay, Jordan Spieth

9:10 a.m. ET: Adam Scott, Matt Fitzpatrick

9:20 a.m. ET: Tommy Fleetwood, Dustin Johnson

9:30 a.m. ET: Scottie Scheffler, Si Woo Kim

9:40 a.m. ET: Cameron Smith, Cameron Young

9:50 a.m. ET: Rory McIlroy, Viktor Hovland

Full list of tee times can be found here.

---

Predictions

Rory McIlroy Outduels Viktor Hovland

Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland matched scores during Saturday's third round.

The same situation could come about Sunday, but McIlroy has a distinct advantage when it comes to playing in the final group at a major tournament.

McIlroy is a four-time major champion and has played in a smattering of final pairings throughout his career. Hovland is sitting in his highest position ever at a major after 54 holes.

In fact, Hovland has struggled to break into the top 10 at major tournaments since he earned the low amateur award at the Masters in 2019. His best major finish as a professional is a tie for 12th at the 2021 Open Championship.

Of course, things can change in an instant in major tournament golf, and Hovland is playing some of the best golf of anyone in the field, but Sunday comes with a different amount of pressure.

One or two bad decisions, or a missed shot, has the potential to send someone's round into a spiral. Just look at Mito Pereira at the PGA Championship for an example of that. Pereira looked like he would be the winner at Southern Hills, and then he fell apart and did not even make the playoff with Justin Thomas and Will Zalatoris.

Hovland possesses more overall experience than Pereira, but the point remains about what a player can face in his first time in the final group situation. One mistake on the back nine could be all McIlroy needs to jump into the lead.

McIlroy's advanced experience with bouncing back from bad breaks, or making the right decisions on the tee box to deal with the course should give him an edge over Hovland.

And then there is the one element Hovland can't control that will be on McIlroy's side. The crowd has been pro-McIlroy all week at St. Andrews, and McIlroy will be treated like Tiger Woods at Augusta National Golf Club.

---

Jordan Spieth Makes Push Into Top Five

Jordan Spieth made a move up into a tie for 11th place with a four-under 68 on Saturday.

Spieth will not win The Open unless McIlroy and Hovland go into complete collapse mode from the first hole on.

The three-time major champion can earn his second-ever top-five finish at St. Andrews through another solid day.

Spieth opened the third round with six pars and three birdies on the front nine. He only had two bogeys on the card, one of which took place on the par-three 11th hole.

Spieth has seven birdies and no bogeys on the front nine in his last two rounds. Another fast start could speed the American past a handful of other top-five contenders.

The best-case scenario for Spieth is to continue a fast start into the back nine and end up high on the leaderboard similar to what McIlroy produced at the Masters in April. McIlroy used a Sunday surge to take second behind Scottie Scheffler.

A strong Sunday at The Open is familiar to Spieth. He shot a 66 to take second behind Collin Morikawa last year and shot a 69 back in 2015 at St. Andrews to move into a top-five placing.

Rory McIlroy's stunning eagle on the par-four 10th and Viktor Hovland's bogey-free six-under 66 highlighted a phenomenal day for the new Open Championship co-leaders, who pace the field at St. Andrews with 16-under scores through three rounds.

Rory. McIlroy.#The150thOpen pic.twitter.com/ZgVKfXf8ie

— The Open (@TheOpen) July 16, 2022

Cameron Young, whose eight-under 64 proved good enough for the first-round lead, sits in tied for third at 12 under. He's there with Cameron Smith, who led the field at 13 under heading into the weekend but shot a one-over 73.

Reigning Masters winner Scottie Scheffler is hanging around in fifth after shooting a three-under 69 (-11). Si Woo Kim, the 2017 Players champion, is right there with him.

Here's a look at the top 10 and ties heading into the final round as well as highlights and reaction focused on McIlroy and Hovland.

---

Open Championship Round 3 Leaderboard

T1. Rory McIlroy (-16)

T1. Viktor Hovland (-16)

T3. Cameron Young (-12)

T3. Cameron Smith (-12)

T5. Scottie Scheffler (-11)

T5. Si Woo Kim (-11)

7. Dustin Johnson (-10)

T8. Tommy Fleetwood (-9)

T8. Matt Fitzpatrick (-9)

T8. Adam Scott (-9)

Full leaderboard available at TheOpen.com.

---

Highlights and Reaction

McIlroy drilled a 27-yard shot from the bunker on the 10th that turned the tide of this entire tournament. He caused an electric radio call too.

🔉 Here's THAT McIlroy hole out with Open Radio commentary 📻

Tune in to feel it all 👉 https://t.co/qF7l0C0L4l#The150thOpen pic.twitter.com/zU6fUlToFM

— The Open (@TheOpen) July 16, 2022

McIlroy moved into first at that moment and positioned himself to win his first Open Championship since 2014, when he took home the Claret Jug and the PGA Championship's Wanamaker Trophy.

The fans went wild on the adjacent 11th hole, and Scheffler and Dustin Johnson smiled after seeing the shot go in.

The reaction from the spectators at St Andrews after Rory McIlroy's eagle at the 10th says it all.

📺: @nbc and @peacockTV
💻: https://t.co/YiRSu9hPWb pic.twitter.com/eh4O0lSey6

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) July 16, 2022

It was a fantastic sequence of events capped off by Hovland's own birdie to move into a tie for first at 15 under.

God this Open Championship is delivering.

That 5 minute stretch of golf was about as good as the sport can get.

McIlroy holing out for eagle, crowd goes nuts. Seeing DJ & Scottie smiling, Hovland makes his birdie and then Rory fist bumps both Viktor and his caddy.

Hell yes

— Peter Burns (@PeterBurnsESPN) July 16, 2022

McIlroy's concentration in the moment deserves credit, especially considering that he needed to step away a few times before the shot.

Amazing moment. Rory McIlroy, confronting a treacherous bunker shot from which he stepped away twice, holes it for eagle. -15 and now with outright Open lead.

— Oliver Brown (@oliverbrown_tel) July 16, 2022

Fans and analysts were hyped at the result.

RORY NICK FALDO MCILROY!!!!! MY KING MY LIFE MY AIR THAT I BREATHE ILY

— Amanda Rose (@AmandaGolf59) July 16, 2022

https://twitter.com/SeanFennessey/status/1548356337494396931

Hovland was fantastic in his own right, especially with the crowd clearly in McIlroy's corner.

The crowd just cheered when Hovland missed his short birdie putt

The fans at St. Andrews are VERY pro-Rory #TheOpen

— Rory McIlroy Tracker (@RMTracker) July 16, 2022

Hard to convey how pro-Rory the fans are. After every Hovland shot that doesn't go in there are immediate yells of "RORY" raining down from the crowd and every Rory shot is greeted with, uh, roars. Not to go all Talor Gooch, but borderline Ryder Cup atmosphere

— Joel Beall (@JoelMBeall) July 16, 2022

He nailed four straight birdies on the front nine to truly emerge as a major front-runner for the first time in his brief professional career.

Can't stop, won't stop for Viktor Hovland.

That is now FOUR straight birdies for him. #TheOpen

📺 @nbc and @peacockTV
💻 https://t.co/YiRSu9hPWb pic.twitter.com/Oi3u7wrYep

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) July 16, 2022

A long putt on No. 4 helped the cause.

Hovland to the top of the leaderboard 🔝 He joins Cam Smith on -12#The150thOpen pic.twitter.com/ho8hUceATh

— The Open (@TheOpen) July 16, 2022

Viktor Hovland hasn’t finished inside the top-10 in 11 previous major appearances and hasn’t finished inside the top-20 in his last seven stroke-play events, so of course he can’t stop making birdies and is leading The Open right now.

— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelGolf) July 16, 2022

Hovland had a little luck along the way, particularly at No. 9, which featured an epic drive.

Drives don't come much better than this⛳️#The150thOpen pic.twitter.com/qLTU0N4R6v

— The Open (@TheOpen) July 16, 2022

The End Hole bunker on 9 is so so so brilliant.

Hovland hit *the* shot that that bunker is meant to gobble up, and he got the bounce that guys that win The Open get.

— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) July 16, 2022

But a little luck is needed sometimes to win major tournaments, and his skill and fit for St. Andrews has Hovland in position to win.

Astute observation from @maxhoma23 today about Hovland - the one part of his game this is questionable (chipping) is totally eliminated at the Old Course. He can just putt from everywhere. No surprise he’s in this.

— Shane Bacon (@shanebacon) July 16, 2022

This is the perfect course for Hovland, not least because he can use putter instead of wedge around the greens.

— Alan Shipnuck (@AlanShipnuck) July 16, 2022

Incredible two-putt from Hovland here on the 13th. 114 feet is forever away.

— Shane Bacon (@shanebacon) July 16, 2022

Been waiting on this from Hovland. Supreme talent with no top-10's in majors to match it. Big, big day ahead for him tomorrow.

— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) July 16, 2022

His phenomenal three-wood on the 18th led to an easy birdie and a close in style.

'Pretty tasty'

Viktor Hovland caresses his 3 wood onto the 18th green#The150thOpen pic.twitter.com/Veb93AVbdE

— The Open (@TheOpen) July 16, 2022

Overall, McIlroy and Hovland created an epic day of golf, and now they will duel for the Claret Jug as a host of fans await.

Rory McIlroy. Viktor Hovland. Final pairing on Sunday at #TheOpen

THE GOLF GODS LOVE US!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/JP8DAZnfkS

— Amanda Rose (@AmandaGolf59) July 16, 2022

Hovland and McIlroy playing the final 36 together, and starting Sunday with daylight between them and the rest of the field. Good stuff.

— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) July 16, 2022

Disgustingly good 18 holes between Rory and Hovland. Let’s run it back tomorrow.

— Paolo Uggetti (@PaoloUggetti) July 16, 2022

Saturday's final duo of Young and Smith will now serve as the penultimate group out on the course.

United States Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson warned members of LIV Golf that they may be ineligible for the 2023 event.

He told reporters Thursday:

"So what I know is this: In order to play on the Ryder Cup team whether you're top-six or a pick, you must garner Ryder Cup points through the PGA of America. In order to garner Ryder Cup points through the PGA of America, you have to be a member of the PGA of America. The way that we're members of the PGA of America is through the PGA Tour. I'll let you connect the dots from there."

The PGA Tour has suspended golfers who defected to the Saudi-backed golf league in recent weeks, and several golfers have resigned their memberships to the PGA Tour.

Three members of the 2021 United States Ryder Cup team, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson, are signed to LIV Golf.

Patrick Reed, who earned the nickname "Captain America" thanks to his exploits in the Ryder Cup, and Phil Mickelson, who holds the Ryder Cup record for matches played, are also signed with LIV.

Bernd Wiesberger, Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter are the members of the 2021 European Ryder Cup team to join LIV.

Both teams use different qualifying criteria to decide their final rosters. The United States has six automatic qualifiers, based on a scoring system that is predicated on PGA Tour events, and six captain's choices. The European criteria for the 2023 event is yet to be announced but included nine automatic qualifiers and three captain's choices in 2021.

The DP World Tour fined golfers who defected to LIV Golf $123,000 and banned them from competing in events co-sanctioned with the PGA Tour.

Team Europe captain Henrik Stenson has not indicated how he would handle LIV Golf members for the event.

All of the golfers who have publicly commented said they acknowledge the risk of being potentially left out but indicated the reward for joining LIV—which included nine-figure signing bonuses for some—was too great to pass up.

"I mean, why should it [Cup eligibility] be threatened?" Westwood said. "I've been playing Ryder Cup golf since 1997, and the criteria has been to be a member of the European Tour. Now, the criteria for being a member of the European Tour is to play four events. Why should they change that now?"

Survivors of family members injured or killed in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks penned an open letter to PGA Tour members applauding them for resisting overtures from the LIV Golf Invitational Series.

ESPN's Mark Schlabach shared a portion of the letter:

"To those many of you who chose to remain loyal to the PGA Tour — and did not defect to the Saudi Arabia-bankrolled LIV Golf Series — we thank you and the sponsors who support you. Thank you for standing up for decency. Thank you for standing up for the 9/11 Families. Thank you for resisting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's efforts to cleanse its reputation by buying off professional athletes. [...]

"To those of you who have chosen what is right over blood money from a corrupt, destructive sports entity and its Saudi backers, please continue to stand strong. You inspire hope and conviction that our long journey to accountability and justice is in reach. We deeply value your integrity and your willingness to stand up for principle."

LIV Golf is backed by the Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, which has led to significant scrutiny of the venture.

Human rights have been a longstanding concern in Saudi Arabia. In February 2021, U.S. intelligence officials said they concluded Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman approved the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi Arabian Washington Post journalist who was critical of the regime.

President Joe Biden also authorized the declassification last September of an FBI report outlining the connection of Saudi nationals to the 9/11 attacks. Osama bin Laden, who orchestrated the attacks, and 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudi Arabian.

Critics of LIV Golf contend it's a means for the Saudi regime to improve its reputation and how it's perceived around the world.

Terry Strada, the national chairperson of 9/11 Families United, wrote a letter to LIV-affiliated golfers saying they were "complicit with their whitewash, and help give them the reputational cover they so desperately crave."

Leading up to the U.S. Open, Phil Mickelson addressed the topic and told reporters he has "deep, deep empathy" for anybody who lost loved ones on 9/11.

Phil Mickelson responded to criticism from families of 9/11 victims over playing in the Saudi-backed LIV Golf series on Monday, saying he has "deep empathy" for them. https://t.co/gOw4C2VAyc pic.twitter.com/nsHO6pYwfY

— CBS News (@CBSNews) June 14, 2022

In response to LIV Golf, the PGA Tour suspended Mickelson and 16 others who competed in LIV's inaugural event. The tactic didn't dissuade others from joining the breakaway league, though.

Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed and Abraham Ancer have all officially signed, and Brooks Koepka is reportedly on the way as well.

LIV will tee off its second event on June 30 at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in Portland, Oregon.