USA Today via Reuters
PGA, Golf Herren THE PLAYERS Championship – press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz March 13, 2020 Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA PGA commissioner Jay Monahan speaks to media after the cancellation of the 2020 edition of The Players Championship golf tournament at TPC Sawgrass – Stadium Course. The tournament was cancelled at the conclusion of the first round due to the developing Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hagy-USA TODAY Sports, 13.03.2020 08:15:44, 14176858, NPStrans, PGA, TPC Sawgrass, The Players Championship, Jay Monahan, COVID-19, TopPic PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xAdamxHagyx 14176858| Credits: Imago
USA Today via Reuters
PGA, Golf Herren THE PLAYERS Championship – press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz March 13, 2020 Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA PGA commissioner Jay Monahan speaks to media after the cancellation of the 2020 edition of The Players Championship golf tournament at TPC Sawgrass – Stadium Course. The tournament was cancelled at the conclusion of the first round due to the developing Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hagy-USA TODAY Sports, 13.03.2020 08:15:44, 14176858, NPStrans, PGA, TPC Sawgrass, The Players Championship, Jay Monahan, COVID-19, TopPic PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xAdamxHagyx 14176858| Credits: Imago
Is the PGA Tour superior to LIV Golf? This has been an issue of debate in the community in the community for about 2 years now. While some fans and golfers seem to believe so, others think differently. One known fact about the players who play in the Saudi-funded league is that they do not get OWGR points, and they are not authorized to play on the PGA Tour, even if they win the majors. There are rules in place, right? Golfers just cannot play on both the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.
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The 51-year-old English golfer Richard Bland, who recently won the Senior PGA Championship, has been snubbed, too, of the exemption that comes fairly with the win. Notably, this was his debut Senior PGA Championship. He joined LIV Golf back in June 2022 and has made about $9.8 million since. Yet his alliance with LIV Golf has proved to be costing him on the greens. The X handle of Flushing It shared the unfortunate news with the golf community.
They re-shared Bob Harig’s X post stating, “It took just a matter of hours for the PGA Tour Champions to confirm Richard Bland will not be eligible to play in their events despite earning an exemption via his win at the Senior PGA Championship. It’s such a shame that this is where we are in golf right now.” Bob Harig, however, reported the official grounds on which Bland was dismissed from taking part in the upcoming PGA Tour Champions events. Harig quoted, “In spite of the win, because he competing in an unauthorized event by the PGA TOUR, he will be ineligible for TOUR-affiliated events. The PGA of America, USGA, and R&A each operate based on criteria of their own.”
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It took just a matter of hours for the PGA Tour Champions to confirm Richard Bland will not be eligible to play in their events despite earning an exemption via his win at the Senior PGA Championship. It’s such a shame that this is where we are in golf right now. https://t.co/wiYKY5rfon
— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) May 27, 2024
With 21 birdies and 2 eagles, Richard Bland’s final score was an absolute marvel of 17-under. With such a marvelous win, he can participate in the upcoming U.S. Senior Open commencing on June 27- 30th at Newport Country Club. The event would start rolling in only a week after his appearance at LIV Golf Nashville. But the golf community is extremely bitter about Bland’s fate. With the decisions taken by the PGA Tour policy boards, they expressed their perspective.
Golf fans are resentful towards the PGA Tour champions
One of the fans outright called out the PGA Tour. They stated, “The PGA Tour s*cks. They are petty and spiteful. The fans want to see the best players. We don’t care what card you carry. Time to tune out.” With the growing tensions between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour, the daily golf has been quite absurd to watch for the fans as they witness how the former bars many anticipating players from joining in. Many fans quit watching the events as the participation lists barred many of the best players.
Yet another fan called the PGA Tour to have taken a petty decision. They said, “Such a petty decision, especially after all the recent talk about getting the best players playing in the top events.” The fan also brought to notice how the PGA Tour Commissioner, Jay Monahan, had announced in a conference that fans’s choices would be prioritized while choosing players. The golfers on the Tour, such as Rory McIlroy have also voiced about bringing the best players together on the greens so that the sport can be great again.
Another pointed out how not including Richard Bland is going to be a disadvantage to the PGA Tour itself. They reflected, “Their loss, not his.” Bland won the senior major on his debut and astonished everyone with his game.
One golf enthusiast commented, “Pettiness of US PGAT leadership.” Calling out Jay Monahan for making such rash decisions regarding the PGA Tour’s brawl against LIV Golf players. With the merger going on, Monahan has received a lot of backlash for his leadership, and this instance added on to it.
One other fan commented, “Hahaha just continuing to destroy their own product. The pettiness is incredible.” They insinuated how the PGA Tour is dismissing several stars just because they play in a different league. Players like Koepka, Rahm, Mickelson, DeChambeau, and others are not allowed to play on the PGA Tour as well.
What are your thoughts on the matter? Let us know in the comments below.
Written by
Edited by
Riya Singhal