PGA Tour Kicks Off 2023 With A Worrisome Announcement For Non-Members

LIV Golf first started poaching players from the PGA Tour last June. Since then, the Tour has done everything in its power to make sure players don’t jump ship. From sweetening the deal for the players with bigger purses and higher bonuses to introducing rigorous rules for the players, the tour has come a long way. But in a surprise move, it has now imposed a rule on its non-members. This has created havoc among them because of its dire consequences.

The Tour has gone on to ban all its players who defected to the other side from its events. But others face a similar consequence too. Let’s dive into what it is.

What is the new rule that has the golfers riled up?

As per a recent report from Golf Channel, the 2022–2023 Tour season has a new regulation in place. This states that “any player who has participated in an unauthorized tournament is ineligible to compete in any event sanctioned by the PGA Tour for a period of one year.”

While many have been wondering what unauthorized events are, the tour’s handbook clarifies that too. It states that a golf event is considered unauthorized when it does not have the commissioner’s approval. Hence, any tournament for which “the commissioner has denied or has indicated he would deny all conflicting event releases” will see all participating players facing a one-year ban.

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The regulation not only applies to Tour events but also to qualifying events. Monday qualifiers for the PGA Tour as well as the Korn Ferry Tour and Q-School will not allow players who have participated in “unauthorized tournaments” to play.

Amateurs are furious at the PGA Tour

While the rule makes sense for professional golfers, imposing it on amateurs and college players seems harsh. The Tour hopes to cut off LIV participation with this new rule in place and hopes that amateurs will not risk their future with the tour by competing in the Saudi-backed league.

David Puig, a recent pro, felt the full force of this rule. He competed in two LIV Golf events as an amateur and went on to compete in one more after turning professional in 2022. The golf pro is now unable to compete in any PGA Tour-sanctioned events in 2023.

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What do you think of the Tour’s new rule? Let us know in the comments below.