The second year of the Saudi-funded LIV Golf will go to three courses owned by former President Donald Trump as part of a 14-event schedule in 2023, according to a report by SI.com.
The report said that LIV Golf has announced its schedule, although the LIV website only said that the full schedule is coming soon. The rival league said earlier that it will open its season from February 24-26 at the Mexican golf resort of Mayakoba, which previously hosted the PGA Tour stop.
LIV Golf did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
Meanwhile, the UK’s Daily Telegraph has quoted European Tour chief executive Keith Bailey as saying he and PGA Tour commissioner Guy Monahan have stepped down as members of the World Golf Rankings’ governing board from any discussion of whether LIV Golf should gain world ranking points. .
The PGA Tour confirmed that Monahan was not part of the December board meeting that dealt with the LIV situation. It usually takes a year before a new circuit joins the OWGR system, and LIV Golf’s league of 54-hole events with no cuts falls short of some of the OWGR’s guidelines.
LIV Golf previously announced seven locations, including four previously used on the PGA Tour or European Tour – Mayakoba, The Gallery at Dove Mountain north of Tucson, Arizona; Greenbrier in West Virginia; and Valderrama in Spain.
The full schedule, according to SI.com, includes Trump National in Northern Virginia (May 26-28), Trump National in Bedminster, New Jersey (August 11-13), and Trump National Doral near Miami (Oct. 20-22). ).
Trump courses in Bedminster and Doral were part of last year’s schedule, as were Centurion outside London and Rich Harvest Farms in the Chicago suburbs. Missing from last year’s schedule is a stop outside Boston.
Trump’s National Doral held the team’s final championship in its inaugural season. Now the LIV golf tournament will be in Saudi Arabia. A year ago, a regular LIV event was held in Saudi Arabia before going to Doral.
SI.com also reported that Majed Al-Sorour, managing director of LIV Golf and CEO of the Saudi Golf Federation, will be leaving his position but will remain on the LIV board of directors. Al-Sorour was seen as one of the main negotiators in signing players.
Greg Norman, CEO and Commissioner of LIV Golf, strongly urged last year that Bailey and Monahan recuse themselves from the OWGR’s decision on whether a competitive circuit should gain ranking points.
Bailey said he, Monahan and Keith Waters — a longtime European tour executive who represents the International PGA Tour on the OWGR board — stepped down.
That leaves only the leaders of the Big Four – Augusta National Golf Club, US Golf Association, Royal & Ancient and PGA of America – along with OWGR President Peter Dawson to decide on LIV.
“I haven’t looked at the LIV app nor give my opinions on an app I haven’t seen,” Bailey told The Telegraph. “So, as far as LIV goes, we are not involved in it and we have no influence or say in what happens.”
The developments come a week after LIV Golf announced a television partnership with The CW, where weekend rounds will be broadcast in the US and the Friday round will be available on the network’s app.
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