Rich Beem ‘shocked’ by PGA Tour response to Greg Norman’s LIV; Andrew Coltart: Saga will drag on yet | Golf News

Wealthy Beem says he was “shocked” by the choice of the PGA Tour to disclaim gamers releases to go and play for Greg Norman’s LIV Golf Invitational Collection, whereas Andrew Coltart stated the saga will drag on.

On Tuesday, the PGA Tour rejected requests from gamers for authorisation to play the primary Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Collection occasion, explaining that the choice is within the “finest pursuits of the Tour and the gamers”.

In response, Norman branded the PGA Tour “anti-competitive”, and talking to Sky Sports activities, Beem admits he was stunned by the PGA Tour’s very agency stance.

“Initially I used to be shocked to be honest,” he stated.

“I checked out it and the way in which I learn it, it says it isn’t in the perfect curiosity of the PGA Tour to permit this to go on, and I actually was stunned by that.

“I used to be a little bit bit greatly surprised as a result of I form of anticipated them to say: ‘Okay, we will allow them to go and see what this all seems to be like. How this all performs out’.

“However they needed no a part of it clearly.

“And it is attention-grabbing that they might lower it off so abruptly, as a result of I believe so as to perceive how all this may work and what the gamers consider it, I anticipated them to permit it and see what occurs, I do not know.

“The gamers may come again and say that it was a horrible expertise, I by no means wish to do that ever once more.

“However as soon as once more, when you take a look at the historical past between Greg Norman and the PGA Tour, and vice versa, it is by no means been a wholesome relationship.

“I speculate that it isn’t simply the LIV portion of it. As a result of Greg Norman’s obtained one thing to do with it, I learn into the truth that has one thing to do with why all of them obtained denied the releases.”

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World No 1 Scottie Scheffler says he absolutely understands why the PGA Tour has denied gamers permission to play in subsequent month’s Saudi Golf Collection in Hertfordshire

Additionally talking to Sky Sports activities, Coltart added that it appears the saga isn’t any nearer to being resolved after Tuesday’s occasions.

“To start with, the PGA Tour got here out and stated no releases, and there will likely be an undetermined penalty,” he stated.

“And it is a actually attention-grabbing selection of language, as a result of there’s nothing particular, so the doubt there creates a little bit little bit of worry. Notably amongst these gamers that doubtlessly have so much to lose if issues do not work out.

“It may not be so essential for the blokes we all know have talked about it, like Lee Westwood, who’s coming to the top of his profession and has an amazing amount of money within the financial institution. He can take that danger.

“For the others, there is a substantial quantity of doubt.

“Subsequently, Norman has stated that if fines are going to be issued, they may again them up, and I am nonetheless form of scratching my head considering, nicely the place does that depart us?

“At what level does a considerable high quality turn into an excessive amount of that then a unique plan of action must be taken?

“Trying on the grand scheme of issues for the time being, issues have occurred however we’re nonetheless nowhere close to the top of this darkish tunnel I really feel.

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Gregg Norman instructed Jamie Weir that LIV Golf Investments is impartial and won’t reply to the Saudi authorities or Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud

“Norman has stated that is fixable. And it could be good to assume individuals have been sitting spherical a desk considering how they might repair it.

“However our understanding is there is not that dialogue, and it is troublesome to see the place else it may go apart from down a sure litigious path.

“That is going to pull on for fairly a while.”

Certainly, Beem says regardless of such a wealth of stories in regards to the topic over the past couple of days, there nonetheless stays a bunch of unanswered questions.

“Till we really know extra, till we all know gamers that have been going to play however did not get releases, and on what the PGA is planning on so far as will they ever enable these gamers to go to LIV…

“Till we all know what Greg Norman’s subsequent transfer goes to be in making an attempt to assist power the PGA Tour, he threatened lawsuits earlier this season, we’re sitting right here and it is simply a few youngsters having a spat.

“Except we all know particular particulars, we may sit right here for days like we have already got.

“We’re no nearer to an answer.”

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan

Considered one of Norman’s essential arguments has been to time period LIV as “additive” to the golf season and never aggressive, claiming gamers may play LIV, PGA, DP World and Main occasions in the identical season.

Whereas a pleasant notion, Coltart says he doesn’t see how it could be doable.

“It is attention-grabbing is not it? I like the concept that they will work collectively, that definitely would make sense for me, however previous expertise tells me that is very, very troublesome.

“Whenever you take a look at the highest gamers’ schedules, they’d be fortunate in the event that they play greater than 20 occasions a season. We have got the majors, the WGC occasions on high of that.

“And whenever you’re taking part in for the huge sums of cash they’re speaking about, there’s much less incentive for these gamers to play elsewhere, or assist both excursions.

“Take Jon Rahm as an illustration, final yr he performed 21 occasions on the planet, 9 occasions in Europe, and solely three of these have been really common occasions.

“And he was really fairly an inexpensive supporter of the European Tour. So historical past tells me that as a lot as it is a good thought, and that it is additive, it is going to be very troublesome to work as a result of the gamers simply do not wish to play that always in a season.”

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