LIV Golf

LIV Golf begins play at Pumpkin Ridge on Thursday, kicking off its first event in North America. Here's what that means.

The misconception about LIV itself is that it will never need to make money and exists merely as a vehicle for sportswashing. It’s not yet clear what that means for the competitive juice of its tournaments, nor what it means for golf fans, who are already feeling the effects of a fractured landscape. It’s remarkable how quickly and seamlessly the who’s-who of tournament golf infrastructure have adapted to a new tournament run by a new organization. That means the breakaway league is continuing to make gains on its initial objective: player acquisition. “I want to continue playing the PGA Tour, and I don’t see why they can’t coexist,” Gooch said. Others, like Patrick Reed, sound apathetic about a future on Tour. On Tuesday, Reed announced he’d resigned his Tour membership and didn’t mince words about leadership, either, suggesting they’d failed to “listen to the players” and ultimately brought this on themselves. The only consistent thing is not to worry about any of it. Off property, reaction to the tournament is more complex. “We’ve been banded together by all the scrutiny, by what other people think, and that creates some of this camaraderie,” said Talor Gooch. “And we also believe in this. That doesn’t mean it was an easy decision to be here in the first place. But if the scene at Pumpkin Ridge proves anything, it’s this: everyone at LIV is convinced it’s here to stay. To hear them tell it, the players are thrilled to be here.

The letter was signed by 16 of this week's LIV Golf Invitational competitors in Portland, who likely will be punished for playing the event.

That the DP World Tour top performers will now earn PGA Tour cards serves only to solidify the DP World Tour as second fiddle to the PGA Tour and depletes the DP World Tour’s top rising talent even further. “In addition, PGA Tour players have been encouraged to play the Scottish Open through a stipend to cover travel costs, but the same benefit is not afforded to DP World Tour members?! “The intention of this letter is not to further divide us, but to respond to Tour statements and to pose questions that the Tour should answer and we should discuss in detail.

Brett Eagleson and 10 other members of 9/11 Justice are in Oregon and have asked to meet with Phil Mickelson and other members of the LIV Golf tour.

“I would invite Phil Mickelson and everyone else here to have a meeting with us,” Eagleson said. “While our local jurisdictions may not be able to prevent this event, we stand together to voice our concerns about the unwelcomed potential risks, visitors and harm this event could have on our communities.” The tournament is scheduled to end Saturday. After this weekend, LIV heads to Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in New Jersey on July 29. He just wants the golfers here to talk to them. Contacted earlier this week by USA TODAY Sports, Jeff Muller, the general manager of Pumpkin Ridge, declined to answer questions about the club’s decision to host LIV Golf. Escalante, meanwhile, did not return multiple requests for comment. The Fort Worth-based golf conglomerate bought Pumpkin Ridge in 2015. An Oregonian investigation published in 2019 detailed a pattern across eight states, plus Canada, of Saudi students facing criminal charges who managed to escape before their trials. Do terrible things happen in China? Yes, but I don’t have an FBI document that says China killed my dad.” “That’s not our platform,” he said. Late last year, President Joe Biden declassified a 16-page FBI report that detailed Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the 9/11 attacks. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers involved in the Sept. 11 attacks were Saudi citizens. It’s crazy.”

LIV Golf's first event on American soil was set to begin Thursday amid protests from 9/11 families, a US senator and a consortium of local mayors.

In addition to signing bonuses, the 48-man field will compete for a $20m purse, with an additional $5m prize fund for a team competition. And we want the ability to educate the golfers on what we know about the Saudi role on 9/11.” We’re trying to grow the game.” US senator Ron Wyden called the event “sportswashing” to distract from human rights abuses. Eagleson, now 36, is among those criticizing the LIV tournament and its connection to a regime that has flouted human rights. “We want the golfers to know who they’re getting in bed with, who they’re doing business with,” Eagleson said.

The American PGA Tour and European DP World Tour have issued suspensions and fines respectively in a bid to halt the breakaway but players Carlos Ortiz and ...

You can select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Your Privacy Controls. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. Click here to find out more about our partners. - Information about your device and internet connection, including your IP address

LIV Golf vs. the PGA Tour is turning into a rivalry like Duke vs. North Carolina or Red Sox vs. Yankees. All at odds with each other.

“The Tour wants to keep talking about strength of field … the strength of field is here. But, to Perez’s point, it does put the John Deere field to shame. Didn’t want to take a meeting, didn’t want to listen to anybody. “It’s not my decision for me if I can or can’t play, but I would love to continue to play. “Transparency is a big thing,” Kaymer said. “The Tour has tried to strong-arm us all year and come with bans and suspensions and all that,” he said. But, Perez needs to pump the brakes. The event has just six of the top 100, led by No. 58 Webb Simpson. The John Deere lost its only top 50 player, No. 25 Daniel Berger, who withdrew Monday because of back issues that have plagued him most of this year. the wild child continue to trade insults and strategically-timed announcements. So whether everybody wants to talk about it or not, that’s what it is. “And how’d that work?

Here's everything you need to know about who is playing in the second LIV Golf Invitational event.

Unlike traditional golf tournaments, LIV Golf has all its players on the course starting their rounds at different holes which is also known as a 'Shotgun start'. LIV Golf Portland will feature 48 golfers who will be broken off into 12 teams of four. Charl Schwartzel was victorious in the inaugural after going seven-under-par following three days of intense competition.

The controversial breakaway series has added more big names to its roster, with Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed joining the likes of Phil ...

Start your Independent Premium subscription today. - Chase Koepka – USA - Brooks Koepka – USA

Controversial golf start-up adds Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Reed for its second event. Read on to see how to watch a LIV Golf Portland ...

Cleeks Golf Club It's compatible with loads of devices including iOS, Android, Amazon Fire Stick, PlayStation, Apple TV and such, and we found it secure, speedy and simple-to-use. We recommend ExpressVPN (opens in new tab). LIVGolf.com (opens in new tab) Facebook (opens in new tab) Golf's breakaway LIV tour continues to add more big names stars, as a 48-man field heads to Portland for the second LIV Golf Invitational Series event.

Those who bolted the PGA Tour won't be wearing the red, white and blue when the U.S. faces Europe, Johnson said.

“I’ve been playing Ryder Cup golf since 1997, and the criteria has been to be a member of the European (DP World) Tour. Now, the criteria for being a member of the European Tour is to play four events. “There’s just a bit too much protection going on for my liking and not enough transparency. “In order to play on the Ryder Cup team whether you’re top 6 or a pick, you must garner Ryder Cup points through the PGA of America,” Johnson said. “I’ve been a member of the PGA Tour and still played four events on the European Tour, and why would the European Tour change their rules so dramatically because another tour doesn’t like it or feels financially threatened? “But that’s not going to depend on us now. “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.

The American PGA Tour and European DP World Tour have issued suspensions and fines respectively in a bid to halt the breakaway but players Carlos Ortiz and ...

Torque GC’s Jinichiro Kozuma takes a share of the lead with a three on 13. It’s been a consistent round for the Torque GC captain who is three under thru eight with no drop shots. It’s been a quietly consistent round for the big name America who is playing in his first LIV Golf event this week. The full field of 48 players has been confirmed and the format will continue to be a 54-hole shotgun start played across three days with Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in Portland hosting this week’s event. Meanwhile Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas, amongst others, have spoken publicly in favour of golf’s two main tours yet the field in Portland is set to be significantly stronger than at LIV Golf’s inaugural event in England last month. Golf’s newest and most controversial tour, the LIV Golf Series, hosts its second event in Portland, Oregon this week with the action kicking off tonight.

NORTH PLAINS, Ore. — Whether you believe the first shot was fired when Phil Mickelson said the PGA Tour uses "manipulative, coercive, strong-arm tactics" ...

But, to Perez's point, it does put the John Deere field to shame. "It's not my decision for me if I can or can't play, but I would love to continue to play. Didn't want to take a meeting, didn't want to listen to anybody. "The Tour has tried to strong-arm us all year and come with bans and suspensions and all that," he said. "Transparency is a big thing," Kaymer said. But, Perez needs to pump the brakes. The event has just six of the top 100, led by No. 58 Webb Simpson. The John Deere lost its only top 50 player, No. 25 Daniel Berger, who withdrew Monday because of back issues that have plagued him most of this year. the wild child continue to trade insults and strategically-timed announcements. So whether everybody wants to talk about it or not, that's what it is. "The Tour wants to keep talking about strength of field ... the strength of field is here. "And how'd that work?

Mexico's Carlos Ortiz carded a 5-under 67 to take a 1-shot lead after the opening round of the LIV event at Pumpkin Ridge. Dustin Johnson, Pat Perez and ...

For golfers, part of LIV Golf's allure is the money. This marks the second LIV event. Those who play in Oregon will also be suspended unless they resign their tour memberships. But critics call the tour an attempt at "sportswashing'' to detract from Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses, including the murder of U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. On Thursday, his 67 included seven birdies, including four on the front nine. Other notable scores from Day 1 action included even-par 72s from Matthew Wolff, Patrick Reed and Bryson DeChambeau in their tour debuts.

At LIV Golf Portland hosted at Pumpkin Ridge, Phil Mickelson was spotted tinkering with his lob wedge and putter during practice round.

Don’t get carried away and think he pulled a 25-year-old wedge from his garage; the wedge in question is a PING Eye2 XG which Phil has used on and off dating back to around 2014. With Phil’s move to LIV Golf and his Callaway deal on pause, he had an old favorite, Ping Eye2 wedge back in the bag. The other change to Phil’s bag comes in the form of an extended-length putter and grip which hints that Lefty has gone to the armlock putting style to help cure his putting woes, which were on full display a few weeks ago at the U.S. Open.

The Sporting News is tracking live scoring updates and highlights from the first day of LIV Golf's Portland event.

4:46 p.m. -- Ortiz closes out the second birdie to go 2 under. Wolff is trying to replace the ball in the correct position, and it looks like everything is fine. 7:12 p.m. -- Reed takes a good approach as he seeks his first birdie of the day. 5:35 p.m. -- Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Reed are still sitting at Par, while Phil Mickelson is lucky enough to stay even. First it was a chip shot from the bunker that fell into the cup, then it was a solid putt. 6 p.m. -- Newcomer Brooks Koepka has positioned himself atop the leaderboard at 2 under. Louis Oosthuizen also birdies to get to 2 under, and Tanihara saves par to stay in the lead. 7:34 p.m. -- Koepka is still playing through a lot of ups and downs. 6:40 p.m. -- Sihwan Kim hits an eagle to bring his score down a more manageable one. 7:39 p.m. -- Ortiz breaks into second place alongside Johnson and company with a nice putt. 7:58 p.m. -- As the day winds down, 4 Aces, Stinger, and Torque are all tied for the lead at 6 under. Brooks Koepka, Patrick Reed, and Pat Perez highlight newcomers to LIV Golf, as it continues to expand its footprint in the golf world.

The first US event in the Saudi-backed LIV Golf series teed off in Oregon amid continued protests and threats of legal action that would further divide the ...

I'll never know the sound of his voice, the feeling of him hugging me," Aiken said. "The intention of this letter is not to further divide us, but to respond to Tour statements and to pose questions that the Tour should answer and we should discuss in detail," the players wrote. The series' Saudi ties have hit close to home in Oregon, with 11 local mayors formally objecting to the event in a letter to Pumpkin Ridge's corporate owner Escalante Golf.

Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter are among 16 LIV Golf players who have written to the DP World Tour asking it to rescind its fines and allow them to compete in ...

"That the DP World Tour top performers will now earn PGA Tour cards serves only to solidify the DP World Tour as second fiddle to the PGA Tour and depletes the DP World Tour's top rising talent even further." "Approximately 40 DP World Tour members who would have been eligible for the Scottish Open on the DP World tour will now not be eligible, and instead will only have the option to go and play on the PGA Tour in Kentucky the week before The Open, for less money but at a higher cost to participate," the letter read. Hyderabad - Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter are among 16 LIV Golf players who have written to the DP World Tour asking it to rescind its fines and allow them to compete in next week's Scottish Open, the Telegraph reported.

LIV Golf will debut in America this week in Portland, Ore., where major PGA Tour defectors such as Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed, Abraham Ancer ...

It appears to be a long-term goal for LIV Golf to secure some type of broadcast partner, starting with the 2023 calendar year. South African Charl Schwartzel won the inaugural event outside London. The 2022 LIV Tour ends in Miami at the Trump National Golf Club Doral from October 27-30. Currently, LIV Golf is not on TV. It has no TV rights deals in place, and its biggest competitor, the PGA Tour, recently signed nine-year deals with CBS, NBC and ESPN+ to broadcast coverage of events through 2030. LIV Golf's most likely avenue to securing a TV rights deal in America is with Fox, which hasn't exactly shown an interest in broadcasting the sport. But how, exactly, can they tune in to watch the tour's second-ever tournament? Objectors to the tour have expressed frustrations that its biggest draws have betrayed the PGA Tour, where they originally made names for themselves.

The Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series arrived in Oregon for its first tournament on US soil Thursday and faced protests from 9/11 survivors and ...

Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra explained his flip-flop decision to bail on Oklahoma State and the PGA Tour for the LIV Golf Invitational Series.

I love what LIV Golf is doing for golf,” explained Chacarra. “I love the format; it’s kind of the same as college, and I felt I was ready to make my debut — turn pro, and I was talking to my team and Oklahoma State, obviously, and I thought it was the best decision for me and just to play with these guys and get experience and get my game better.” “Pretty easy. Two months later he shocked the professional golf world when he announced he was turning professional to join the Greg Norman-led and Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series. The 22-year-old Spaniard made his debut this week at the Portland event and explained his reasoning for his change of heart.

Sixteen players - including Ryder Cups stars Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood - have threatened the DP World Tour with legal action unless their sanctions for ...

LIV Golf is hosting its second event this week at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in Portland, Oregon, where players are competing for a huge £20m prize pot. Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson are reported to have been paid up to £200m for joining. Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter are among 16 golfers who have threatened legal action against the DP World Tour unless their sanctions for competing in the first LIV Golf event are rescinded 'We agree, and we are concerned that the actions of the Tour against us, LIV Golf and golf in general will have adverse consequences on the DP World Tour, a tour and an organisation that, despite our recent interactions, we care deeply for. In an open letter published by the Telegraph, the 16 players 'implore' the DP World Tour - the rebranded European Tour - to reconsider the penalties, which they say are 'likely unlawful'. Sixteen players - including Ryder Cups stars Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood - have threatened the DP World Tour with legal action unless their sanctions for competing in the first LIV Golf event are rescinded today.

In fact, they argue, the PGA Tour, and all major sporting events and leagues for that matter, could learn a thing or two from LIV. “Beers are cheap here, only ...

“This is probably one of the best golf tournaments I’ll ever get a chance to go to, you know, 20 miles away from my house. Watching this version of professional golf is both relatable and “pure entertainment.” Also of note: big-time golf hasn’t been in the Northwest since 2015, when the U.S. Open was played at Chambers Bay, about an hour southwest of Seattle. Most casual golf fans don’t have the money (or the vacation time) to travel to PGA Tour stops, let alone any of the majors. (The moms got the day off and headed to the beach, kid-free.) LIV bills itself as “golf, but louder” and at least Thursday, that was true. But doesn’t everyone — organizations, corporations and politicians on both sides of the aisle — have ties to something that make you uncomfortable?

The Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series is already looking to expand in 2023 with 14 events and a new name.

What is known is the number of international sites will expand. The plan for 2023 is to open the season in March with 48 contracted players. The number of events will be capped at 14.

The 14-event LIV Golf League will debut in 2023, with the same 48 players in each tournament.

The hope, it would seem, is for word to spread to other players who would fill out the 48-man fields. The idea is for the 12 teams to develop their own identity. LIV also plans to have 48 players contracted to play all 14 events next year, with permanent team captains that can recruit their own teams and make trades—a stark contrast from this inaugural season, which has and will continue to feature a rotating cast of players with more expected to sign with the Saudi-backed venture.

Let's go to Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club outside Portland, Ore., for the latest on the upstart LIV Golf series. Charl Schwartzel, lugging around the $4 million ...

What matters to the golf viewer is the test provided and the tournament that follows. That matters to the players and their investment advisers, regardless of how dirty the money might be. But as they begin a round that determines who wins $4 million for coming in first and who takes $120,000 for placing last, the leaders tee off from the first hole at the same time those in seventh through ninth tee off from the second. I want to play against the best in the world in a format that’s been going on for hundreds of years. Players who win a PGA Tour event in the year since the last Masters gain entry. But start with that fact, and go back to what Jon Rahm — the Spaniard ranked second in the world who has pledged his loyalty to the PGA Tour — said before the U.S. Open. It rang true at the time. LIV Golf can’t be expected to have history in a month’s time. Each of these players has signed up to take money from a murderous regime, and that colors the entire entity. The leaders play the course as it’s meant to be played: The starting hole means something; the finishing hole means something else. But as a product that raises the hairs on the backs of necks? It’s important to constantly keep in mind the source of LIV’s extensive — indeed, almost endless — wealth and funding: the Saudi Arabian government. Let’s go to Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club outside Portland, Ore., for the latest on the upstart LIV Golf series.

Sixteen players have threatened the DP World Tour with legal action unless their sanctions for competing in the first LIV Golf event are rescinded.

Players have sent an open letter, imploring the DP World Tour to reconsider penalties for joining LIV Golf Series. "We agree, and we are concerned that the actions of the Tour against us, LIV Golf and golf in general will have adverse consequences on the DP World Tour, a tour and an organisation that, despite our recent interactions, we care deeply for. In an open letter published by The Telegraph, the players "implore" the DP World Tour to reconsider the penalties and claim the strengthened partnership between the PGA Tour and DP World Tour leaves the latter playing "second fiddle" to the US-based circuit.

Next year, the 'LIV Golf League' will have 12 set four-man teams with captains who can recruit their own players and make trades.

It is possible that the league could also go to places such as Mexico and Australia. But the idea is to have 12 set teams of four players each so franchises can establish identify and value. But after the first tournament at Centurion Club outside of London and this week’s tournament at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club outside of Portland, LIV Golf will unveil a 14-tournament schedule for 2023 that is expected to begin in March.

DP World Tour chief executive Keith Pelley has launched a scathing attack on the players who threatened legal action unless their sanctions for competing in ...

Why now be critical of those trying to do the same?" "Many of them at the time understood and accepted that. Why now be critical of those trying to do the same?" "Many of them at the time understood and accepted that. "One of those is an unprecedented 10 cards on offer to the PGA Tour, cards that many of the players named in this letter desperately wanted to attain in the early stages of their careers. "One of those is an unprecedented 10 cards on offer to the PGA Tour, cards that many of the players named in this letter desperately wanted to attain in the early stages of their careers.

Keith Pelley has criticised 'inaccuracies' in an open letter from 16 players sanctioned for taking part in the first LIV Golf event.

Pelley’s statement continued: “The letter claims that these players ‘care deeply’ for the DP World Tour. An analysis of the past participation statistics on our tour in recent years of several of the leading players named, suggests otherwise. “Finally, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on any potential legal matters,” the 58-year-old Pelley concluded. “Many of them at the time understood and accepted that,” Pelley added.

The LIV Golf Invitational Series' second event is under way at Pumpkin Ridge, with a handful of new names on board. Follow all the action here.

The top three teams are paid from the $5 million team purse. After Round 1, players will be paired by score for the remaining two rounds. His drive landed right of the fairway near a creek. The Japanese player is 43 years old and ranked 188th in the world. Here are the groups for Round 1. As for other newcomers, Pat Perez birdied his first hole, the par-3 3rd. Given that Patrick Reed didn't play in the first LIV event, it would make sense that the ratings shown mirror his PGA Tour stats. The new American team of Dustin Johnson, Talor Gooch, Pat Perez and Patrick Reed is also 6 under. The top two scores count in Round 1. Brooks Koepka, Abraham Ancer and Matthew Wolff, all LIV Golf newcomers, are paired together. The Mexican had seven birdies and two bogeys. We'll have live updates throughout the day.

The DP World Tour, formerly the European Tour, has responded to a letter from sixteen LIV Golf series players who are threatening legal action after they ...

"But I take full responsibility as a leader in Saudi Arabia, especially since it was committed by individuals working for the Saudi government." "This was a heinous crime," he said in an interview with CBS in 2019. According to the DP World Tour Members' General Regulations Handbook, players must receive a release to participate in an event that is scheduled at the same time as a DP World Tour event.

Abraham Ancer, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Carlos Ortiz, Pat Perez, Patrick Reed and Matthew Wolff are now all suspended and therefore ineligible for the ...

Reed as well as Pat Perez were critical of the PGA Tour this week. Bryson DeChambeau may be one to appeal the suspension after he revealed that he still wants to play on the PGA Tour. "I have not resigned my PGA Tour membership. "The right decision for us mainly mentally and physically just the quality of life, being able to spend more time with the kids because that's been the hardest thing.

DP World Tour CEO Keith Pelley fired back at a contingent of European players who defected to LIV Golf after they threatened legal action against Pelley and ...

I wish many of them had been as keen to play on our tour then as they seem to be now, based on the fact they have either resigned their membership of the PGA Tour or, if they are still in membership, have been suspended indefinitely.” Pelley first addressed the idea that the defectors “truly care” about the former European Tour. “An analysis of the past participation statistics on our tour in recent years of several of the leading players named, suggests otherwise,” Pelley countered. In the letter the group took umbrage with Pelley’s decision to suspend those who participated in the inaugural LIV Golf event in London and ridiculed the DP World Tour’s joint venture with the PGA Tour, saying the move made the Old World circuit a “second fiddle” to the American-based tour.

Participants in the Saudi-backed event “have turned their backs on the crime of murder,” one critic said. But spectators just wanted to see their favorite ...

“I just choose to have tunnel vision about it and enjoy the game.” Nobody in the U.S. is boycotting the Olympics because of China.” And maybe it’ll make the prices cheaper to come see these things.” The Saudi-sponsored tour offered signing bonuses, some reported to be in the nine figures, to lure some golfers like Mickelson from the PGA Tour. The Sept. 11 Commission, in its 2004 report, found “no evidence that the Saudi government as an institution or senior Saudi officials individually funded” Al Qaeda, which carried out the attacks. No official attendance figures were given for the three-day tournament’s opening round, played under a cloudless sky with temperatures in the 70s. They said they tried unsuccessfully to meet with some LIV golfers at a hotel on Thursday morning. It continued: “Don’t let the Saudi government try to clean up its image using American golf tournaments.” He joined LIV Golf in June. A Saudi community college student facing charges disappeared before trial and was apparently spirited back home by the Saudi authorities. The Saudi government has long denied any involvement in the Sept. 11 attacks. But spectators just wanted to see their favorite players.

The second round of the LIV Golf Portland is set to begin from Pumpkin Ridge Golf Course in Portland, Oregon. The upstart, Saudi-backed circuit — which has ...

Teams for LIV Golf events are drafted each week by tour-selected captains. Player 4 LIV is promoting itself through accessibility. Player 3 Player 2 Can Ortiz hold off the field on the penultimate day of competition?

DP World Tour chief executive Keith Pelley has launched a scathing attack on the players who threatened legal action unless their sanctions for competing in ...

Why now be critical of those trying to do the same?" "Many of them at the time understood and accepted that. "One of those is an unprecedented 10 cards on offer to the PGA Tour, cards that many of the players named in this letter desperately wanted to attain in the early stages of their careers.

Carlos Ortiz took a one-shot lead into the clubhouse after an opening round 67 at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in the second invitational event of the ...

“One of the things for me, was a personal business decision,” said the 28-year-old. Dustin Johnson heads off second and lands just over to the right side of the first cut but it’s a decent shot. He moves into the red at one-under. He takes a bogey and drops back into the black. Ortiz’s heroics were enough to drag his team, Fireballs GC, into fourth place in the team competition after none of his three teammates managed to record scores under par for the round. He shot five-under par on Thursday and leads 4 Aces GC captain Dustin Johnson heading into the second day’s play.

The controversial Saudi Arabian-backed golf series known as LIV plays its first tournament in the U.S. this week. The breakaway series is already shaking up ...

You may click on “Your Choices” below to learn about and use cookie management tools to limit use of cookies when you visit NPR’s sites. If you click “Agree and Continue” below, you acknowledge that your cookie choices in those tools will be respected and that you otherwise agree to the use of cookies on NPR’s sites. NPR’s sites use cookies, similar tracking and storage technologies, and information about the device you use to access our sites (together, “cookies”) to enhance your viewing, listening and user experience, personalize content, personalize messages from NPR’s sponsors, provide social media features, and analyze NPR’s traffic.

Schwartzel, the 2011 Masters champion, won the inaugural LIV Golf Series event and earned $4.75 million. That's more than he made in any full year.

"I just feel I've got a lot of stuff in my favor I didn't have even when I was playing well. "It was a very clever play," Brian said. But he said last year was the first time in a long time he was injury-free. Since then, he's made 54 starts on the PGA Tour with just seven top 10 finishes. Schwartzel played it safe, knowing a bogey would win the tournament. That was more than he had made in any one year in two decades on the PGA Tour, including 2011 when he won the Masters. In 2010, Schwartzel got into the WGC event at Doral and asked Ernie if the offer still stood. "Especially at my age." Schwartzel has been focusing on golf since he started dominating the amateur ranks in South Africa, along with his friend Oosthuizen, who he's known for 37 years. There's a lot of money out there and it's more than any guy has ever played for." He is aware of what has happened in Saudi Arabia. But his comfort zone and escape is golf. Brian, a longtime professional golfer in South Africa, also is Charl's manager.

Charl Schwartzel, the 2011 Masters champion, won inaugural LIV Golf Series event and earned $4.75 million. That's more than he made in any full year.

"I just feel I've got a lot of stuff in my favor I didn't have even when I was playing well. "It was a very clever play," Brian said. But he said last year was the first time in a long time he was injury-free. Since then, he's made 54 starts on the PGA Tour with just seven top 10 finishes. Schwartzel played it safe, knowing a bogey would win the tournament. Schwartzel has been focusing on golf since he started dominating the amateur ranks in South Africa, along with his friend Oosthuizen, whom he has known for 37 years. That was more than he had made in any one year in two decades on the PGA Tour, including 2011 when he won the Masters. In 2010, Schwartzel got into the WGC event at Doral and asked Ernie if the offer still stood. "Especially at my age." There's a lot of money out there and it's more than any guy has ever played for." He is aware of what has happened in Saudi Arabia. But his comfort zone and escape is golf. Brian, a longtime professional golfer in South Africa, also is Charl's manager.

The 2011 Masters champion won the inaugural LIV Golf Series event and earned $4.75 million. That's more than he made in any full year.

“I just feel I’ve got a lot of stuff in my favor I didn’t have even when I was playing well. “It was a very clever play,” Brian said. But he said last year was the first time in a long time he was injury-free. Brian watched Charl’s win at London by one stroke over Du Plessis and said he approved of his strategy on the 54th hole. Rosalind and the children were in London for Charl’s LIV victory and Brian and Collen are at this week’s tournament. Since then, he’s made 54 starts on the PGA Tour with just seven top 10 finishes. In 2010, Schwartzel got into the WGC event at Doral and asked Ernie if the offer still stood. That was more than he had made in any one year in two decades on the PGA Tour, including 2011 when he won the Masters. “Especially at my age.” Schwartzel has been focusing on golf since he started dominating the amateur ranks in South Africa, along with his friend Oosthuizen, who he’s known for 37 years. He is aware of what has happened in Saudi Arabia. But his comfort zone and escape is golf. There’s a lot of money out there and it’s more than any guy has ever played for.”

The Saudi-backed series has grown faster than expected with eight of the top 50 players, and 20 of the top 100, in the current World Golf Rankings.

What is known is the number of international sites will expand. The plan for 2023 is to open the season in March with 48 contracted players. The number of events will be capped at 14.

The outcry that marked the start of the Saudi Arabia-funded LIV Golf series' first American stop quieted a bit on Friday, putting the focus on the play at ...

Fifteen of the 19 hijackers on that day in 2001 were Saudi citizens. In addition to sizable signing bonuses, the 48-man field is competing for a $20 million purse, with an additional $5 million prize fund for a team competition. A big lure for the LIV golfers is money. I feel like I’m swinging my irons really good, so if I can get in the fairway I’m going to get a lot of good looks. Branden Grace was two shots behind the leaders at 6 under after a 69. “I put myself in a good position.”

LIV Golf is showering players, caddies, coaches and sponsors with lavish perks, but it's legtimate to wonder how long the spending without returns can last.

The only way for LIV to do that is to convince people other than professional golfers and their entourages that LIV Golf is worthwhile. LIV hopes to spend its way to the top. Startups have to spend a bunch of cash up-front to get off the ground. LIV is believed to be willing to spend $2 billion to get this upstart tour off the ground—that’s a ton of cash, and they have a very long runway before they need to start making a profit. To continue our startup theme: LIV is in the pre-revenue, pre-profit, honeymoon phase. It’s not a perfect analogy.) The way they plan to do this is to provide the golfers, their caddies, their teams, their families, executives and fans a baller experience and hope they tell their friends. The money for the concert stage, for the two “CLUB 54” hospitality tents, for all those hotel rooms, for the logo on Patrick Reed’s hat, for the players’ guaranteed deals, and for the prize money—it’s all coming from LIV Golf. There is not a single corporate logo anywhere on the grounds. (The golfers, fans and sponsors are the customers in this scenario. LIV can afford to treat the players, agents, coaches, caddies and fans with white gloves because, well, they can afford it. I feel like I will be doing everything possible to stay competitive and get better at what I do.” And Bryson DeChambeau’s unwavering perfectionism had him closing down the driving range on Thursday evening. “But, who the f--k cares if it doesn’t?”

Why are "alcohol monitors" roaming the crowds at the LIV Golf Invitational Series event near Portland? It's Oregon law.

Like any live event where alcohol is in play, some bad eggs can make a mess, and this week is no different. They’re looking for signs of visibly intoxicated people, seeing as the OLCC does give fines if people are caught overserving. A minimum of 15 people were required to be staffed for this week’s event.

Golf chief rips rebels in scathing open letter, exposes stars' hypocrisy as legal row nears.

A group of 16 LIV-DP World Tour members sent a letter to the latter in which they asked to have the fines rescinded and be reinstated to play the Scottish Open, Barbasol Championship and Barracuda Championship, which they were banned from. “With that player currently in action at Pumpkin Ridge, you can imagine the allegation in the letter that we are in the wrong, is hard to accept.” LIV Golf has settled on 10 venues for 2023, according to the report, and hopes to add more international venues while avoiding areas with US PGA Tour events. The controversial upstart group, fighting for talent with the US PGA Tour and DP World Tour, plans a name change to the LIV Golf League next year, according to a Golf Digest report, which cites an unnamed LIV Golf official. The idea would be for the 12 teams to each develop an identity with an eye toward a franchise model and selling of teams. The Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series has accelerated growth plans for 2023 with an expansion to 14 teams, and name change, and firmer teams with permanent captains.

Johnson shot a second 68 at Pumpkin Ridge while Ortiz birdied the last hole to match him at 8 under. Branden Grace (-6) will round out the final group.

Fifteen of the 19 hijackers on that day in 2001 were Saudi citizens. In addition to sizable signing bonuses, the 48-man field is competing for a $20 million purse, with an additional $5 million prize fund for a team competition. A big lure for the LIV golfers is money. I feel like I’m swinging my irons really good, so if I can get in the fairway I’m going to get a lot of good looks. Branden Grace was two shots behind the leaders at 6 under after a 69. “I put myself in a good position.”

Dustin Johnson and Carlos Ortiz are tied for first following in the LIV Golf International Series event at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in North Plains, Oregon.

Phil Mickelson looked rusty in his return to competitive golf at Centurion Club when he finished 34th in the 48-man field. His approach sailed to the right and struck a member of the gallery. Charl Schwartzel won LIV Golf's inaugural tournament outside of London in June, so joining the breakaway tour has already been a success. DeChambeau, who didn't do enough to recover from an even-par 72 on Thursday, isn't having a memorable LIV debut. The eagle has landed 🦅#LIVGolf Just when Koepka was rolling, he found the water with an approach on No. 18. LIV Golf @LIVGolfInv Johnson had an opportunity to reclaim sole possession of first place but watched his birdie putt roll left. A front nine to remember 🔥#LIVGolf LIV Golf @LIVGolfInv LIV Golf @LIVGolfInv Brooks Koepka is one of five golfers tied for fifth at four under.

The DP World Tour chief exec launched a scathing attack on the players who threatened legal action unless their sanctions for competing in LIV Golf are ...

Why now be critical of those trying to do the same?" "Many of them at the time understood and accepted that. "One of those is an unprecedented 10 cards on offer to the PGA Tour, cards that many of the players named in this letter desperately wanted to attain in the early stages of their careers.