Despite winning 45 PGA Tour events during his career Phil Mickelson is among the LIV Golf rebels who have reportedly had their Tour memberships cancelled amid a row between the two series.
LIV Golf members were suspended from PGA events last season and have now had their membership revoked for the forthcoming campaign, with a letter notifying them of the situation.
“The terms of your contractual commitments to LIV Golf prohibit you from satisfying the material obligations set forth in the regulations and make clear that you have no intention to, and indeed cannot comply with these requirements of membership in the PGA Tour,’’ said the letter written by Kirsten Burgess, the Tour’s vice president, competition administration which was obtained by Sports Illustrated.
“The Tour cannot enter into a membership agreement with a player when, as here, it reasonably anticipates the player will not perform the material obligations under that agreement. Accordingly, your PGA Tour membership cannot and will not be renewed for the 2022-2023 PGA TOUR season.’’
Mickelson had previously said that his lifetime membership, for winning over 20 PGA Tour events, shouldn't be cancelled despite heightened tensioned between the two golf series.
Ahead of the first LIV Golf series event in June, Mickelson said: "I’ve worked really hard to earn a lifetime exemption. I don’t want to give that up and I don’t believe I should have to. I’ve earned that and I don’t plan on just giving it up."
Last month 11 LIV Golf stars, including Mickelson, Ian Poulter and Bryson DeChambeau, filed an antitrust lawsuit against the American circuit. The LIV Golf members argue that the PGA Tour is attempting to hinder their careers.
"The Tour's conduct serves no purpose other than to cause harm to players and foreclose the entry of the first meaningful competitive threat the Tour has faced in decades," the lawsuit, which was filed in the US District Court of Northern California, states.
LIV Golf players have been ordered to leave their branded clothes at home ahead of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth next week. However, a stipulation in the draft contracts of LIV Golfers instructs they wear Tour-themed branding while entering events on other circuits.
Last month PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan announced LIV golfers wanting to return to his circuit will not be allowed after taking a hard stance against the rebels. The PGA Tour 2022/23 season begins at the Fortinet Championship on September 15.
