The professional golf circuit has been divided since the rise of the controversial LIV Invitational Series as a legitimate rival to the PGA Tour - but rebels to the Saudi-backed tour will be allowed to compete in The Open at St Andrews this weekend.
The second LIV Golf event took place in Portland, Oregon earlier this month and the field showcased nine of the last 21 major winners, four former World No. 1 players and nearly half of the field currently ranked in the top 100. Branden Grace, who became the first man to record a sub-63 score in a major when he shot a 62 (8-under-par) in the Open Championship in 2017, secured a two-stroke victory and a £3.37 million payout - more than the £2.56 million awarded to Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick for securing the coveted US Open title last month.
Several of the world’s most prominent players have decided to switch to LIV Golf, including the likes of Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka. While there are genuine fears the rebel tour will fragment fields at major tournaments, players who have turned their back on the PGA Tour are still allowed to compete at The Open this weekend as long as they qualified for the competition.
Despite numerous players being suspended by the PGA and DP World Tours, those who joined the lucrative LIV Golf were permitted to compete in the US Open in June. Ian Poulter won a legal case against the DP World Tour and was ruled to compete at the Scottish Open after originally being banned, but he failed to make the cut.
The Brit successfully appealed his suspension from the Scottish Open and the appeal made by Poulter along with Adrian Otaegui and Justin Harding against their ban was upheld. However, the majors are independent and are not sanctioned by either the PGA or DP World Tour.
Organisers from golf's four biggest competitions - the Masters, the PGA Championship, the US Open and The Open - undoubtedly want the biggest names to compete and help generate interest. Ultimately though, the majors have enjoyed harmonious relationships with bodies like the PGA and DP World Tour which is why the LIV Golf series has become a genuine debate.
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English star Paul Casey became the latest name to join the Saudi-backed tour and he is expected to make his debut at the next LIV Golf event in Bedminster, New Jersey later this month. His Ryder Cup team-mate Rory McIlroy has been one of the most vocal critics of LIV Golf, questioning both its existence and why other players would want to go outside of the financial benefit.
Ahead of The Open, the four-time major champion once again spoke on the matter and suggested players should not be allowed to play in majors if they are also taking part in LIV Golf. Speaking to the BBC , McIlroy said: “I think at this stage, if you go over and play on a different tour, then go over and play on a different tour.
“You're sort of basically leaving all your peers behind to go make more money, which is fine. But just go over there. Don't try and come back and play over here again.”
LIV Golf stars like Mickelson, Johnson, Koepka, Sergio Garcia and Bryson DeChambeau will be at The Open for a shot at the £2.1 million first-place prize. It remains unclear as to whether LIV rebels will be granted the same freedom in future, so the 150th Open Championship could be several players’ last dance.
