World number 1,043 Robert Garrigus has confirmed that he requested PGA Tour permission to compete in the opening round of the Super Golf League.
The 44-year-old Garrigus is believed to be the first player to request a conflicting event release from the PGA Tour as confirmed by Golfweek.
According to the Tour’s regulations, players should request a competing event release 45 days before the first round of the tournament they want to play in. The Tour has until 30 days before the competing event starts to either grant or decline the request.
“I am grateful to have been given a sponsor exemption into this week’s event and I just want to focus on playing the best I can,” he said.
Garrigus declined to comment further about his decision to play in the LIV Golf event slated outside London in early June. The Tour also denied commenting on Garrigus’ request. It seems likely that the former champion will be granted the release based on current circuit rulings.
The American joined the PGA Tour in 2006 and won his only title to date in the Children’s Miracle Network Classic in 2010. However, he hasn’t played an entire PGA Tour season since 2018.
Garrigus will be playing this week in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, where he will be joined by Tom Gainey.
Cash-rich LIV Golf Invitational Series
The Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series is expected to award an individual purse of $20m and a $5m team prize until the October finale. Numbers will then skyrocket to $30m and $50m, respectively.
It is spearheaded by former world number one and CEO of LIV Golf Investments Greg Norman, who is hoping that top players will be persuaded to participate in the event.
“A few of our events will go by and the top players will see someone winning 6 million, 8 million, and say enough is enough. I know I can beat these guys week in and week out with my hands tied behind my back,” said a confident Norman.
However, earlier this year, Rory McIlroy asserted that the project was dead in the water after Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson joined the list of players committing their loyalty to the PGA Tour in February.
Sources:
https://www.golfchannel.com/news/robert-garrigus-confirms-request-compete-first-liv-golf-tournament
https://www.golfmonthly.com/news/robert-garrigus-confirms-saudi-release-request
