The PGA Tour will refuse to allow some of its biggest stars to play in the Saudi International golf tournament next year in response to the Saudi Public Investment Fund’s backing of a new challenging tour to rival the PGA, according to a report in Golf Week.
“PGA Tour members must obtain a waiver to compete on other circuits and the Tour has signaled to managers that permission will not be granted because the Saudi event is no longer sanctioned by the European Tour, which also plans to deny permits for its members to compete,” Golf Week reports. “The move will be seen as an escalation in a battle for the future of professional golf that pits the PGA and European tours against the Saudi government, which has been pushing a Super Golf League concept that would lure elite players to a breakaway tour with guaranteed paydays of up to $30 million.”
Saudi Arabia is working to develop golf both domestically, with new courses planned across the Kingdom and a golf federation, Golf Saudi, to oversee the game’s growth at home, and internationally with a new tour that could resemble the European Super League for soccer. If established, the new tour could be a money-maker for the Saudi Public Investment Fund for decades to come.
The Saudi International was established in 2019, attracting international superstars from the sport to compete for a large payday on Saudi Arabia’s flagship course, the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club, just outside King Abdullah Economic City.
Current world No. 2 Dustin Johnson has won the tournament twice, including in 2021. According to the report in Golf Week, Johnson’s representative expressed disappointment in the potential move by the PGA.
“There is lots of rumor and speculation floating about as it relates to the Tour’s position on the 2022 Saudi International. It would be premature for me to comment on it, given that we have not yet applied for a release from the Tour,” said Johnson’s manager, David Winkle. “However, given that Dustin has played in the event the past three years and would be returning as their defending champion, I have no doubt he would be quite disappointed if the Tour potentially denied his release.”
