Report: PGA Tour Allowing ‘a Few’ Players to Compete in Saudi International Tournament

Despite the PGA Tour’s hard stance against LIV Golf, it is reportedly allowing some players to compete in the Asian Tour’s Saudi International. The event is run by the Saudi Arabian government’s Public Investment Fund, which is the same entity that’s financing LIV and also wrangled in legal proceedings with the PGA Tour.

In the report by Golf Channel, a PGA Tour official confirmed that a few releases were granted but did not state which players will be taking part in the event on Feb. 2-5. It is competing head-to-head with the PGA Tour’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

In a discussion over the news, Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee was a bit confused as to why the PGA Tour would allow these exemptions.

“It’d be like your neighbor, who is suing you, but is throwing a good party and you decided to go attend it,” Chamblee said. “It makes no sense to me.”

Chamblee, who has been outspoken about LIV and the players in it, doubled down on Twitter.

There are great many things tough to stomach about sportswashing, besides the source of the money. Sportswashing changes the nature of sport where athletes are motivated to improve, making it a much better experience for the spectators. @RichLernerGC and I kicked this around. pic.twitter.com/yxecXpskoT

— Brandel Chamblee (@chambleebrandel) January 7, 2023

The event is separate from LIV Golf, but several LIV stars will be competing, including defending champion Harold Varner III and Cameron Smith.

A look at last year’s leaderboard shows a huge number of eventual LIV Golf members in it, including Varner III, Smith, Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson, Abraham Ancer, Joaquin Niemann, Henrik Stenson, Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, and Sergio Garcia.

There were some big names in last year’s competition who are still competing on the PGA Tour, including Xander Schauffele, Tom Kim, Shane Lowry, and Tony Finau.

The highlight of last year’s event was Varner’s insane 120-foot eagle putt to win the tournament over Watson.

What a walkoff for Harold Varner. Eagle putt to win the Saudi International!

Congrats, @HV3_Golf!pic.twitter.com/QdRa8yiXJo

— Gary Parrish (@GaryParrishCBS) February 6, 2022