Westwood, Bland want to play in Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series

Published: 04 May 2022 Last updated: 17 June 2022

Lee Westwood.

British Masters host Danny Willett has autographed the sign.

Lee Westwood discusses his plans to play in the LIV Golf Series.

Richard Bland is presented with a silver salver ahead of his 500th DP World Tour start at The British Masters.

Lee Westwood and Richard Bland want to play in the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational’s opening tournament at Centurion Club in June.

Speaking ahead of The British Masters at The Belfry, the two men both confirmed they have applied for permission to play in the opening event of the controversial new Greg Norman-fronted tour, where a purse of $25m will be up for grabs.

Bland, who defends his first DP World Tour Title in his 500^th appearance this week, became one of only a handful of golfers to confirm their intention to tee it up at the Hertfordshire-based Centurion Club in the week before the US Open.

Richard Bland won his first European Tour event at the 478th time of asking.

“I have [requested permission to play]. And if it’s okay, that’s where I want to leave it,” the 49-year-old, who won his first DP World Tour title at The Belfry in 2021, said.

“For me right now, I want to concentrate on this tournament. I want to respect Betfred, obviously the British Masters, obviously Danny who is a wonderful host.

“So yes, I have, but right now, this DP World event is my 100 per cent focus this week. I want to make a good defence of my title and we’ll leave it there if that’s okay with you.”

Meanwhile, Westwood, who had remained silent on his plans until now, had far more to say.

“I’ve asked for a release from the PGA Tour and the European Tour for Centurion like many others have,” the former World No.1 said.

“I’ve asked for a release for tournaments for as long as I’ve been on tour. It’s not the first one, I’ve asked for many, not heard anything back yet but the ball’s in the European Tour’s court and the PGA for that matter.

The 49-year-old, who won the British Masters at The Belfry in 2007, was quick to point out his loyalty to the European/DP World Tour over his lengthy career.

“I’ve supported the European Tour for 29 years, I’ve gone over and won on the PGA Tour in 1998, not taking a card. I’ve had brief goes on the PGA Tour and given up my card at certain times over there for personal things.

“I’ve never been driven by playing on the PGA Tour like a lot of the guys – my goal has always been to be a European Tour member and support this tour and go in and out of the PGA Tour.”

The Ryder Cup stalwart also questioned why playing in the new event would have any impact on people’s validity for the biennial event.

“It’s being portrayed as an ‘us and them’ whereas people from LIV Golf have said they want to stand side by side. They’re not going up against any of the really massive tournaments, they want everybody to have opinions and they’re not forcing anyone’s hand.

“People always have a problem with change, don’t they? They’re sceptical about it, and people like continuity and they like the same to carry on. But change in competition is good in any walk of life I think. It shakes things up, keeps everybody on their toes, and keeps everybody trying to improve.”

Lee Westwood is a stalwart of the European Tour.

The 25-time European Tour winner, who is back working with coach Pete Cowen, also attempted to address moral concerns, suggesting sport and politics shouldn’t mix.

“The European Tour has been happy to play events in Saudi Arabia. The PGA Tour released players for that,” he mused.

“It’s like Wimbledon banning Russian players. For what it’s worth I don’t agree with that, either.

“Saudi Arabia hosts F1, Newcastle is partly owned by people from Saudi Arabia. There have been fights there, I think there’s been snooker and darts there.

“Golf isn’t the first sport to be played in Saudi Arabia but it seems to have come under more scrutiny. Whether you think that’s right or not is the individual’s opinion.

“I think Saudi Arabia obviously know they have issues. Lots of countries around the world have issues. I think they’re trying to improve through sport. Which a lot of countries do.”

Westwood said the opportunity to play another event in front of home fans was a huge draw and he has no concerns over the PGA Tour and DP World Tour previously threatening lifetime bans on players who play in a breakaway league.

“I love playing in England to play in front of home fans. Anytime there is an opportunity like that, I feel I should take it.

“I’m an independent contractor, I work for myself, it’s my job and I have to do what’s right for me.”

British Masters host Danny Willett ruled himself out of the LIV Golf Series.

Meanwhile, British Masters host Danny Willett followed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods and Collin Morikawa in ruling himself out.

“No, it’s a week off,” Willett replied when asked if he’d considered playing in the series opener. “I think it’s a very difficult one. You’ve got guys in massively different situations in age, career, what they have achieved, what stage they are at and I think it definitely suits certain people. So if you feel like you call into that category, then that’s on you.

“We’ve not really had many discussions. My main focus was to keep my head down and try to get as many points in the FedEx Cup and in Europe as possible because I think it was a distraction for a few guys at times.

“I think you did see a few guys fall off in form because maybe they weren’t concentrating on what they were trying to do. No, my main goal was to try to focus on what I was doing in golf and kind of see what happened with everything else.”

Bob MacIntyre has ruled out playing in the LIV Golf Series.

And Scotland’s Bob MacIntyre was another to rule himself out.

“I’ll not be there. Simple as that,” the 25-year-old said.

“If you ask me, it’s obscene money to be thrown at sport. There’s only so much money a human needs. I’ve got a house. I’ve got a car I can drive. Clothes I can put on. What else do I need?

“People think we’re special. We’re not. I use the toilet like everyone else.”

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The Liv Golf Series will see eight 54-hole tournaments played across three continents in just five months in 2022.

Over those events, $255m will be won, with each regular team event offering a purse of $25m – $20m will be shared between the field, with $4m for the winner of each event and at least $120,000 going to the man who finishes last. There will be no cuts in the events. A $5m purse will be shared between the top three ‘teams’ (think F1 Constructors’ Championship) at each event.

There’s also $50m reserved for the Team Championship, a figure that dwarfs any PGA Tour purse, with the Players Championship (the most lucrative) paying out $20m. That will be split between the 12 four-man teams, with $16m going to the winning team and at least $1m to the team that finishes last.

Greg Norman is fronting the LIV Golf Series.

LIV GOLF INVITATIONAL SERIES SCHEDULE

June 9-11: Centurion Golf Club – London, England
July 1-3: Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club – Portland, USA
July 29-31: Trump National Golf Club Bedminster – New Jersey, USA
September 2-4: The International – Boston, USA
September 16-18: Rich Harvest Farms – Chicago, USA
October 7-9:Stonehill Golf Club – Bangkok, Thailand
October 14-16: Royal Greens Golf Club – Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
October 27-30: Team Championship, Trump National Doral, Miami, USA

Lee Westwood and Richard Bland want to play in the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational’s opening tournament at Centurion Club in June.

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