Greg Norman’s Saudi-backed golf operation has announced a new tournament series that will kick off in England with a $25m (£19.1m) event this June.
The series will include eight 54-hole events in Europe, the Americas and Asia.
They will make up a team element with the series worth a total of $255 million out of a total investment of $400 million.
No players have been announced for the LIV International Golf Series, but it is considered to be the first incarnation of the proposed breakaway Super League.
The controversial project has suffered several setbacks in recent weeks after the likes of Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson he decided to continue his allegiance to the PGA Tour.
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Despite being heavily linked with the Super League, Sweden’s Henrik Stenson pledged his allegiance to the status quo. by becoming the new European Ryder Cup captain earlier this week.
“In the first year, there will be a maximum of 48 players in 12 four-man teams and a truly global field with golfers invited from every circuit in the world to test the beta version of the new format,” said a statement from the organizers.
“Each event will have teams made up of different players determined by a draft the week of the event.”
Norman, CEO of LIV Golf Investments, said, “Our events are really additive to the world of golf. We’ve gone to great lengths to create a schedule that allows players to play elsewhere, while still participating in our events.”
“I believe that players will make more and more progress in achieving their right to play where they want. We will assist in any way possible and provide golfers with opportunities to reach their full potential.”
The PGA and Europe-based DP World Tours have previously threatened lifetime bans on defectors from the breakaway project. It remains to be seen how they will react to their members’ participation in this series.
The opening event will be held at the Centurion Club in Hertfordshire from June 9-11, the week before the US Open and boasts a prize fund that exceeds, by $5 million, the record $20 million purse in last week’s Players Championship at Sawgrass.
The statement added: “The total prize pool for the eight events will reach an unprecedented $255 million. The first seven regular season events will have a total prize pool of $25 million made up of $20 million in individual prize money (all players on the field earn a share) and $5 million for the top three teams.
“After the first seven events, an individual champion will be crowned offering a total purse of $30 million to the top three individuals of the season. The eighth season-ending event will be a team championship providing $50 million in total prizes.”
Tournaments have no cutoff and will have a quick start with all competitors starting their rounds simultaneously.
LIV Golf Invitational 2022 Schedule
June 9 – 11: Centurion Golf Club – London
July 1-3: Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club – Portland
July 29 – 31: Trump National Golf Club Bedminster – New Jersey
September 2-4: The International – Boston
September 16-18: Rich Harvest Farms – Chicago
Oct 7 – 9: Stonehill Golf Club – Bangkok
14 – 16 October: Royal Greens Golf Club – Jeddah
October 28 to 30: Team Championship
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