PGA Tour, DP World Tour, denies it's players permission to play LIV Invitational in London next month

The PGA Tour has sent a letter denying it's players who had sought permission to play in the Saudi backed LIV Invitation at the Centurion Club near London June 9-11 

Players are usually allowed 3 releases for overseas events, however the Tour has decided to view this event as a rival series with a schedule of eight tournaments, with more to come.

The letter has been leaked and it says in part " We have notified those who have applied that their request has been denied in accordance with PGA Tour regulations. As such our members are not allowed to compete in the Saudi Golf League's London event under our regulations. 

As a membership organization we believe this decision is in the best interest of the PGA Tour and it's players."

Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia and Phil Mickelson are reportedly in the field.

With less fanfare, the DP World Tour under the leadership of Keith Pelley has also refused permission to it's membership.

LIV CEO Greg Norman disagrees, as he did throughout his career and he issued this statement.

"Sadly the PGA Tour seems intent on denying professional golfers to play golf unless it's in one of their tournaments. The Tour continues to perpetuate it's illegal  monopoly on what should be a free and open market but no matter what obstacles they put in our way we will not be stopped"

Westwood has continued the stance that he is a private contractor who can make a living where he chooses, and adds that Saudi Arabia, while reknown for past transgressions is trying to promote a new future which has already hosted a Grand Prix, the Saudi Open, major darts tournaments, LET golf championships, professional soccer amongst others. "Many countries we play in have checkered pasts"

The June 9-11 LIV event clashes directly with the RBC Canadian Open at St Georges in Toronto and the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed on the DP World Tour and is the week before  the US Open in Brookline MA.

So the first shot across the bows has been fired and the fall out will be fascinating. 

Mohammed bin Salman is the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia with a reported net worth of $18 billion, and he is the man providing the funding for LIV or the Saudi Golf League.

Bryan Angus