Major champion risks PGA Tour ban as LIV Golf Promotions field announced
Former PGA Championship winner Jason Dufner has entered LIV Golf's promotion event at Abu Dhabi Golf Club in search of a spot on the breakaway circuit.
LIV is hosting it's first ever Qualifying School which will take place in the Middle East next week, and Dufner is the man headlining the field. Dufner wrote himself into the golf history books in 2013, landing his one and only major title at Oak Hill by two shots over Jim Furyk.
The American has spent almost all of his professional playing career on the PGA Tour, but has put this at risk after deciding to enter the Saudi-backed series' Q-School in December.
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Players who have opted to join the LIV setup since its inception last summer have been suspended by the Tour, with the likes of Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka all giving up their playing rights. It was thought that LIV Promotions was to come with no consequence though, after the Tour gave its members the green light to enter.
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The American-based circuit revealed no sanctions would be handed out due to the qualifying event not being part of an 'unauthorised series'. "Based on the information publicly available regarding the LIV Golf Promotion event, it is determined to be a qualifying event only and not a part of an unauthorised series," a Tour spokesperson said.
LIV Golf Promotions will kick off in Abu Dhabi next week (via Getty Images)"Therefore, the LIV Golf Promotion event is not categorised as an ‘unauthorised tournament.’" In recent weeks though it was reported that the PGA Tour had opted to make a u-turn on their stance according to Monday Q Info.
Per PGA Tour rules, players are able to apply for a tournament release away from the circuit if they make the request 45 days in advance. LIV's announcement of its promotion event was made 48 days before the start of play in Abu Dhabi, and it remains unknown as to whether Dufner made his application ahead of the cut off.
Alongside the American, fellow former Ryder Cup stars Jeff Overton and Victor Dubuisson have also entered the three-day, 72-hole tournament. From the DP World Tour, seven-time champion Alvaro Quiros of Spain has committed to compete, as well as 2022 Porsche European Open champion Kalle Samooja.
A number of former LIV stars are also bidding to regain their spot on the breakaway league. All four of the 2023 relegated players - Chase Koepka, Sihwan Kim, Jediah Morgan and James Piot - will tee it up in Abu Dhabi, as well as former Majesticks GC and DP World Tour star Laurie Canter.
The Q-School event will take place over four rounds in three days. The opening round will see the top-20 qualify for Saturday's second round, which will also see a number of exempt players added, including the four relegated stars, Canter and major champion Dufner.
Scores from day one will be restarted for round two, before a second cut is implemented which will see the top-20 make it through to the final day on Sunday. Those remaining will then play across 36 holes, with the top-three finishers earning a spot on the LIV setup.
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