Report: LIV's Martin Kaymer won't play at Wentworth as he's "not welcome"
Martin Kaymer, who has played in every LIV Golf event, has revealed he will not be playing the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
Former World No.1 Martin Kaymer, who has joined the LIV Golf Invitational Series, says he will not play the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth because he does not want to go to a place where "you're not that welcome".
Kaymer, 37, spoke to Golf Digest after finishing up the Pro-Am at The International ahead of the LIV Golf Invitational in Boston. It is the fourth $25m event of LIV's inaugural eight-event season.
The 48-man field is headlined by Cameron Smith, the current World No.2 and winner of the 150th Open Championship, who will be making his debut alongside Kaymer after his $140m switch to the Saudi-financed circuit.
Related: The LIV Golf players heading to Wentworth
"Of course, there will be friction there, that's why I'm not going," Kaymer told the publication. "I don't need to go to a place where, feel-wise, you're not that welcome. They don't say it, but [it's there]."
"I do love the European Tour and I do like Wentworth; I think it's a flagship event that people like to participate it.
"But under those circumstances, I try to stay in the area where the energy is high, where the energy is positive. I don't know why I should fly to England, [and] be on the golf course for four or five days where you are not that welcome, I would say.
He continued: "It has nothing to do with the European Tour or the players or anything like that ... but where we are right now [in professional golf], I try to stay away. I will wait until everything settles."
Kaymer's comments come after Rory McIlroy admitted it was "hard to stomach" the thought of LIV Golf players pegging it up at the flagship event on the DP World Tour. England's Matthew Fitzpatrick, also a PGA Tour loyalist, also said he felt it was going to be "awkward" at Wentworth.
A report by The Telegraph also revealed that the chief executive of the European circuit, Keith Pelley, sent a memo to the LIV players teeing it up telling them they would not be required to play in the Pro-Am and would not be in the featured televised groups. He also asked them not to wear LIV apparel.
Related: Davis Love III claims LIV chief executive Greg Norman is still lying
Kaymer was asked by Golf Digest if he believed that the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV could negotiate a path forward.
"The hope is there absolutely," Kaymer said. "I just don't know if the main people in charge of all the tours ... are able to put egos and personal stuff behind and focus on the big picture in the game of golf.
"I think it's very good for the game of golf what's happening with LIV and what's happening with the PGA Tour now. All those things are good for the players, and I do hope and do believe in maybe in two or three years things will change and will turn out good."
Next page: PGA Tour to put international series on the back burner, according to report
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