LIV Golf official: Pranksters tried to enter Tiger Woods into maiden event

LIV Golf's chief operating officer Gary Davidson has revealed 216 pranksters tried to get in the breakaway tour's inaugural event under the name of Tiger Woods. 

Davidson revealed the amusing anecdote when he spoke to reporters at LIV's $50m season-ending team championship at Trump National Doral in Miami. 

The acting chief operating officer was speaking to the media about LIV's plans for 2024 and beyond. 

Doubts have been cast that the PGA Tour and LIV's financiers, the $600bn PIF of Saudi Arabia, can ratify the framework agreement which was announced in June. 

One tour player recently claimed he had heard from sources on both sides the deal is far too complicated and it is likely the North American circuit will look for alternative sources of investment. 

LIV are continuing as if it is business as usual and Davidson explained some of the details about December's promotions event that will offer three spaces in the league next year. 

Four players - Chase Koepka, Jed Morgan, James Piot and Sihwan Kim - have been relegated this season. 

 

 

 

 

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The promotions event will be held over 8-10 December at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. The three-day, 72-hole tournament will offer a $1.5m prize purse with $5,000 paid to any entrant eliminated after the first round, $10,000 after two and $17,500 for those qualifying for the final round. 

Andy Ogletree is expected to be awarded the fourth and final LIV slot for 2024 if he holds on to win the Asian Tour's International Series' order of merit. 

Davidson explained to the media there will be an entry fee for those wanting to tee it up. 

"There is a nominal entry fee [because] when we opened entries for the first event in Centurion, I think 'Tiger Woods' [was] entered 216 times," he said.

"We've put a nominal entry fee on [the event] … to verify genuine entries." 

Davidson said LIV could have more teams for the 2025 season. Phil Mickelson claimed another wave of defections are expected. 

Even Bubba Watson, captain of the RangeGoats, claimed he was taking calls from potential recruits. 

Read more:

• LIV Golf pro goes after Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy: "It's a blatant fop"
• Why Henrik Stenson offered this sarcastic response to Ryder Cup question
• Kevin Na on LIV Golf's worst player? "It's been difficult to watch"