Saudi-backed events threaten major disruption to golf’s old order, though top players are not signing up in numbers for now
How did this come about? Saudi Arabia’s increasing involvement in sport saw them target golf, initially via single tournaments on existing male and female tours. This quickly evolved into a lucrative series, fronted by Greg Norman but strongly opposed by the PGA and DP World Tours. This event is one of eight planned across the world in 2022 in a serious disruption plan.
Who has signed up? Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Sergio García, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Martin Kaymer are the biggest names on view. The 48-man field includes amateurs and 27 of the world’s top 150 ranked players.
