(Reuters) – Kevin Na has resigned from the PGA Tour so he can play in a Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series event with out the specter of punishment, the American golfer stated on Saturday.
Na, ranked 33 on the earth, is one in every of many golfers listed within the subject for the June Sept. 11 event at Centurion Club outdoors London together with former world primary Dustin Johnson and former Masters champion Sergio Garcia.
The PGA Tour on Wednesday had reiterated a warning to members, saying those that do characteristic on the Saudi-funded breakaway circuit could be “topic to disciplinary motion”.
Na stated he appreciated the PGA Tour for the alternatives they supplied over 19 years however “latest developments within the skilled golf world” had compelled him to rethink his choices.
“I would really like the liberty to play wherever I need and exercising my proper as a free agent offers me that chance. However, to stay a PGA Tour participant, I need to surrender my proper to make these decisions about my profession,” he wrote on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CeYxUfiratj/?hl=en.
“If I train my proper to select the place and once I play golf, then I can’t stay a PGA Tour participant with out dealing with disciplinary proceedings and authorized motion from the PGA Tour.
“I’m unhappy to share that I’ve chosen to resign from the PGA Tour. This has not been a simple choice and not one I take calmly. I hope the present insurance policies modifications and I’ll have the opportunity to play on the PGA Tour once more.”
Both the PGA Tour and DP World Tour had declined all requests from members who had requested for releases to compete within the rival sequence. The event at Centurion has $25 million up for grabs — together with $4 million for the winner.
(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; enhancing by Pritha Sarkar)
