Golf

PGA Tour allows players to compete at Saudi International

Release comes with conditions but players can now travel to Greg Norman-backed event

Dustin Johnson won the Saudi International in 2021. The event used to be on the European Tour but is now the flagship event on the Asian Tour. Photograph: Andrew Redington/WME IMG/Getty Images

Tue Dec 21 2021 - 07:33

The PGA Tour has announced it is has given permission for players to compete in the Saudi International that is due to take place from February 3rd-6th.

Releases were granted with conditions related to the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in California that is scheduled to take place in the same week.

A statement from the PGA Tour on Monday said: “With conditions, the PGA Tour has granted all conflicting-event releases to players for the Saudi International, February 3rd-6th, 2022.

“The tournament will be played the same week as the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, so players will be required to support that Tour staple going forward.

READ MORE

“The memo announcing the decision went out to the membership on Monday.

“Players who have played in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am at least once in the past five years were granted a release on the condition that they commit to play it at least once in the next two years (’23, ‘24).

“Players who have not played the historic tournament on the Monterey Peninsula at least once in the past five years were granted a release on the condition that they commit to play it at least twice in the next three years (’23, ‘24, ‘25).”

The Tour added that the releases were “not precedent setting”.

Defending champion Dustin Johnson, Tommy Fleetwood, Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia and Bryson DeChambeau are among the players set to compete in the $3.7million event at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in Jeddah.

The Saudi International was previously on the European Tour but is now the flagship event on the Asian Tour, which is also launching 10 new events spearheaded by former world number one Greg Norman and backed by 200 million US dollars from the Saudi government's Private Investment Fund.

LATEST STORIES