Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson Among 17 Players Suspended By PGA

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL — Shortly after the Saudi-funded golf league teed off its first tournament Thursday, the PGA Tour handed down punishments to 17 of its current or recent members who participated in the event.

The PGA announced it was suspending the group, which includes stars Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Sergio Garcia, from PGA Tour tournament play. That includes eligibility from sponsor exemptions and other non-member eligibility categories. The players will not be eligible to compete in any PGA Tour-sanctioned tour, including the Korn Ferry Tour, PGA Tour Champions, PGA Tour Canada and PGA Tour Latinoamerica.

The players also will be removed from the FedExCup Points list when it is updated Sunday following the RBC Canadian Open.

The sanctions were released after the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational teed off at Centurion Club in St. Albans, England.

In addition to Mickelson, Johnson and Garcia, the other golfers suspended in the PGA Tour's announcement include Talor Gooch, Branden Grace, Matt Jones, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Kevin Na, Andy Ogletree, Louis Oosthuizen, Turk Pettit, Ian Poulter, Charl Schwartzel, Hudson Swafford, Peter Uihlein and Lee Westwood.

"We have followed the tournament regulations from start to finish in responding to those players who have decided to turn their backs on the PGA Tour by willfully violating a regulation," Jay Monahan, PGA Tour commissioner, said in a letter to PGA Tour members.

The regulation being violated is players competing in the LIV Golf Invitational without a conflicting event release. Players usually receive three releases per year, but the PGA Tour denied releases for the Saudi-based series because it will play eight tournaments, including five in the United States. Releases are not allowed for events in North America.

Several players, including Johnson and Garcia, had already resigned their PGA Tour membership since announcing they would play in the LIV Golf Invitational. Mickelson had not and told reporters Wednesday he earned his membership and shouldn't have to give it up.

The players made their "financial-based choice," but they can't demand the benefits, considerations and platform from PGA Tour membership, Monahan said in the letter.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.