Participation in the controversial LIV Golf Invitational Series has earned German pro Martin Kaymer a hefty fine.
The European DP World Tour fined 37-year-old Kaymer and other participants in the millions of Saudi-funded LIV tournament in London £100,000.
Ban for multiple tournaments
In addition, World Tour players who teed off at Centurion Club earlier this month will be suspended from the Scottish Open and Barbasol Championship (both July 7-10) and Barracuda Championship (July 14-17). . The major tournament around the British Open is exempt from the ban.
“Every action someone takes in life has consequences”, DP World Tour boss Keith Pelley said in a statement on Friday (6/24/2022). This is no different in professional sport: “Especially when someone chooses to break the rules. That’s what happened here with several of our members.” The North American PGA Tour had previously suspended some players.
Further consequences threaten
The LIV series is criticized because of the millions invested in Saudi Arabia. The background is that the country, which has been criticized for human rights violations, is trying to improve its reputation with lucrative sporting events.
Kaymer, who has been playing at the BMW International Open in Eichenried near Munich since Thursday, finished 15th in the LIV premiere and recently defended his participation. Should World Tour players participate in further LIV events, further consequences have been threatened. Next stop of the Saudi series is from June 30th to July 2nd in Portland, USA. Kaymer is also on the starting list for this tournament.