LIV Golf Invitational Series: Players, prize purse, how to watch, team names

Phil Mickelson will sensationally headline the opening event of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series at Centurion Club. 

Related: Golf reporter shut down during first LIV Golf press conference

The 51-year-old has not played competitive golf since his remarks were made public about using the Saudis as leverage to force the PGA Tour into change.

Mickelson has apologised for his "reckless remarks" and resurfaced earlier this week after news emerged he had signed a $200million deal with LIV Golf. 

He follows World No.15 Dustin Johnson in going all-in on the breakaway series, which is expected to turn into a "super league" in the coming years.

Johnson, 37, confirmed that he has resigned his PGA Tour membership. Sergio Garcia and Kevin Na have also severed their ties with the main tour. 

Elsewhere in the field, the bigger names include Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Richard Bland, Martin Kaymer, Louis Oosthuizen and Branden Grace. 

Who is in the field?

Adrian Otaegui 

Andy Ogletree 

Bernd Wiesberger

Blake Windred 

Branden Grace

Charl Schwartzel

Chase Koepka

David Puig (AM)

Dustin Johnson

Graeme McDowell

Hennie Du Plessis 

Hideto Tanihara

Hudson Swafford

Ian Poulter

Ian Snyman

Itthipat Buranatanyarat

James Piot (AM)

JC Ritchie 

Jediah Morgan

Jinichiro Kozuma 

Justin Harding

Kevin Na

Kevin Yuan

Laurie Canter

Lee Westwood

Louis Oosthuizen

Martin Kaymer

Matt Jones

Oliver Bekker

Oliver Fisher

Pablo Larrazabal

Peter Uihlein 

Phacharaca Khongwatmai

Phil Mickelson

Ratchanon Chantananuwat

Richard Bland

Ryosuke Kinoshita

Sadom Kaewkanjana

Sam Horsfield

Scott Vincent

Sergio Garcia

Sihwan Kim

Talor Gooch

Travis Smyth

Turk Pettit

Viraj Madappa

Wade Orsmby

Where are the other events?

After playing at Centurion Club in Hertfordshire, the series will then head all over the globe. 

Here is the schedule:

• Portland, Pumpkin Ridge, United States - June 30 - July 2
• New Jersey, Bedminster, United States - July 29 - 31
• Boston, The Oaks, United States, September 2 - 4
• Chicago, Harvest Farms, United States, September 16-18
• Bangkok, Pathum Thani, October 7-9
• Jeddah, Royal Greens, Saudi Arabia, October 14-16
• Miami, Trump National Doral, United States October 27-30

What is the format?

The 48-man field will de divided into 12 teams of four players via a draft taking place on 7 June.

Each team has an elected captain, of which there are team names. 

The first seven regular season events will consist of three 54-hole events, with no cuts and shotgun starts. 

Shotgun starts mean that players will all tee off at the same time on different holes. 

The final event, in Miami, will be a four-day team matchplay knockout. 

In 2023, it is expected that a 10-event schedule will be announced. In 2024 and 2025, there will be 14 tournaments. 

The CEO of LIV Golf Investments, Greg Norman, says the Public Investment Fund will invest a further $2billion into the project.

What is the prize money?

$255 million (£204million) for the eight events. 

Players have been given "signing on" fees and they have not been disclosed publicly. 

It has been reported that Mickelson's fee to play in the series is $200million, whilst Dustin Johnson's was $125million. 

The final event on the schedule will see teams compete for a share of $50million in prize money. 

How does the prize purse pay out for the first event?

1. $4,000,000
2. $2,125,000
3. $1,500,000
4. $1,050,000
5. $975,000
6. $800,000
7. $675,000
8. $625,000
9. $580,000
10. $560,000
11. $540,000
12. $450,000
13. $360,000
14. $270,000
15. $250,000
16. $240,000
17. $232,000
18. $226,000
19. $220,000
20. $200,000
21. $180,000
22. $172,000
23. $170,000
24. $168,000
25. $166,000
26. $164,000
27. $162,000
28. $160,000
29. $158,000
30. $156,000
31. $154,000
32. $152,000
33. $150,000
34. $148,000
35. $146,000
36. $144,000
37. $142,000
38. $140,000
39. $138,000
40. $136,000
41. $134,000
42. $132,000
43. $130,000
44. $128,000
45. $126,000
46. $124,000
47. $122,000
48. $120,000

What do the teams win?

1. $3,000,000
2. $1,500,000
3. $500,000

What are the team names? 

Dustin Johnson - 4 Aces

Graeme McDowell - Niblicks

Ian Poulter - Majesticks

Kevin Na - Iron Heads

Louis Oosthuizen - Stinger

Martin Kaymer - Cleeks

Peter Uihlein - Crushers

Phil Mickelson - Hi Flyers

Sergio Garcia - Fire Balls

Sihwan Kim - Smash

Talor Gooch - Torque

Wade Ormsby - Punch

How can I watch?

On YouTube, Facebook and their official website. 

More than 50 cameras are in operation capturing the footage. 

LIV Golf Investments have also paid YouTube content creators to host. 

Why is it controversial?

Because the league is funded by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia. 

The chair of that fund is the Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman bin Salman. 

US and UN intelligence say he had direct knowledge or approval of the Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. 

Critics say the kingdom is trying to "sportswash" is reputation through sport. 

The PGA Tour and DP World Tour are on a collision course with the LIV Golf Invitational Series. 

What does LIV mean?

It is the Roman numeral for 54.

It has has two meanings: 54 is the lowest score you could shoot if you were to birdie every hole on a par-72 course.

It is also the number of holes to be played in each event.

Are there world ranking points awarded?

LIV Golf needs to apply to the OWGR for status. 

The Sunshine Tour plays 54-hole events so there is precedent to award world ranking points. 

World ranking points are still awarded when tournaments are reduced to 54 holes. 

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