PGA Tour responds to "bullying" tweet by Tour pro ahead of Asian Tour event
PGA Tour claims tweet by Tour pro is "100% false" ahead of this week's LIV Golf-backed Asian Tour event.
The PGA Tour has confirmed a tweet sent by a Tour pro about "bullying" ahead of this week's International Series Singapore tournament on the Asian Tour is "100% false", according to CBS Sports reporter Kyle Porter.
American Tour pro Berry Henson, ranked 631st in the world rankings, tweeted earlier today: "3 Japan players pulled out of this week's Asian Tour event cause they were told if they played they could not play the @PGATOUR @zozochamp. This is bullying at its finest. Not cool."
Porter, who writes for CBS, commented: "Whoa... what?" to which the PGA Tour then got in touch with him to confirm such a rumour was not true.
Whoa ... what? https://t.co/BHwAMwJSBx
— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterCBS) August 8, 2022
Was informed by the PGA Tour that this is "100% false" so, yeah, it seems the misinformation campaigns have launched. That's on me. https://t.co/TdMREDxVJ3
— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterCBS) August 8, 2022
"Was informed by the PGA Tour that this is "100% false" so, yeah, it seems the misinformation campaigns have launched. That's on me," tweeted Porter.
The PGA Tour will host its annual ZOZO Championship at ACCORDIA GOLF Narashino Country Club from October 13 to 16.
It's a 72-hole event with no cut and the prize purse stands at $11 million with 500 FedEx Cup points on the line.
Hideki Matsuyama, who has been strongly linked with a $400 million move to LIV Golf in recent weeks, is the defending champion of the tournament.
This week's Asian Tour event in Singapore, and next week's International Series Korea tournaments, are backed by the controversial Saudi-backed LIV Golf Tour led by Greg Norman.
The Asian Tour has a partnership in place with LIV Golf after receiving a $300 million investment earlier this season.
The total prize fund for this week's Asian Tour event stands at $1.5 million with the winner taking home $270,000.
That is some way short of the $4 million individual first prize on offer in LIV Golf events, though.
Related: PGA Tour hits back at LIV Golf lawsuit
LIV Golf Tour pro Patrick Reed, 31, has confirmed he will play in both Asian Tour events this week and next.
In recent weeks, LIV Golf players have considered the idea of playing in such Asian Tour events as there remains uncertainty about whether or not the controversial series will be awarded Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) accreditation any time soon.
OWGR today confirmed they will introduce an updated system from next week, with the LIV Golf Invitational Series not listed under "eligible tours".
They have published a document with the changes, which you can read here.
A total of 23 tours are currently listed as being eligible for world ranking points.
The PGA Tour and DP World Tour are of course named, but there is no room for LIV, at least as things stand right now.
That means that unless they are exempt as past champions or by current ranking, LIV Golf players currently do not have a pathway to qualify for the majors.
New LIV Golf signee Paul Casey has spoken about this situation.
The International Series Singapore will be played on the Tampines Course at Tanah Merah Country Club this week.
Lotte Skyhill Jeju Country Club will then host the International Series Korea the following week.
