Ian Poulter▶ Click here for a larger view
Mastercard will stop sponsoring Ian Poulter (England) and Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland), who have moved to the LIV Golf Invitational Series backed by Saudi Arabian capital.
ESPN, an American sports media outlet, reported on the 10th that “Mastercard has decided to temporarily stop sponsoring them.” “Polter has been sponsored by Mastercard since 2009, and McDowell has been sponsored by Mastercard since 2011.”
“We recognize that their relationship with the PGA Tour is uncertain,” Mastercard said in a statement.
Polter and McDowell did not follow the PGA Tour’s decision not to compete in the LIV Golf Invitational Series, and moved to the LIV Series, which was played in the opening game in June.
The PGA Tour is sanctioning players who have participated in the LIV Series tournaments from participating in tournaments organized by the PGA Tour in the future.
However, Mastercard did not say how long the suspension of the contract would last.
Graeme McDowell▶ Click here for a larger view
This is not the first time the PGA Tour has stopped sponsoring players who have transferred to the LIV Series.
Rockit Mortgage has ended its sponsorship deal with Bryson D’Chambeau (USA), and Royal Bank Canada has also discontinued sponsorship with Dustin Johnson (USA) and McDowell.
Phil Mickelson (USA) also lost several sponsors, including Workday, KPMG, and Amstel.
On the other hand, Michelob Ultra and Nike maintain a sponsorship relationship with Brooks Kepka (USA), which has moved to the LIV series.
Greg Norman▶ Click here for a larger view
On the other hand, Greg Norman (Australia), who leads the LIV Golf Invitational Series, was not invited to the 150th anniversary of the major tournament The Open starting on the 14th.
According to ESPN, “The R&A hosting the Open did not invite Norman, CEO of LIV Golf, who won the Open twice, to the 150th anniversary event.”
Norman had won the 1986 and 1993 The Open, but was not invited to the 150th anniversary event.
R&A said, “I contacted Norman and informed him that we had decided not to invite him to this event.” “The 150th anniversary event should be held as a way to reflect on the legacy left by The Open and celebrate its long history. “I thought it might be different,” he explained.
This year’s British Open will be held at the St Andrews Links Old Course, Scotland, for four days from the 14th.
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