Even though it’s not part of the LIV Golf schedule, several players from the upstart league are taking part in the Saudi International this week—a tournament that was the precursor to LIV Golf and is an official stop on the Asian Tour.
With that, we’re hearing from several LIV players for the first time in 2023, including a slimmed-down Phil Mickelson.
Bubba Watson—who is debuting with LIV later this month in Mexico after missing last year’s schedule due to injury—is taking part in the Saudi tournament. This will be his first event since leaving the Pga Tour.
Embed from Getty Images
But even though he is banned from PGA Tour events, he will be at the Masters as a former champion. While there, Watson said he will campaign PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan to play in the PNC Championship, which is an exhibition family-team event but is still operated by the PGA Tour.
Watson told reporters in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday:
“My son, like I said, he doesn’t play golf, but now his whole goal was—I’ll put this out there, his whole goal was to play in the PNC, which is the parent-junior, and now I’m not allowed to play in it. As soon as I see Jay Monahan—if Jay Monahan is watching this, I’ll see you at Augusta and I’ll try to beg you to let us play the PNC again.”
Watson said he played in the tournament twice before with his father-in-law and donated all of the money he earned to charity:
“It’s a cool tournament, and my son was kind of disappointed that he knows we’re not going to play in that. But he still gets to caddie for me at Augusta, so he’s happy about that.”
By looking at the comments of the Tweet below, it appears that many believe Monahan won’t have sympathy for Watson after choosing to play on the LIV tour.
“If Jay Monahan is watching this, I’ll see you at Augusta and I’ll try to beg you to let us play the PNC again.” https://t.co/h6jPfNEHfS
— Golf Monthly (@GolfMonthly) January 31, 2023
Dad no longer part of PGA and son doesn’t golf. End of story. If wants a father/child event..look to see if LIV would put on an event.
— Linda Renner (@LindaRenner11) January 31, 2023
Something I don’t get about these LAV players they made their bed but now they don’t wanna sleep in it too effing bad
— Al Mac 55 (@Mark_Al_Mac) January 31, 2023
When we last saw Watson at this event, he was preparing for a playoff duel against Harold Varner III. Varner then did this for the win.
Harold Varner needed a birdie on the 18th to force a playoff with Bubba Watson at the Saudi International championship.
He drained an eagle for the win
+5500 outright
pic.twitter.com/BOMRqiHOOF— Golfbet (@GolfBet) February 6, 2022
Varner is also defending his title in this event this weekend against the likes of other LIV pros like Mickelson and Dustin Johnson.
Cover Image Via LIV Golf & YouTube
