Major champion risks PGA Tour ban after entering December tournament

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A former Major champion and PGA Tour stalwart has given the clearest indication yet of his intention to ditch his membership for LIV Golf, by entering one of the Saudi-funded league’s new qualifying events. American Jason Dufner won the PGA Championship in 2013 and represented the United States at the Ryder Cup a year earlier, but the 46-year-old has been named in the field for LIV’s qualifying school event in Abu Dhabi next week.

Having played on the PGA Tour consistently for the past 16 years, the Cleveland-born star is now risking his association entirely by flirting with a move to the rival outfit, just when both tours are struggling to strike a deal over their controversial proposed merger ‘framework agreement’.

Should Dufner qualify for LIV next season and make the switch, he will almost certainly be banned from the PGA just like his predecessors have, including Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Australian Cameron Smith.

Entering the Q-School event alone does not appear to be reason enough for Dufner to be chucked off the PGA Tour, however. The American-based tour has accepted that no sanctions will be imposed on participating PGA players due to the event not being part of an ‘unauthorised series’.

As per The Mirror, a tour spokesperson said: “Based on the information publicly available regarding the LIV Golf Promotion event, it is determined to be a qualifying event only and not a part of an unauthorised series.

“Therefore, the LIV Golf Promotion event is not categorised as an ‘unauthorised tournament.'”

PGA Tour rules state that players can apply for a tournament release off the circuit if they request at least 45 days in advance. Although it is unknown when Dufner made a request the Abu Dhabi event was only announced 48 days before its start date.

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Dufner will be competing at the 72-hole event against a number of relegated LIV Golf players who are battling to retain their places on the tour. The group includes Chase Koepka (brother of five-times Major winner Brooks Koepka), Sihwan Kim, Jediah Morgan and James Piot.

Although the qualifying event consists of four rounds, it will be played over three days. The top-20 players in opening round will qualify for the second round where will will be joined by a number of exempt players including Major winner Dufner.

Scores from the first day will be restarted for the second day’s play with another cut at the 20-player mark before the remaining group plays 36 holes on the final day. Only the top three finishers will earn an automatic place on next years’ LIV Golf Tour.

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