What is LIV Golf, who is playing and how can I watch?
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LIV Golf hosts its second event this week as the Saudi-backed breakaway series gathers momentum, with a number of new players announced since it made its debut at Centurion Club just outside London earlier this month.
Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Reed are among the high-profile players to have recently defected from the PGA Tour, joining the likes of Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Louis Oosthuizen.
The PGA Tour and DP World Tour have attempted to come down hard on rebel players, issuing suspensions and fines, but the latest signings of Matthew Wolff and Carlos Ortiz have shown that the eye-watering sums on offer are proving hard to resist.
Charl Schwartzel won the maiden event in Hemel Hempstead and claimed £3.85m and a total prize pot of £20m will be up for grabs once again at Pumpkin Ridge in Portland, Oregon.
Here is everything you need to know:
What is LIV Golf?
LIV Golf is a controversial breakaway series of golf events fronted by two-time major champion Greg Norman and backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. Originally imagined as a league, it has instead been launched this year as a series of eight invitational events, each featuring 48 players in a shotgun start. The tournaments are over 54 holes and don’t have a cut. The golfers who’ve defected from the PGA Tour and DP World Tour to join LIV Golf have faced criticism from human rights groups and a coalition of 9/11 survivors.
When is the Portland event?
The 54-hole tournament will begin on Thursday 30 June at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, with the winning player and team decided on Saturday 2 July.
Who is in the field?
Abraham Ancer – Mexico
Richard Bland – England
Itthipat Buranatanyarat – Thailand
Laurie Canter – England
Eugenio Chacarra – Spain
Bryson DeChambeau – USA
Hennie Du Plessis – South Africa
Sergio Garcia – Spain
Talor Gooch – USA
Branden Grace – South Africa
Justin Harding – South Africa
Sam Horsfield – England
Yuki Inamori – Japan
Dustin Johnson – USA
Matt Jones – Australia
Sadom Kaewkanjana – Thailand
Martin Kaymer – Germany
Phacara Khongwatmai – Japan
Sihwan Kim – USA
Ryosyke Kinoshita – Japan
Brooks Koepka – USA
Chase Koepka – USA
Jinichiro Kozuma – Japan
Graeme McDowell – Northern Ireland
Phil Mickelson – USA
Jediah Morgan – Australia
Kevin Na – USA
Shaun Norris – South Africa
Louis Ooosthuizen – South Africa
Wade Ormsby – Australia
Carlos Ortiz – Mexico
Adrian Otaegui – Spain
Pat Perez – USA
Turk Pettit – USA
James Piot – USA
Ian Poulter – England
Patrick Reed – USA
Charl Schwartzel – South Africa
Travis Smyth – Australia
Ian Snyman – South Africa
Hudson Swafford – USA
Hideto Tanihara – Japan
Peter Uihlein – USA
Scott Vincent – Zimbabwe
Matt Wolff – USA
Lee Westwood – England
Bernd Wiesberger – Austria
Blade Windred – Australia
Who are the team captains?
Louis Oosthuizen - Stinger GC
Bryson DeChambeau - Crushers GC
Lee Westwood - Majesticks GC
Hideto Tinihara - Torque GC
Dustin Johnson - 4 Aces GC
Martin Kaymer - Cleeks GC
Wade Ormsby - Punch GC
Graeme McDowell - Niblicks GC
Brooks Koepka - Smash GC
Phil Mickelson - Hyflyers GC
Sergio Garcia - Fireballs GC
Kevin Na - Iron Heads GC
What is the prize money breakdown?
The first seven events feature a prize pool of £20m, with the individual winner claiming £3.2m. The prize money reduces in accordance with a player’s finish, but last is still guaranteed £96,000.