Ex-PGA champion Jason Dufner, Kevin Chappell and a long list of Australians, including Jed Morgan, are among 73 players to sign up for the LIV Golf Promotions qualifier in Abu Dhabi, where three spots are up for grabs in the 2024 roster.
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The PGA Tour had said players would not be suspended for playing the qualifier, although they would need to get a media rights release. Players have to request a release 45 days in advance, which left them no time from when the LIV dates were set and the start of the event.
No players are believed to have received a release for the December 8-10 LIV qualifier.
Still unclear was what punishment, if any, PGA Tour members would face for simply trying to qualify. The media rights release was required because unlike European tour qualifying school, the LIV Golf Promotions events is being streamed by LIV Golf Plus and the LIV Golf YouTube channel.
Dufner, who won the PGA Championship in 2013 at Oak Hill and played in the Ryder Cup (2012) and Presidents Cup (2013), was No. 172 in the FedEx Cup this year. He still would have limited status on the PGA Tour as a past champion.
Chappell, who played in the Presidents Cup at Liberty National in 2017, has been slow to return from back surgery. He had limited starts and finished No.179 in the FedEx Cup. Chappell was not eligible under the LIV Golf Promotions criteria, though they offered invitations.
Dufner and Chappell were among 14 players who received an exemption into the second round.
Additionally, former LIV Golf players Morgan, Sihwan Kim, Chase Koepka and James Piot, who were relegated at the end of the 2023 season as well as reserve Laurie Canter, will all be trying to reclaim their LIV Golf status at Abu Dhabi Golf Club in December.
Morgan, who completed a full season with the all-Australian Rippers GC team made up of compatriots Cam Smith, Marc Leishman and Matt Jones, shared his anticipation ahead of next week's event.
"Playing alongside Cam, Leish and Jonesy this past year was an unbelievable experience, both personally and professionally," said Morgan.
"Helping the team win in Bedminster, playing in front of a home crowd in Adelaide and sharing those memories with the guys are highlights that are tough to beat.
"I couldn't quite put together the consistent play I wanted to, but I learned a lot from the season and I know what I'm capable of. Obviously, the goal is to return to the Rippers, so I know what I've got to do in Abu Dhabi."
The first round has 59 players, including Kyle Stanley, Chris Stroud and Jeff Overton. The top 20 players after the first round advance to the second round. Scores are reset, and the top 20 advance to a 36-hole shootout on the last day.
Former Ryder Cup player Victor Dubuisson of France is another player to have signed up for the LIV qualifier.
Full list of Australians participating:
Jed Morgan, Lachlan Barker, Austin Bautista, Andrew Dodt, Scott Hend, Brendan Jones, Wade Ormsby, Zach Murray, Ryan Ruffels, Travis Smyth, Kevin Yuan.
Exempt into Round Two:
Jed Morgan, Wade Ormsby.
Australian Associated Press
