PGA Tour suspends 17 golfers, including Phil Mickelson, for participating in LIV golf tournament

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The PGA Tour suspends more than a dozen members who participated in the inaugural event of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Tour.

In a memo, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan announced the suspension of 17 golfers who participated in the competing LIV Golf Invitational Series in England on Thursday.

“We followed the tournament rules from start to finish in responding to those players who chose to turn their backs on the PGA Tour by intentionally violating a rule,” Monahan wrote in the memo, which receive reviewed by multiple outlets and by PEOPLE.

“At the same time as receiving this memo, players will be notified that they are suspended or otherwise ineligible to participate in PGA Tour tournaments, including the Presidents Cup,” he added.

The banned golfers will no longer be allowed to participate in the Presidents Cup or other Tour events. In addition, the PGA Tour will also ban all other players who participate in LIV golf tournaments in the future.

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Among those suspended is golf legend Phil Mickelson, winner of 45 PGA Tour events. Golfer Dustin Johnson, a former Masters winner who retired from the PGA Tour this week, is also suspended.

PEOPLE has reached out to representatives for Mickelson and Johnson for comment.

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The organization said players who have previously canceled their PGA Tour membership will not be allowed to participate in its events because they are “deemed non-members due to a sponsor exemption” or “due to another eligibility category.”

“These players made their choices for financial reasons,” Monahan said in the memo. “But they cannot demand the same benefits, compensation, opportunities and platforms of PGA Tour membership that you do. This expectation is disrespectful to you, our fans and our partners.”

He added: “I am sure our fans and partners – who are surely fed up with all this talk of money, money and more money – will continue to be entertained and captivated by the world-class competition you deliver each week. Every punch you throw has real consequences and you have a rightful place in history whenever you reach the elusive winner’s circle.”

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In addition to Mickelson and Johnson, the PGA Tour also suspended:

-Garcia series
-Andy Ogletree
-Talor Gooch
-Louis Oosthuizen
-Branden Grace
-Turk Petit
-Ian Poulter
-Matt Jones
-Charl Schwartzel
-Martin Kaymer
-Hudson Swafford
-Graeme McDowell
-Peter Uihlein
-Lee Westwood
-Kevin Na

Garcia, Oosthuizen, Grace, Pettit, Schwartzel, Kaymer, McDowell, Westwood and Na, like Johnson, retired from the PGA Tour before beginning the LIV Golf Invitational on Thursday.

In a statement to PEOPLE, LIV Golf criticized the suspensions imposed by the PGA Tour.

“Today’s announcement by the PGA Tour is vindictive and deepens the divide between the Tour and its members,” the organization said. “It is disturbing that the Tour, an organization committed to providing golfers with the opportunity to play golf, is the one banning golfers from playing.”

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“This is certainly not the last word on this topic,” they continued. “The era of free agency begins and we are proud to have a full field of players joining us in London and elsewhere.”

Following this week’s event, LIV Golf plans additional events throughout 2022 in cities such as Portland, Boston, Chicago, Miami and Bangkok.