Lee Westwood told Sky Sports on Wednesday that he wants to play in the first Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series event in London next month.
In the European Tour's court, any impact on his future candidacy as captain of the European team in the Ryder Cup is, Westwood told Sky Sports.
Westwood said that he put a release in with the PGA Tour and European Tour. It is an opportunity to play against some of the best players in the world in England.
The first LIV Golf Invitation event, scheduled for June 9-11 at the Centurion Club, outside of London, will conflict with the Canadian Open in Ontario, so players on the tour will have to get a release from the tour to compete in the other event.
Phil and Robert Garrigus are the only other players on the tour who have acknowledged asking for a release.
More than 200 players have registered to play in the 48 player field in London, according to Greg Norman. The players will play in a 54-hole event with no cut and with shotgun starts.
Some of the top 100 players in the world rankings are among those who have registered, according to Norman.
The top three teams will get $5 million and the top individual players will get $20 million in the regular-season tournaments.
According to reports, Westwood turned down the chance to be a European captain at the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome. It is not known how his participation in LIV events will affect his position with the Ryder Cup.
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund is financing the LIV golf series. Westwood was aware of the Saudi Arabian government's history of alleged human rights violations.
We have played European Tour events in Saudi Arabia, and I have had releases from the PGA Tour to say I can play there. There have been boxing fights there, which are owned by Saudi Arabians. Golf is not the first sport to have links with Saudi Arabia, but it seems to be coming under more scrutiny than any other sport.
I think Saudi Arabia knows they have issues. There are lots of issues in countries around the world. I think Saudi Arabia is trying to improve through sport. A lot of people are trying to do it, but they are doing it quicker. That scares people because they don't like change.
The killing of Washington Post reporter and U.S. resident Jamal Khashoggi in Saudi Arabia in October of last year was one of the reasons why Mickelson was heavily criticized for his comments.
I hear what people say, but I don't know what the Chinese do with the Uyghurs. I have seen it happen in my world. I have been focused on that for the last 20 years because I have seen what golf can do to break down barriers and change cultures. The effort to change the cultural past is something I admire.
Everyone in the world was shocked by what happened. There is no person on this planet that is not shocked. Everybody wants to look forward and move on.
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