LIV Golf Invitational: Charl Schwartzel wins first event as Patrick Reed joins rebels

The week ended with a one-stroke victory by former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel at the inaugural LIV Golf Invitation event.

The golfer from South Africa, who won at Augusta in 2011, received a sum equal to the amount he has earned on the PGA Tour in the last four years.

The golf was somewhat overshadowed by the impact this start up series has had on the game.

At the presentation ceremony, Greg Norman said that the evolution of golf has arrived.

The former world number one said that for 27 years there have been a lot of obstacles put in their path, but they couldn't squash them.

"Never in my wildest dreams did I think we could play for that much money in golf," said Schwartzel after he accepted the trophy.

There was a lot of money involved and I took a bit of heat down the stretch.

Two more Americans have joined the cast list.

Patrick Reed, the Masters champion, and Pat Perez, a world number 168, were added to the LIV roster.

After only one top 10 finish this year, Reed is currently ranked 36 in the world. He will be making his debut at Pumpkin Ridge.

Reed told the coverage that he was excited. Being part of the change in golf is amazing.

Portland can't get here soon enough, said the Texan. It is going to be fun.

This was the most controversial week in the history of men's professional golf.

The 17 players were suspended by the tour for taking part. The fates of Reed, Perez and DeChambeau are the same.

The project gathered steam after the issue of Saudi Arabian sportswashing dominated the agenda.

The staging of the event was first class, and no expense was spared in streamed coverage that benefited from an absence of ad breaks.

As the tournament reached its climax with Schwartzel bogeying the last for a closing 72 that left him seven-under-par and one clear of South African counterpart Hennie Du Plessis there were around 100,000 viewers on the video sharing website.

The promotional nature of the commentary may have annoyed golf's die-hard viewers, but it was understandable given the way that LIV want to shake up the professional game.

There is no question that is what they have done. The next big question is how the DP World Tour will respond to the bans issued by the PGA Tour.

At a time when they are under increasing pressure from their membership, leading officials from the circuit were seen at the venue.

The tour's alliance with the PGA Tour 18 months ago has caused many players to be dissatisfied with the amount of playing time.

It's possible that Norman's operation could test the resilience of the relationship between the US and Canada.

The Saudi Arabian source of their huge financial clout is controversial.

They need to find a way to ditch playing in three balls if they want to change the perception of golf.

The golf was turgid with only four of the world's top 50 players in attendance. The last round took less than five hours.

The inaugural event made a big difference. The leading golf agents and managers were present.

"I didn't think we'd ever see a shot hit," said one person. It will definitely be a big part of the landscape of professional golf. Many players who were on the fence would like to be involved.

The second tournament of LIV will be held in Portland, Ore., on 30 June. The series goes to New Jersey and Boston.

These are traditional heartlands of American golf and how the US market will respond will be significant. There is no guarantee of a warm welcome.

The 9/11 survivors group pointed out that Osama bin Laden and the other hijackers were from Saudi Arabia.

The chair of the organization sent a letter to the representatives of the players complaining about their involvement.

Strada wrote "We are angered that you are so willing to help the Saudis cover up this history in their request for'respectability'."

You become complicit with the Saudis' whitewash when you partner with them.