Two Irish players among field for LIV qualifying tournament

Max Kennedy and Ryan Griffin are hoping to earn three spots on the 2024 Saudi-sponsored tour.

Irish duo Max Kennedy and Ryan Griffin take part in LIV Golf’s first qualifying event in Abu Dhabi.

The Saudi-sponsored tour will offer athletes the chance to secure a spot on their circuit for the first time through three days and four rounds of competition from December 8th to 10th. He has three spots on his 2024 LIV tour.

2013 PGA Championship winner Jason Dufner and former European Ryder Cup player Victor Dubuisson also entered.

There are also LIV players in the field who will be relegated at the end of the 2023 season and will have to regain their positions. These include Sihwan Kim, Chase Koepka, Jed Morgan, James Piot, and backup Laurie Canter.

Kennedy and Griffin are both amateurs, with Kennedy playing for the University of Louisville and Griffin for Maynooth University. Both were exempt this year because they were competing in the Palmer Cup. Walker Cup players had been invited to the tournament, but Irish quartet Mark Power, Alex Maguire, Liam Nolan and Matthew McClean decided not to accept the invitation.

The first round, with nearly 60 players, tees off in an 18-hole stroke play format, with the top 20 and ties advancing to the second round, where scores are reset and a select group of automatic qualifiers are added. will be done. In addition to Dufner, the tournament will also include the aforementioned LIV relegated teams.

The top 20 players from this round will advance to the third round, where points will be reset again and a 36-hole shootout will determine qualification. Ultimately, the top three finishers will qualify for all of his 2024 LIV golf events.

The total prize pool for this event is reportedly his $1.5 million, with the winner receiving his $200,000 check.

‘LIV Golf Promotions is creating an open avenue for players to compete in his LIV Golf League, and the interest shown in the event’s first year underscores the importance of these new opportunities to the sport. It emphasizes gender,” said Greg Norman, CEO of LIV.

“Attracting exceptional talent from every corner of the world, LIV Golf is building a platform for these current and emerging stars to build their careers in new and exciting ways.” LIV Golf The future is bright and we are. We can’t wait to see which players will join this ground-breaking league in 2024.”