LIV Golf collides with European tour at Wentworth

Updated Sep. 6, 2022 9:58 a.m. ET

Associated Press

EUROPEAN TOUR

BMW PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

Site: Virginia Water, England.

Course: Wentworth GC (West). Yardage: 7,267. Par: 72.

Prize money: $8 million. Winner's share: $1.4 million.

Television: Thursday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Golf Channel).

Defending champion: Billy Horschel.

DP World Tour points leader: Rory McIlroy.

Last week: Oliver Wilson won the Made in HimmerLand.

Notes: The strong field for the European tour's flagship event includes 18 players who have competed in at least two Saudi-funded LIV Golf events, including 15 who were at the event outside Boston last week and are likely to be at the one outside Chicago next week. ... Rory McIlroy is coming off his third FedEx Cup title. He had said at the Tour Championship it “turned my stomach” to be playing alongside LIV players. ... McIlroy is playing his first regular European tour event since Dubai in early February. He is playing three of the next four in Europe. ... Under the new world ranking system, the flagship event no longer is assured 64 points to the winner. ... Billy Horschel last year became the first American to win the BMW PGA Championship since Arnold Palmer in 1975 when it was played at Royal St. George's. ... U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick is the only current major winner at Wentworth. ... Two-time major champion Martin Kaymer and Paul Casey, both with LIV Golf, have chosen not to play. ... A British arbiter in July allowed for European tour members to play if they have signed with LIV Golf.

Next week: DS Automobiles Italian Open.

Online: https://www.europeantour.com/

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LPGA TOUR

KROGER QUEEN CITY CHAMPIONSHIP

Site: Cincinnati.

Course: Kenwood CC. Yardage: 6,515. Par: 72.

Prize money: $1.75 million. Winner's share: $262,500.

Television: Thursday-Friday, 4-7 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 2-5 p.m. (Golf Channel).

Defending champion: New tournament.

Race to CME Globe leader: Minjee Lee.

Last week: Gaby Lopez won the Dana Open.

Notes: This is the second straight week the LPGA Tour is in Ohio. ... The LPGA previously was in Cincinnati when Golf Center at Kings Island held the LPGA Championship from 1978 to 1989. ... Kenwood Country Club hosted the U.S. Women's Open in 1963 won by Mary Mills. ... Lucy Li, the 19-year-old from California who already has an LPGA card for next year through the Epson Tour, is playing her third straight event on the LPGA. She received an exemption in Canada and has finished in the top 10 the last two weeks. ... Megan Khang has four top 10s and two finishes in the top five this year. ... For the second straight week, Jin Young Ko and Nelly Korda are taking the week off. ... Augusta National Women's Amateur champion Anna Davis is playing on a sponsor invitation. ... The field includes six of the top 10 from the world ranking. ... Lexi Thompson has gone more than three years since her last victory.

Next tournament: Walmart NW Arkansas Championship on Sept. 23-25.

Online: https://www.lpga.com/

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PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS

ASCENSION CHARITY CLASSIC

Site: St. Louis.

Course: Norwood Hills CC. Yardage: 6,992. Par: 71.

Prize money: $2 million. Winner's share: $300,000.

Television: Friday, 1-4 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 5-7 p.m. (Golf Channel).

Defending champion: David Toms.

Charles Schwab Cup leader: Steven Alker.

Last tournament: Steve Stricker won The Ally Challenge.

Notes: Five tournaments remain before the Charles Schwab Cup playoffs begin. ... Padraig Harrington and Steve Stricker, the Ryder Cup captains from Whistling Straits, have won the last two tournaments on the PGA Tour Champions. ... Tim O'Neal from the Advocates Professional Golf Association Tour is playing on a sponsor exemption. ... St. Louis native Jay Williamson is playing on a sponsor exemption. ... Steven Alker, Miguel And Jimenez and Jerry Kelly lead the PGA Tour Champions with three wins this season. ... Steve Flesch is the only Champions winner this year who is not among the top 20 in the Charles Schwab Cups standings. ... David Toms won the inaugural tournament last year in a playoff over Dicky Pride. The tournament's debut in 2020 was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. ... Nine players have gone over $1 million in earnings this year.

Next week: Sanford International.

Online: https://www.pgatour.com/champions.html

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PGA TOUR

Last tournament: Rory McIlroy won the Tour Championship.

Next week: Fortinet Championship.

FedEx Cup champion: Rory McIlroy.

Online: https://www.pgatour.com/

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KORN FERRY TOUR

Last week: Justin Suh won the Korn Ferry Tour Championship.

Next tournament: End of season.

Points leader: Justin Suh.

Online: https://www.pgatour.com/korn-ferry-tour.html

OTHER TOURS

Japan Golf Tour and Asian Tour: Shinhan Donghae Open, Koma CC, Nara, Japan. Defending champion: Yoseop Seo. Television: Wednesday-Saturday, 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. (Golf Channel). Online: https://www.jgto.org/en/ and https://asiantour.com/

Ladies European Tour: VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open, Golfpark Holzhäusern, Ennetsee, Switzerland. Previous winner: Atthaya Thitikul. Online: https://ladieseuropeantour.com/

Sunshine Tour: Gary & Vivienne Player Challenge, Selborne Park GC, Pennington, South Africa. Defending champion: New tournament. Online: https://sunshinetour.com/

Japan LPGA: Japan LPGA Championship Konica Minolta Cup, Joyo CC, Kyoto, Japan. Defending champion: Mone Inami. Online: https://www.lpga.or.jp/en/

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