US Amateur Golf Champion James Peat, who recently graduated from Michigan State Superstar golf, has signed up to play the new, lucrative and controversial LIV golf tour.
Piot was on the list of 42 players set to play the opening event of the Saudi Arabia-funded tour, in London next week. He turned pro last week and is free to cash checks in tournaments.
Piot plays at the PGA Tour’s Memorial this week in Dublin, Ohio, exempt from sponsor, before traveling abroad to play the LIV Tour. Piot didn’t send a message from The News this week, but two old Piot coaches defended the 23-year-old Canton native’s decision.
“James is comfortable with his decision. He has a place to play,” said Brian Kearns, head of Fox Hills in Plymouth, who has worked with Peyt nearly his entire life. “He gets paid to play golf. Mission accomplished.
“I support his decision 1000%.”
The Saudi-funded golf tournament, which rivals the PGA Tour, has been met with heavy criticism over Saudi Arabia’s human rights atrocities. Most of the game’s best players have rejected initiatives – and tens of millions of dollars – to stimulate the PGA Tour.
Among those who accepted the LIV tour offer: Dustin JohnsonSergio Garcia, Louis Oosthuizen, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, and Kevin Na. Johnson had previously said he would remain loyal to the PGA Tour. Phil Mickelson, who has not been seen or heard of since February when he was Saudi Arabia’s human rights record in defense of the LIV tour hypothesis rejected While he was accused of being greedy on the PGA Tour that has paid him nearly $100 million over the years, he was not on the list released by the LIV Tour on Tuesday night.
PGA Tour members playing the LIV Tour have been told that they face a potential PGA Tour ban. Norman said the LIV Tour would fight the PGA Tour’s position in court.
Piot, the first man born in Michigan Winning the US amateurs when he won last summer in Oakmont, is not a member of the PGA Tour, having just graduated from Michigan State. He’s free to win checks any way he chooses without a PGA Tour penalty.
1st place for the eight regular season LIV events pays $4 million; The last place pays over $100,000. There is a possibility that Piot has also received a signing bonus for playing the LIV Tour, but this is unknown. The stars were offered signing bonuses in excess of $20 million, and some of the lesser-known names in the top 100 world rankings were given bonuses of more than $10 million, as well as annual guarantees of prize money. In other words, it is a get-rich-quick opportunity.
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However, according to Piot coaches, this was not an easy decision. Consult with parents, friends and coaches.
“Everyone had a lot of input,” said Casey Luban, Michigan State men’s golf coach. “He’s an adult now, so he makes his own decisions. I’ll support James in whatever he chooses. It’s a chance to play against some of the best players in the world, obviously make some money, and live your dream.”
“He is a very thoughtful guy, he has a great support system.
“I am proud to see him take his game to the next level.”
Kearns added that Piot plans to use the money he earns in golf to help the golf community in southwest Michigan.
It will be a very busy three weeks for Piot, who plays at the Jack Nicklaus Memorial this week – his fourth start on the PGA Tour, including masters – Then the LIV Tour next week, before the US Open the following week at The Country Club in Brooklyn, Massachusetts.
Piot is expected to receive a sponsor exemption at the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit in late July.
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