Report: PGA Tour plans to ban Japan Golf Tour players who participate in LIV Golf events

In the latest jab at competitor LIV Golf, the PGA Tour has reportedly threatened to ban Japanese golfers who play for the Saudi-backed league. 

According to Bob Harig of Sports Illustrated, the PGA Tour informed the Japan Golf Tour Organization this week that any members participating in LIV Golf events will be prohibited from playing in Tour events during the 2022-2023 season. 

Harig noted that several Japanese golfers, Yuki Inamori, Ryosuke Kinoshita, Jinichiro, and Hideto Tanihara, won't participate in this week's LIV Golf event in Boston after being a part of the invitational last week in New Jersey. 

Sports Illustrated obtained a letter from the JGTO to its members, which cleared up grey areas surrounding the PGA's stance on their eligibility for Tour events moving forward.  

"If a JGTO member does not participate in any further unauthorized events during the 2022-2023 PGA Tour season, they would be eligible to participate in the 2023 Sony Open and the 2023 Zozo Championship," the letter said. "However, if they participate in any further unauthorized events, they will not be eligible for any events sanctioned by the PGA TOUR through the end of 2023, including the 2023 Zozo Championships." 

The Zozo Championships are an official PGA Tour event. Co-sanctioned by the JGTO, they sent ten members to the tournament each year. 

On Tuesday, LIV Golf announced several new additions to their player roster. Headlined by the No. 2 ranked golfer in the world, Cameron Smith, the Greg Norman-led circuit also added Joaquin Niemann, Marc Leishman, Hardol Varner III, Cameron Tringale, and Anirban Lahiri. 

The league's schedule resumes this weekend with the LIV Golf Invitational Boston running Friday through Sunday.