LOS ANGELES
\nVeteran US golfer Kevin Na said on Saturday he has resigned from the PGA Tour in order to avoid facing sanctions for playing in the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series.
\nThe 38-year-old world number 33, who has five victories on the PGA Tour, was this week named in the field for the lucrative new series\u2019 opening event teeing off in Britain next week.
\nSeveral other golfers including former world number one Dustin Johnson and European Ryder Cup stars such as Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood have also signed up to the event.
\nThe PGA Tour has warned that members playing in the opening LIV tournament, which clashes with the tour\u2019s RBC Canadian Open \u2013 will face unspecified disciplinary action.
\nNa said Saturday he was seeking the \u201cfreedom to play wherever I want and exercising my right as a free agent gives me that opportunity\u201d.
\n\u201cHowever, to remain a PGA Tour player, I must give up my right to make these choices about my career,\u201d Na wrote on Twitter.
\n\u201cIf I exercise my right to choose where and when I play golf, then I cannot remain a PGA Tour player without facing disciplinary proceedings and legal action from the PGA Tour.
\n\u201cI am sad to share that I have chosen to resign from the PGA Tour. This has not been an easy decision and not one taken lightly. I hope the current policies change and I\u2019ll be able to play on the PGA Tour again.\u201d
\nNa, who has earned just under $38 million, won the last of his five PGA Tour titles at last year\u2019s Sony Open in Hawaii. His best finish in a major came at the 2016 US Open, where he placed seventh.
\nThe money-spinning LIV series is bankrolled by Saudi Arabia\u2019s sovereign wealth fund. Amnesty International said that the series is an example of Saudi Arabia attempting to \u201csportswash\u201d its human rights record.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LOS ANGELES Veteran US golfer Kevin Na said on Saturday he has resigned from the PGA Tour in order to avoid facing sanctions for playing in the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series. The 38-year-old world number 33, who has five victories on the PGA Tour, was this week named in the field for the lucrative […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-264788","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n