Tag: LIV Golf Bedminster

Event at Donald Trump’s New Jersey golf course to support Capitol riot defendants has been postponed

There’s no word on when or where the event might be reinstated.

The “J6 Awards Gala” by the nonprofit Stand in the Gap was scheduled for Thursday at the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster. According to the event listing online, the event was scheduled to raise money and pay tribute to “all J6 defendants who have shown incredible courage and sacrifice.”

But now the event has been postponed.

According to a story by Lucas Frau at NorthJersey.com (part of the same USA Today Network as Golfweek), there’s no word on when or where it might be reinstated:

The event that was going to honor the Capitol riot defendants was scheduled to take place Sept. 5 before the event’s website announced the postponement. A future date, time and location for the event have not been announced.

(Donald) Trump was invited to the event, but it was not confirmed that he would make an appearance. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was another invited speaker, as were UFC fighter Colby Covington and social media influencer Bryce Hall.

General admission tickets were going for $1,500 and a single VIP ticket for $2,500, said the invitation on the fundraiser site. Bundle tickets for a table of 12 were available for $30,000 and $50,000.

Reaction was harsh

Several people online had reacted to the event in disbelief, including former Mike Pence advisor Olivia Troye.

“Celebrating the people who endangered the life of (Trump’s) own Vice President & glorifying violence is a dangerous assault on our democracy & a disgraceful rewriting of history,” Troye, who endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, wrote on X. “We must all stand together against him.”

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., avoided weighing in on whether Trump should have attended the event had it happened, but condemned the rioters. The golf course, owned by the Trump organization, housed LIV Golf events in both 2022 and 2023.

“I have no sympathy for those who broke into the Capitol, destroyed the place and hurt police officers,” Graham said on CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday. When pressed on whether Trump should allow the event to happen, Graham responded “I’ll leave it up to him as to what causes to support.”

“Most Americans believe the January 6 rioters who violently attacked police officers and tried to overthrow an election belong in jail,” Harris-Walz spokesperson Sarafina Chitika told USA Today, calling the event “a slap in the face to every police officer who defended our Capitol in its darkest hour and every American who believes in the rule of law.”

What happened on Jan. 6?

On Jan. 6, 2021, a large group of demonstrators who aligned themselves as Trump supporters breached the U.S. Capitol while Congress was in the process of confirming the 2020 presidential election results.

Investigations into the riots led to charges against more than 1,424 people as of May 2024, a Justice Department release said.

About 140 police officers were assaulted during the insurrection, the release said. One officer, Brian Sicknick of South River, New Jersey, died after being sprayed with chemicals by attackers and suffering two strokes in the aftermath. Four more officers died by suicide in the weeks after the attack.

Four attackers also died, including Ashli Babbitt, 35, an Air Force veteran who was shot to death by police while trying to break through a door to a secure area and who has since become something of a martyr to Trump supporters.

The riots led to a second impeachment of Trump. After the insurrection, the former president was indicted in a criminal federal case that accused him of trying to overturn the election.

Kinsey Crowley of USA Today contributed to this report.

2023 LIV Golf Bedminster prize money payouts for each player and team

It pays to play well on the Saudi-backed circuit.

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It pays to play well on the LIV Golf League, just ask Cameron Smith.

The 29-year-old won for the third time since he joined the Greg Norman-led and Saudi Arabia-backed circuit at the 2023 LIV Golf Bedminster event at Trump National in New Jersey on Sunday. For his efforts, Smith will take home the top prize of $4 million and has now made $13,684,667 so far this season just as an individual.

Anirban Lahiri finished runner-up but a whopping seven shots back at 5 under. He will take home $2.25 million. Abraham Ancer, Patrick Reed and Dean Burmester each finished T-3 at 4 under and earned $1.1 million a piece.

Check out how much money each player and team earned at LIV Golf’s 11th event of its 2023 season.

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Individual prize money

Position Player Score Earnings
1 Cameron Smith -12 $4,000,000
2 Anirban Lahiri -5 $2,250,000
T3 Patrick Reed -4 $1,100,000
T3 Dean Burmester -4 $1,100,000
T3 Abraham Ancer -4 $1,100,000
6 Branden Grace -3 $700,000
T7 Joaquin Niemann -2 $570,000
T7 Marc Leishman -2 $570,000
T9 Charles Howell III -1 $437,500
T9 Phil Mickelson -1 $437,500
T11 Richard Bland E $331,428.57
T11 Graeme McDowell E $331,428.57
T11 Kevin Na E $331,428.57
T11 Dustin Johnson E $331,428.57
T11 Brendan Steele E $331,428.57
T11 Carlos Ortiz E $331,428.57
T11 Talor Gooch E $331,428.57
T18 Bryson DeChambeau 1 $240,000
T18 Charl Schwartzel 1 $240,000
T18 Jason Kokrak 1 $240,000
T18 Cameron Tringale 1 $240,000
T18 Harold Varner III 1 $240,000
T18 Bubba Watson 1 $240,000
T18 Mito Pereira 1 $240,000
T25 James Piot 2 $202,500
T25 Thomas Pieters 2 $202,500
T27 Bernd Wiesberger 3 $190,000
T27 Jediah Morgan 3 $190,000
T27 David Puig 3 $190,000
T30 Matt Jones 4 $176,000
T30 Sergio Garcia 4 $175,000
T30 Paul Casey 4 $175,000
T33 Louis Oosthuizen 5 $155,500
T33 Peter Uihlein 5 $155,500
T33 Sihwan Kim 5 $155,500
T33 Laurie Canter 5 $155,500
T33 Henrik Stenson 5 $155,500
T38 Sebastián Munoz 7 $141,250
T38 Ian Poulter 7 $141,250
T38 Brooks Koepka 7 $141,250
T38 Scott Vincent 7 $141,250
42 Matthew Wolff 8 $135,000
T43 Eugenio Chacarra 10 $131,250
T43 Pat Perez 10 $131,250
45 Chase Koepka 14 $127,500
46 Danny Lee 15 $125,000
47 Martin Kaymer 17 $122,500
48 Lee Westwood 20 $120,000

Team prize money

Position Team Score Earnings
1 Ripper GC -20 $3,000,000
T-2 Crushers GC -9 $1,000,000
T-2 Stinger GC -9 $1,000,000

LIV owns a 75 percent stake in each franchise and provided teams with an undisclosed amount of operating capital for the year. The teams are expected to largely run on their own dime this season, with team prize earnings going directly towards its day-to-day costs.

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Aussie Sweep: Cameron Smith, Ripper GC claim wins at LIV Golf Bedminster

The win is Smith’s second of the season and third of his LIV Golf career.

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The Aussies took over New Jersey this week as Cameron Smith and his Ripper GC swept LIV Golf Bedminster.

The 29-year-old won Sunday for the third time since joining the upstart circuit after claiming the event at Trump National Bedminster at 12 under, seven shots clear of runner-up Anirban Lahiri. Abraham Ancer, Patrick Reed and Dean Burmester finished T-3 at 4 under. Smith has five top-five finishes in 11 starts this LIV season and hasn’t finished worse than T-26 in the 48-player field events.

Smith led his all-Australian Ripper GC to its first team victory of the season at 20 under, a whopping 11 shots clear of runners-up Crushers GC and Stinger GC at 9 under. Bubba Watson’s RangeGoats GC finished fourth at 8 under.

Next up for the shotgun-start circuit is LIV Golf Chicago at Rich Harvest Farms in Illinois, Sept. 22-24, followed by LIV Golf Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, Oct. 13-15, and the LIV Golf Team Championship at Trump National Doral near Miami, Oct. 20-22.

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LIV Golf players dish on if they even want to return to the PGA Tour

Phil Mickelson said “not a single” LIV Golf player wanted to return to the PGA Tour and his colleagues backed him up.

As the powers that be continue to iron out details for the proposed framework agreement that aims to unite professional golf, one of the biggest questions is what must happen for players who left for LIV Golf to return to the PGA Tour and DP World Tour.

Phil Mickelson didn’t mince words when he recently claimed “not a single player” who joined LIV Golf wanted to play on the PGA Tour. Are there some events players have fond memories of and wish they could play? Absolutely. But a full PGA Tour schedule, or even an abbreviated one, doesn’t sound appealing to the vast majority of those who made the leap to the 48-player, 12-team league.

We asked a handful of players what they thought ahead of this week’s LIV Golf Bedminster event at Trump National in New Jersey, and the answers were very similar.

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Harold Varner III Q&A: Thoughts on LIV Golf, player movement back to the PGA Tour and more

Read our entire chat with HV3 here.

BEDMINSTER, N.J. — Harold Varner III is unapologetically himself at all times.

For that very reason, the 32-year-old was a fan favorite on the PGA Tour over the last few years and a prime target for LIV Golf. It’s been just three weeks shy of a year since HV3 took his talents to the upstart circuit with a refreshingly honest announcement, and over 16 starts he’s earned seven top-10 finishes, including his first win at LIV Golf Washington, D.C., back in May.

Golfweek caught up with Varner during his pro-am ahead of this week’s 2023 LIV Golf Bedminster event at Trump National in New Jersey and discussed everything from his time with LIV to the framework agreement between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and more.

Photos: 2023 LIV Golf Bedminster at Trump National

Check out the best photos of the week from Trump National Bedminster.

LIV Golf is back in the suburbs of New Jersey this week at Trump National Bedminster, and while the team battle is close, one player has separated from the pack on the individual leaderboard.

Stinger GC have tied Ripper GC at 11 under on the team side, while early leader and Ripper GC captain Cameron Smith has extended his lead to four with 18 holes to play. The 29-year-old Aussie fired a 5-under 66 on Friday and added a 4-under 67 to sit at 9 under for the event, with Dean Burmester (68) and Phil Mickelson (67) T-2 at 5 under.

Former President Donald Trump was once again on hand for the festivities this week and played the Thursday pro-am with Smith and Patrick Reed.

Check out the best photos of the week from 2023 LIV Golf Bedminster at Trump National.

Phil Mickelson responds to Billy Walters excerpt from gambling book

Walters alleged Mickelson wanted to bet on the 2012 Ryder Cup while Lefty was a member of the team.

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BEDMINSTER, N.J. — Just as Phil Mickelson was beginning his pro-am round for LIV Golf’s event this week at Trump National Bedminster, a juicy excerpt from a new book written by gambler Billy Walters was released by Golf Digest and the Fire Pit Collective.

Walters, a former gambling partner of Mickelson’s, claimed the 53-year-old Lefty made tens of thousands of six-figure bets and also alleged Mickelson called him from the 2012 Ryder Cup at Medinah Country Club near Chicago and asked him to place a $400,000 wager for him on the U.S. team, of which he was one of 12 members, to win.

After a nine-hole pro-am Thursday, Mickelson was asked for comment on the allegations in the excerpt and declined, saying “I’m gonna pass today. We’ll talk later.”

Later in the evening, Mickelson posted the following statement:

Walters was once regarded as one of the most successful sports bettors in the country. He was sentenced to five years in prison for conspiring to commit insider trading from at least 2008 through 2014, was convicted on all 10 counts against him, fined $10 million and sentenced to five years in prison in 2017.

His book, which also goes into greater detail on the insider trading charges related to Dean Foods that sent him to jail, will be released on Aug. 22. Mickelson was a relief defendant in the civil suit, and agreed to pay back $1.03 million, including profit and interest.

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Contributing: Adam Schupak, Golfweek

LIV Golf’s Bryson DeChambeau gushes over new driver, pleads case for Ryder Cup

“I feel like I’m just a brute. I just, boom, right down the fairway, wedge it on the green,” said DeChambeau.

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BEDMINSTER, N.J. — While hosting a clinic for Hope Through Education on the driving range of Trump National Bedminster ahead of this week’s LIV Golf event, Bryson DeChambeau quipped during a Q&A session that he doesn’t need to practice as much thanks to his new driver from Krank Golf.

You know, the same one he took the wrapping off last Wednesday on the range and used to shoot a 58 four days later and win LIV Golf Greenbrier. DeChambeau was coy when asked about it before the event in West Virginia, where he shot 61-58 on the weekend, but did note how it’s won a bunch of World Long Drive championships and if you “hit on the toe, hit on the heel, everything comes back down the middle of the fairway.”

DeChambeau was then asked if there’s an argument that clubs are becoming too forgiving – teammate Anirban Lahiri joked “We could be here for a half hour now” – and the bulked-up bomber went on to explain how he didn’t have the right equipment for five years.

“I think we’re in a place now in time where (equipment) contracts aren’t necessarily as important as the purse you’re playing for,” said DeChambeau. “I really think the best equipment is going to start showing itself over the course of time because of that.”

“So in regards to the forgiveness, you can say that,” he continued, “but it’s just if you get the right physics going, you can get some special stuff happening in clubs.”

The science of golf and over-analyzing the mechanics of the golf swing has taken up quite a bit of valuable real estate inside DeChambeau’s head, but the 29-year-old feels like his mental game is better now more than ever, thanks to equipment.

“I feel like I’m just a brute. I just, boom, right down the fairway, wedge it on the green,” he said, comparing his current approach to the game to his 2015 U.S. Amateur victory at Olympia Fields where he won the 36-hole final, 7 and 6. “It’s just more of a determined, focused mentality that I have with this new equipment. It’s really the equipment, to be honest.”

“Everyone says it’s in between the ears, and sometimes you find a club that just makes you feel like, ‘Oh, man, I’m king of the jungle, I can do whatever I want,'” Lahiri said in agreement. “It’s very similar with Bryson. He talked about how his mental game is the best it’s been, because he trusts himself more, because he knows his equipment supports him.”

Remember this? DeChambeau said driver ‘sucks,’ angering his club makers

But will the new stick make it to Italy for the Ryder Cup? The former two-time member of Team USA with a 2-3-1 record (1-1-0 in Sunday singles) certainly has a case as a captain’s pick for the American side looking to win on foreign soil for the first time since 1993.

The struggle was all too real for DeChambeau early this season, with finishes of T-23, T-44, T-16 and T-26 in LIV’s 48-player events. Over his last five starts on the Greg Norman-led and Saudi Arabia-funded circuit, DeChambeau has finished T-5, T-9, 2, T-11 and first, on top of his T-4 at the PGA Championship and T-20 at the U.S. Open.

“Look, I played in a couple Ryder Cups, and I would love to represent my country. There’s no doubt about that. I feel like I’m in a good place to be able to do that,” he said. “I feel like I’m a top 10 player for sure right now with the game that I’m playing, and if I do get picked, fantastic. If I don’t, I’ll still be watching on TV and rooting for Team USA because I respect and appreciate those players that are on the team representing our country more than a PGA Tour or LIV thing.”

With fellow LIV colleague Brooks Koepka seemingly assured a spot in the top-six automatic qualifiers, imagine the two former foes competing together after burying the hatchet in 2021.

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