Pro Blocked by LIV Golf Contract From Playing in Senior Major Forced To Make an Urgent Plea

“It’s nice to see your name on the leaderboard and make a move on a Saturday. It’s moving day, and I knew even par was there or thereabouts, and I know I’ve got one or two low rounds in me the way I’m playing. I’m hitting the ball well, hitting it a long way, and I’ve got a lot of scoring opportunities and birdie opportunities out there.”  For Brit golfer Lee Westwood, the Senior PGA Championship is a different world altogether. Playing for the first time at the event, the LIV Golf pro has defied expectations with ease and firmly remains in contention after three days.

He is currently 4 under par and in T5, just one stroke off the four leaders of the competition. The tournament provides a more curated approach for the likes of Westwood, who has spent the majority of his career on the standard tours. Speaking to the press after his brilliant third round of 4-under, Westwood was very candid. “I watch the European Tour and the PGA TOUR, and I don’t really know anybody anymore because they’re all 30 years younger than me. It’s nice to come out here and play with the guys I started playing with—my peers that I started with.” Westwood explained why the Senior Tour is important to players like him.

But this also puts him in a predicament, as this joy is short-lived for the 52-year-old. “Well, I can only play those two, obviously, because I’m on LIV. So unfortunately I can’t play the U.S. Senior this year because we’ve got an event this week, but I would love to. I really enjoyed it last year. It’s nice to come out here and see the guys that I grew up playing with, and I started my career with,” the LIV Golf pro stated.

Because of his association with LIV Golf, he can only play at the two events on the PGA Tour Champions, the Senior PGA Championship and the US Senior Open. The US Senior Open is scheduled to be held this year from June 26 to 29, which clashes with the LIV Golf Dallas event at the Maridoe Golf Club. LIV golfers are expected to play at all events on the circuit as per contract, so missing that would be difficult for Westwood.

Lee Westwood is playing in his first ever Senior PGA Championship and he just shot a 3rd round 68, in incredibly tough conditions, to take a share of the lead at Congressional. I wouldn’t be surprised if he has the solo lead at the end of play. Great round of golf pic.twitter.com/BmhhgeFX4N

— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) May 24, 2025

This also puts another LIV golfer in the same boat. Richard Bland had won two of the senior major championships last year. Bland had won the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship and followed that with another victory at the 2024 US Senior Open, beating Hiroyuki Fujita in a playoff. While he is currently competing at the Congressional Blue Course in Maryland, defending his first title, he will be unable to defend his title owing to his commitments to LIV, just like Westwood.

For golfers like Westwood and Bland, the senior tour provides a more level playing field compared to the PGA Tour or the DP World Tour. With peers, the competition gets tighter, as seen at the 2025 Senior PGA Championship in Maryland.

The precariously poised Senior PGA Championship

Heading to the last day of action, the second major event on the PGA Tour Championship is very well-poised for what could be a photo finish. 4 players currently share the top spot on the leaderboard at 5 under par. Angel Cabrera, Retief Goosen, Jason Caron, and Phillip Archer will have an edge heading to the final day. However, the chasing pack is right behind them.

14 players are shy of 4 strokes or less of the leaderboard, meaning anyone can win as the last round approaches. These 14 have high-profile names like Vijay Singh, Stewart Cink, and Padraig Harrington, along with Westwood and Bland. Singh had previously held the lead after two days of play but carded an unfortunate 3 over par on day 3 to slip to T7. Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez, currently at T19 with an even par score, could also pose a threat.

Who do you have winning the Senior PGA Championship this year? Can Bland successfully defend his title?

The post Pro Blocked by LIV Golf Contract From Playing in Senior Major Forced To Make an Urgent Plea appeared first on EssentiallySports.