To say that the golfing world is in turmoil right now is a grandiose understatement. The US Open, the third major tournament of the year, has been taking place in Brookline near Boston since Thursday, and the decision will be made on Sunday on the 1999 Ryder Cup course. But the dominant theme throughout the week is the new Saudi-sponsored LIV Invitational Series, which recently held its inaugural tournament near London.

As announced, the US PGA Tour then suspended 17 players who were at the start of the LIV tournament, including such illustrious names as Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia. However, these players were all allowed to tee off at the US Open this week because it is hosted by the US association and not by the PGA Tour. And so, for example, Phil Mickelson gave his first press conference in the US since he committed to the Saudi tour.

The now 52-year-old six-time major winner did not try to pour more fuel on the fire and gave detailed but equally meaningless information about his current situation. “I know that many people have strong opinions about my decision to join LIV Golf. I understand and respect that,” he said. Playing his first round on Thursday, Mickelson was celebrated by many fans but ridiculed by others. “Greed is good, Phil,” exclaimed one viewer, alluding to the amounts of money to be made from the Saudis.

Mickelson, for example, is said to have raked in $200 million just for his commitment to LIV Golf, and Tiger Woods is said to have been made an offer of nearly $1 billion. However, the superstar, who is missing from Brookline, declined. For others, however, the temptation was too great. Martin Kaymer, who won the US Open in 2014, received $245,000 last week for his 16th place in London and is doing the same as the first LIV winner Charl Schwartzel from South Africa, who was awarded four million, who said: “Where does the money come from isn’t something I’ve ever looked at while playing.”

Kaymer’s recent start seems even stranger because he was absent from the German tournament in Winsen just as much due to injury as he is now from the US Open. Of course, he didn’t have to face the probing questions of the journalists on site and thus expose himself to a test of nerves. US star Brooks Koepka, for example, who has already won the US Open twice, failed and freaked out. Speaking to the media in Brookline, he said: “You are all casting dark clouds over us. I’m fed up with this. That stinks to me. We want to play the US Open and we just need to talk about the other stuff.” Koepka doesn’t play in the LIV Series yet, but his less talented brother does.

Rory McIlroy has always positioned himself as one of the biggest critics of the Saudi tour and has remained true to himself in this regard: “What you do there has no meaning – apart from collecting a pile of coal,” said the Northern Irishman, expressing it what most opponents think of LIV Golf.

The fact that some renegades are no longer allowed to play on the US tour seems to be bearable for these professionals thanks to the Saudi prize money, even if the tournament series with a total of eight events is rather clear. And so the previous top dogs are still looking for the right way to deal with the LIV players. The US PGA has sent a clear signal here, while the European counterpart is still hesitating. The tournament next week in Munich Eichenried is open to everyone.

It is questionable whether this will remain the case. Because in the meantime, consideration is already being given to withdrawing the right to start the Ryder Cup from golfers on the Saudi tour.