LIV Golf’s new season got off to a bizarre start Friday, as “multiple” players and caddies reportedly got sick with food poisoning before the event in Quintana Roo, Mexico.
LIV officials confirmed that “a couple of players and caddies felt ill,” but said an initial report claiming players had withdrawn or the event might be postponed were “wildly inaccurate.”
The Daily Telegraph‘s James Corrigan made that initial report on X/Twitter.
“Apparently more than half of the LIV field has gone down with food poisoning,” Corrigan tweeted (via the Spun.com). “Today’s first round in the Mexico opener could be postponed. Sounds nasty.”
That tweet has since been deleted.
The event at El Camaleón Golf Course at Mayakoba features the LIV debut of Masters champion Jon Rahm, the world’s No. 3 golfer, who signed a $300 million deal to jump to the Saudi-backed tour.
Obviously, reports that people had come down with food poisoning in Mexico earned some laughs on X/Twitter.
You have to keep the fish tacos at the correct temperature. They don’t know about this in Saudi Arabia. ….lol. Priceless if true. You’re never gonna get food poisoning at Pebble Beach. The hamburger might be 50 bucks but it’s not gonna kill you. Lol
— Paul Stephens (@PaulStephensWMO) February 2, 2024
https://t.co/9gnV97ujK6 pic.twitter.com/ofiONKHGS3
— Ethan Zimman (@EthanZimman) February 2, 2024
food poisoning is the least bad of the poisoning options for liv folks so that’s good at least https://t.co/PHlbhs32HZ
— Brian Floyd (@BrianMFloyd) February 2, 2024
LIV announces they signed Rahm on Dec 7… PGA responds by food poisoning their entire tour night before first tournament?!
This is a legitimate war and I’m here for it.— Andrew E (@W_E_R_D_S) February 2, 2024