Inside star-studded LIV Golf welcome party as Donald Trump, Caitlyn Jenner and Nelly meet rebel golfers and their Wags
DONALD TRUMP, Caitlyn Jenner and Nelly were among the famous faces at the LIV Golf welcome party.
They were joined by a host of the rebel golfers who have joined the controversial tour – as well as their Wags.
Players are being paid tens of millions of pounds to sign up to the Saudi-backed breakaway group with staggering winning cheques at tournaments in a major money-grabbing venture that is throwing golf into civil war.
Two-time major winner Greg Norman is fronting LIV Golf, which has just announced a 14-tournament schedule for 2023 with a prize fund of £336m and avoiding clashes with the majors or Ryder Cup.
But their third invitational tournament is being hosted at Trump’s course in Bedminster, New Jersey this week.
Ahead of playing alongside Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau, the former President and wife Melania joined in the celebrations at Gotham Hall in New York on Wednesday night.
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He was pictured shaking hands with Jenner and chatting to Norman and Johnson, who arrived with partner Paulina Gretzky.
Rapper Nelly and DJ Jaymie Perez both provided live entertainment which Pat and Ashley Perez were clearly in the mood for as the couple were pictured dancing away.
Other golfers who have defected to accept the Saudi Public Investment Fund cash including Patrick Reed, Brooks Koepka, Lee Westwood, Henrik Stenson and Ian Poulter were also presented to the gathered guests.
American players have had their PGA Tour membership ripped up and as it stands will be banned from representing the United States at next September’s Ryder Cup.
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Rory McIlroy slammed players who have joined the divisive LIV Series for fuelling “resentment” while Tiger Woods “doesn’t understand” the logic of the breakaway after reportedly rejecting an £820m offer.
But the rebels seemed to have no qualms as they partied on a private jet ahead of The Open.
Then Reed rocked up to St Andrew’s in LIV Golf-branded clothes, Poulter was booed on the first tee and Stenson was stripped of the Ryder Cup captaincy.
The 2016 Open champion was announced as captain for next year’s tournament at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome only four months ago.
But Ryder Cup Europe said Stenson will be unable to fulfil his role due to his decision to join the breakaway rebel series.
Stenson will pocket an initial £40m signing on fee from LIV and was blasted by English golfer Eddie Pepperell who said he could not resist the “bucket load of cash” thrown at him like the rest of the defectors.
And 2010’s winning captain Colin Montgomerie called Stenson’s decision to dump the captaincy for Saudi cash a “sad day for European golf.”
Stenson, 46, said: “While I disagree with this decision, for now it is a decision I accept.
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“I am hugely disappointed to not be allowed to continue in my role but wish you all the best.
“I sincerely hope a resolution between the tours is reached soon and the Ryder Cup can act as a mechanism for repair.”