LIV Golf’s season-opening event in Mexico was thrown into chaos on Friday morning when ‘more than half the field’ were struck down with a nasty bout of food poisoning, according to multiple reports.

The likes of Dustin Johnson, Bryson Dechambeau, Brooks Koepka, Cameron Smith, and new $500m man Jon Rahm, are all in Mayakoba for the first tournament of 2024.

But reports early on Friday – which is so far unconfirmed by LIV officials – claimed that over 50% of the 52-strong field are suffering with the affliction.

Mail Sport can confirm that some players were heading out of the clubhouse to warm up for the 1:15pm EST start early on Friday, and it is unlikely that play will be postponed.

James Corrigan of the Daily Telegraph reported that ‘none of the players want to withdraw’ from the first day of play, despite ‘more than half’ being affected.

Jon Rahm – captain of the new Legion XIII team – speaks ahead of his LIV Golf debut this week

Rahm’s first round on the Saudi breakaway tour may be delayed by a bout of food poisoning

Former Open champion Cameron Smith walks to the tee during a warm-up round in Mayakoba

It is currently unclear which players are suffering from the effects of the food poisoning, with the majority of the players all staying in the same five-star resort in Mexico.

The news on Friday morning will come as a huge blow to LIV Golf chiefs, who have spent hundreds of millions of dollars ahead of a brand new season of the breakaway tour. 

More to follow. 

Rahm plays a shot out of a bunker during his practice round in Mexico on Wednesday

All eyes are on the $500m man as he prepares to play his first tournament as a LIV golfer

Tyrrell Hatton has also joined the breakaway tour, leaving the PGA in a deal worth $64million

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