“They’ve turned their back on the PGA”: Tiger Woods’ brutally honest opinion about LIV Golf Players involves some scathing truth
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Tiger Woods
Ahead of the historic 150th Open at St. Andrews, Tiger Woods has been quite vocal about the LIV Golf Series. As the British Open follows suit from the US Open and allows PGA Tour defectors to play, Woods has shared his disdain about the LIV Series. At a press conference before the tee off on Thursday, Woods was asked his opinion on the Series, and he had quite a few things to say.
Tiger Woods said that he disagreed with the players who went on to play the LIV Series. “I think that what they’ve done is they’ve turned their back on what has allowed them to get to this position,” said Woods. He fears that amateur players will miss out on the experience of playing an actual tour with schedule, or even playing some big events. This even puts in doubt their world ranking points, and the criteria to enter World Championship events.
“They may not even get to play Major Championships”: Tiger Woods on LIV Golf Players future
“Some of these players may not ever get a chance to play in major championships. That is a possibility. We don’t know that for sure yet. It’s up to all the major championship bodies to make that determination. But that is a possibility, that some players will never, ever get a chance to play in a major championship, never get a chance to experience this right here, walk down the fairways at Augusta National,” said Woods about the future of the defectors.
He however, did understand why some players did it. “I understand what Jack and Arnold did because playing professional golf at a Tour level versus a club pro is different, and I understand that transition and that move and the recognition that a touring pro versus a club pro is.” Woods said that he did not understand why pro players went to the LIV Series. It seemed especially sad for Woods, considering that the money that they took is guaranteed, and does not warrant the players to practice for any incentive at all.
“72-hole tests are part of it”: Woods talks about the importance of golf courses for young players
Woods disagreed with the aspect of taking money and playing a few events. He also said that 54 hole golf courses, while fine for Senior players, were not well for youngsters who have recently turned pro. “I just don’t see how, out of 54 holes — I can understand 54 holes is almost like a mandate when you get to the Senior Tour. The guys are little bit older and a little more banged up. But when you’re at this young age and some of these kids they really are kids who have gone from amateur golf into that organization — 72-hole tests are part of it.”
He said that they used to have 36-hole playoffs for major championships. “That’s how it used to be – 18-hole U.S. Open playoffs. I just don’t see how that move is positive in the long term for a lot of these players, especially if the LIV organization doesn’t get world-ranking points and the major championships change their criteria for entering the events.” He said that it would be sad to see some of the younger players never get a chance to experience it and experience what the older golfers got to play, and walk on the championship grounds ever again.
Also read: “Didn’t invite him” – LIV Chief Greg Norman barred entry from the Open’s 150th-anniversary event
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Saivee Phatak
(1164 Articles Published)