Viktor Hovland has taken a serious swipe on the PGA Tour, declaring it had completed “such a nasty job” at managing golf’s civil warfare with the Saudi-backed LIV Golf.
LIV landed one more blow on the PGA Tour when it was lately confirmed Jon Rahm, the winner of the 2023 Masters, would transfer over in a bombshell transfer value virtually A$1bn.
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Hovland, who performed alongside Rahm for Group Europe on the Ryder Cup earlier this 12 months, didn’t begrudge the Spaniard for taking the huge payday.
Nonetheless, the Norwegian believes the PGA Tour’s incompetence doesn’t give it a lot of a leg to face on on the subject of convincing gamers to keep away from LIV’s riches.
“I completely perceive why [Rahm] left,” Hovland instructed Discovery’s FORE! podcast.
“That’s lots, some huge cash.
“And a minimum of when the administration of the PGA Tour has completed such a nasty job.
“Simply to be clear: I’m not complaining concerning the place I’m in, and I’m very grateful for the whole lot.
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“However the administration has not completed a superb job. They virtually see the gamers as labour, and never as a part of the members. In spite of everything, we’re the PGA Tour. With out the gamers, there’s nothing.”
Regardless of Hovland’s gripes with the PGA Tour, he confirmed on the identical podcast he had no rapid plans to hitch LIV.
“If I had gone to LIV I don’t assume I’d have turn into a greater golfer, after which it’s, in a manner, finish of debate,” Hovland stated.
With Rahm’s big-money change, strain continues to mount on PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan as negotiations for a merger with LIV nears the December 31 deadline.
Shockwaves have been despatched throughout the sporting world in June when it was revealed the PGA Tour reached a “framework settlement” with Saudi Arabia’s Public Funding Fund (PIF), who oversee and bankroll LIV Golf.
However no merger has been formally sealed as of but as US Congress aired its issues concerning the PGA Tour aligning with a polarising overseas entity.