Golf legend Tom Watson pulled no punches expressing his displeasure with the PGA Tour's decision to create a pathway back for LIV Golf players.
Addressing media after he participated in the ceremonial tee shots to start The Masters, along with Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, Watson answered many questions but rebuked the tour and its decision when asked what he thought about Brooks Koepka being allowed to return.
“The Tour made a decision to renege on what they promised when the players left for LIV,” Watson said. “They felt that the compensation that he’s paid is good enough.
“I thought the LIV players, when they left, they were supposed to be banned for life,” Watson added. “If I was commissioner, that’s what I would do. I’d say if you’re finished with your contract with LIV Golf, if you want to play the PGA Tour again, you come back, and you must play the Korn Ferry Tour for a year to qualify for it.
“They saw it differently. When the players left, they violated the number one rule that we really had out here, which is to protect the sponsors. Sponsors need players. They need the names to be able to promote their tournaments. If the players play wherever they want to play without a conflicting-event rule, where you had to seek the permission of the PGA Tour to play in a tournament opposite of a PGA Tour tournament, the sponsors would be hurt by that. I think we all understood that.
“When the players left for LIV, I think it was basically over. They chose to go for the money, which is fine, but to return to the Tour, I thought, was a nonstarter, but apparently it’s not.”
My take: These players who've built the tour into what it is have zero tolerance for the LIV defectors. But maybe they should have supported Phil Mickelson when he said the tour needed to improve and make things better for the players, including tournament purses. The stingy PGA Tour created the environment for LIV to exist, and without it the tour wouldn't be what it is now, with signature and exclusive events for top players, increased purses all around, and improved facilities and amenities at tour events. Those same sponsors Watson so adores somehow came up with the extra scratch for purses when pressed.
THE ASYLUM
Watson angry with PGA Tour
Golf legend Tom Watson pulled no punches expressing his displeasure with the PGA Tour's decision to create a pathway back for LIV Golf players.
Addressing media after he participated in the ceremonial tee shots to start The Masters, along with Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, Watson answered many questions but rebuked the tour and its decision when asked what he thought about Brooks Koepka being allowed to return.
“The Tour made a decision to renege on what they promised when the players left for LIV,” Watson said. “They felt that the compensation that he’s paid is good enough.
“I thought the LIV players, when they left, they were supposed to be banned for life,” Watson added. “If I was commissioner, that’s what I would do. I’d say if you’re finished with your contract with LIV Golf, if you want to play the PGA Tour again, you come back, and you must play the Korn Ferry Tour for a year to qualify for it.
“They saw it differently. When the players left, they violated the number one rule that we really had out here, which is to protect the sponsors. Sponsors need players. They need the names to be able to promote their tournaments. If the players play wherever they want to play without a conflicting-event rule, where you had to seek the permission of the PGA Tour to play in a tournament opposite of a PGA Tour tournament, the sponsors would be hurt by that. I think we all understood that.
“When the players left for LIV, I think it was basically over. They chose to go for the money, which is fine, but to return to the Tour, I thought, was a nonstarter, but apparently it’s not.”
My take: These players who've built the tour into what it is have zero tolerance for the LIV defectors. But maybe they should have supported Phil Mickelson when he said the tour needed to improve and make things better for the players, including tournament purses. The stingy PGA Tour created the environment for LIV to exist, and without it the tour wouldn't be what it is now, with signature and exclusive events for top players, increased purses all around, and improved facilities and amenities at tour events. Those same sponsors Watson so adores somehow came up with the extra scratch for purses when pressed.
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