Major champion issues withering LIV Golf assessment - 'It's not real golf'
Ernie Els has claimed the LIV Golf format is ‘not real golf’, admitting he would have said no to any mega-money offer that would have come his way from the Saudi-backed circuit.
The LIV setup continues to operate its 54-hole, no-cut events, with a team competition running alongside the individual leaderboard. The format has faced criticism from many within the sport since its inception in June 2022, with four-time major champion Els the latest.
Whilst he appreciates the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) have an affection for the game of golf, he is not convinced by the breakaway league’s current setup. “No, I’ve not had an offer,” Els told Yellowhammer News.
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“But I wouldn’t have said yes anyway. Listen, I know some of the Saudi guys; they genuinely love the game of golf. But the LIV current format is not proper golf. It wouldn’t have been for me, whatever stage of my career I was at.” LIV have found themselves embroiled in a battle with the PGA Tour at the top of the pro golf pyramid.
The PGA Tour opted to suspend any player that chose to make the lucrative move to the Saudi-funded series, creating a whole host of hostilities between the two sides. Last June however, the world of sport was left in shock after commissioner Jay Monahan revealed the Tour had reached a framework agreement with PIF.
Almost 12 months on though, a deal is yet to be signed off after those involved missed their December 31 deadline at the end of 2023. On the back of the recent fallout, Els hopes an peace deal can be made sooner rather than later. “Obviously I hope they can work out their differences, because this mess is not good for our sport,” he added, “We’ll have to see.”
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Ernie Els had his say on the LIV Golf fallout
He did however reinstate his grievances with the LIV format. “But the fact remains,” Els went on. “To my mind, the LIV golf format doesn’t work, not in the way they’re playing at the moment. Maybe there’s a place for team golf within the global schedule – maybe put some teams together, play a two-month happy season, so to speak. But the rest of the year, let’s play real golf.”
Earlier this week it was reported that Tiger Woods would be the only player representative around the negotiation table, after Rory McIlroy’s return to the PGA Tour Policy Board was rejected by his peers. McIlroy resigned from the board last November in a bid to take a step back from the off-course politics, but revealed his intentions to make a return in recent weeks.
Despite being turned down, McIlroy revealed on Thursday that both he and Adam Scott will aid Woods in helping get a deal over the line. “I’m not on the board, but I’m in some way involved in that transaction committee,” he commented at the Wells Fargo Championship.
“I don’t have a vote so I don’t have I guess a meaningful say in what happens in the future, but at least I feel like I can be helpful on that committee. And that was sort of a compromise for I guess not getting a board seat.”