Lee Westwood confirms stance on £850,000 fine after joining LIV Golf
Former world No.1 Lee Westwood has reiterated he doesn't intend to pay the outstanding £850,000 in fines he owes the European Tour.
Westwood, 51, was part of the first contingent to jump ship and part ways with golf's establishment to play on the Saudi-funded LIV Golf series in 2022. He's since racked up six figures in penalties from the European Tour as a result but has said in the past he doesn't intend to stump up the cash.
The veteran was eligible to play on the senior circuit after turning 50 last year but was prevented from doing so because of PGA Tour policy. The organisation has stipulated athletes can only feature in PGA Tour or PGA Tour Champions competitions after a year of not competing in the LIV Golf League.
Westwood continues to compete for LIV but qualifies for this week's US Senior Open as a result of his participation in last year's Ryder Cup. When asked about his outstanding £850,000 fines ahead of the tournament at Newport Country Club, the Nottinghamshire native remained resolute that he won't be paying.
"We'll have to find a way around that," said Westwood ahead of the US Senior Open. "At any level, it's disappointing they can't resolve it. The Champions Tour for me is important because people have watched me play and other guys out here play for the last 30, 40 years, and they build relationships with those players and they've seen us grow as players and people.
"Yes, people want to see the youngsters, the new guys on the block coming through and contending. But they also want to see the guys they've made a bond with over the last 30, 40 years."
It's evident the two-time Masters runner-up is adamant about his right to compete on the senior circuit, albeit missing out on his first year of eligibility. Westwood co-captains LIV's Majesticks outfit with fellow rebels Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson, though the team has yet to win an event so far this season.
Lee Westwood of England reacts during day one of the LIV Golf Invitational - Hong Kong
Talk of a merger between the PGA Tour and LIV has progressed on several occasions only to break down amid repeat setbacks. However, Westwood stressed the fans are his main concern as golf's great civil war persists.
"At the end of the day, we're in the entertainment industry," he added. "No matter what the level of golf is, I think if the best players at every level don't come together and play, there's only one loser, and that's the fans watching. We need to somehow figure a way that we can get the best players playing against each other more often."
Westwood finished the first round of his US Senior Open debut tied for fifth place, shooting four-under to sit three strokes off leader Hiroyuki Fujita. It would serve as a blow to the PGA Tour if he were to emerge triumphant in Rhode Island while rejecting any intention of paying the fines owed to their sister organisation as the controversy rumbles on.
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