Jon Rahm's move to LIV Golf was seismic in that it took the best player in the world from the PGA Tour, but also made hardliner and the poster boy for the other side, Rory McIlroy, soften his stance towards the rival tour.
McIlroy was adamant that Rahm must be part of the next Ryder Cup, and admitted that he was perhaps too harsh on those who had left to join the Saudi backed league.
Padraig Harrington Offers Intriguing Ideas
Padraig Harrington, however, has had always had a more nuanced and open view towards LIV, and he continued to do so in his comments from a recent interview, where he offered ideas on how to help fix golf's 'civil war', such allowing LIV players to play in certain PGA Tour events.
"If you’ve four LIV guys turning up at the PGA Tour, people will tune in wanting them to be beaten," Harrington said.
And the same if four PGA Tour guys or four European Tour guys, turn up for the LIV event, LIV fans will want them to go down in flames, too.
Probably the most exciting weeks last year were the four Majors because we wanted to see what the LIV players would do against the PGA Tour players.
And probably Patrick Reed against Rory in Dubai was the best TV because whatever side you’re on, you’ve picked sides and that made it interesting.
READ HERE: Padraig Harrington Feels There Is Just One Thing Stopping Him From Major Contention
A pretty backswing for social media to start the year off. I wonder how long that will last. Interesting how every shot I hit during the winter( indoors) had my foot extended up at impact. First shots outdoors in a month and the right foot is staying down. It’s hard to break a… pic.twitter.com/d1orYhLqxx
— Padraig Harrington (@padraig_h) January 15, 2024
While we are still in the early days of LIV Golf, Harrington also spoke of the future and his wish for transfer fees that would go to the PGA Tour, and help them retain players and increase their own profits.
"The problem the tour has is that if the LIV guys don’t have a good route back to the PGA Tour, that devalues their price in the market to LIV. They don’t have a good negotiating position if they have nowhere else to go but LIV. Whereas if they can come back to the PGA Tour, LIV has to pay a lot more to keep them.
“We want to make sure, like in a football transfer, there are clauses and penalties and prices because when they come to renegotiate and they are banned from playing the tour, that’s not going to work very well. That’s going to just mean that LIV can keep them for less money.”
Harrington' reputation as wise voice in golf has only increased in recent years with his openness in interviews and consistent online content.
His foresight and ideas on these issues should be listened to and considered by the powers that be as golf continues to go through seismic change.
SEE ALSO: Rory McIlroy Blows Chance On 18 After Bonkers Back 9 In Dubai
