Tiger Woods is one of the biggest names in the field for this weekend's Open but, predictably, the LIV Golf question was one of the first put to him on arrival at St Andrew's this week.
The 15-times major champion was asked about the controversial Saudi-backed tour on Tuesday. He proceeded to question the point of signing up to the series, and lambasted the format.
With an eloquent answer, Tiger spoke brilliant sense on the sad reality for many of the young players who have signed up to LIV.
Tiger Woods blasts LIV Golf format
Tiger Woods arrives at St Andrews this weekend hoping to win a first Open Championship since 2006. He was seen in jovial mood with Rory McIlroy on the putting greens on Monday, but was altogether more emotive when discussing the LIV Golf Series on Tuesday morning.
Rory McIlroy and Billy Horschel have both spoken in the past week on the LIV Golf Series, and Tiger Woods added his voice to the debate on Tuesday. He questioned the decision made by players to potentially turn their back on playing at Major Championships, all for the sake of a pay cheque:
To play there [with LIV] I disagree with it. I think that what they've done is they've turned their back on what has allowed them to get into this position.
Some players have never got a chance to even experience it. They've gone right from the amateur ranks right into that organisation and never really got a chance to play out here and what it feels like to play a Tour schedule or to play in some big events.
And who knows what's going to happen in the near future with world-ranking points, the criteria for entering major championships. The governing body is going to have to figure that out.
Some of these players may not ever get a chance to play in major championships. That is a possibility. We don't know that for sure yet. It's up to all the major championship bodies to make that determination. But that is a possibility, that some players will never, ever get a chance to play in a major championship, never get a chance to experience this right here, walk down the fairways at Augusta National.
Tiger looked emotional as he spoke on the matter, and almost seemed dumbfounded when speaking about the decision of young players in particular to sign up to the series.
🗣️ "I just don't see how that move is positive in the long term"
Tiger Woods has his say on the LIV golf series 👇 pic.twitter.com/sPyfUwMqwc— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) July 12, 2022
He would go on to slam the format of the tournament, which guarantees the players a hefty pay cheque, and questioned what motivation it gave players to push themselves. He also laid into the decision to shorten competitions and to create an artificial atmosphere with loud music.
What these players are doing for guaranteed money, what is the incentive to practice? What is the incentive to go out there and earn it in the dirt? You're just getting paid a lot of money up front and playing a few events and playing 54 holes. They're playing blaring music and have all these atmospheres that are different.
Reports suggest that Tiger Woods turned down an eye-watering nine-figures offer from Greg Norman (CEO of LIV) to join the controversial breakaway series, in order to stay on the PGA Tour and compete in Major championships.
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It's clear that the golfing legend has no time for the new series, and he summed up his thoughts by saying he could not see the positives of its inception.
I just don't see how that move is positive in the long term for a lot of these players, especially if the LIV organisation doesn't get world ranking points and the major championships change their criteria for entering the events.
It would be sad to see some of these young kids never get a chance to experience it and experience what we've got a chance to experience and walk these hallowed grounds and play in these championships.
The next year will be pivotal in the future of the LIV Golf series, as the world of golf attempts to slow its rapid rise as a rival to the PGA and DP World Tours.
Tiger Woods will tee off in the 2022 Open at 2:59pm on Thursday, alongside American Max Homa and Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick, who recently claimed his first major win at June's US Open.
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