LIV Golf Series This article is more than 1 month oldViktor Hovland says he has no plans to join LIV Golf but attacks PGA ‘arrogance’
This article is more than 1 month old- Norwegian ‘not such a fan’ of LIV’s format and competitions
- World No 4 also criticises PGA Tour management
Viktor Hovland said he understands why the likes of Jon Rahm have signed with LIV Golf but said he has no plans to do the same. Speaking on the Fore podcast in his native Norway, Hovland also took aim at the “arrogance” of the PGA Tour’s management.
“It would be a bit too silly to criticise the players for leaving [for LIV Golf]. After all, you only hear one angle in the media, and there are quite a few different parts happening at the same time here,” said Hovland. “I totally understand why he [Rahm] left. That’s a lot, a lot of money.”
Hovland’s status has taken off in 2023, highlighted by winning the FedEx Cup title in August and the $18m bonus that came with it. He also won the Memorial, the second leg of the playoffs at the BMW Championship and tied for second at both the PGA Championship and the DP World Championship. His earnings would, however, be dwarfed by a potential offer from LIV.
“I don’t think their product is that great,” said the world No 4. “I’m not such a fan of, for example, playing without a cut. You need the competition with 150 players and a cut. If you don’t play well enough, you’re out. There is something about it that makes your game a little sharper. If I had gone to LIV, I don’t think I would have become a better golfer. And then it is, in a way, end of discussion.”
There is a 31 December deadline for the PGA Tour to finalise a deal with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. The framework agreement that also includes the DP World Tour was announced in June, to the surprise of the tour’s membership that was not involved in the closed-door discussions. The secrecy of those talks generated significant anger from many players.
“The management has not done a good job,” said Hovland. “They almost see the players as labour, and not as part of the members. After all, we are the PGA Tour. Without the players, there is nothing.
“When you then get to see what happens behind closed doors, how the management actually makes decisions, which are not in the players’ best interest, but best for themselves and what they think is best. There is a great deal of arrogance behind it all.”
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Tiger Woods has joined the policy board and is heavily involved in the ongoing discussions as the tour seeks investment for a new for-profit entity, PGA Tour Enterprises.
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