Englishman Lee Westwood is fed up with the present schism surrounding skilled golf, because the PGA Tour tries to strike a deal with LIV Golf’s beneficiary, the Saudi Public Funding Fund (PIF).
Westwood desires the perfect gamers to play side-by-side in each match, not simply within the majors.
“It doesn’t matter what the extent of golf is, I feel if the perfect gamers at each stage don’t come collectively and play, there’s just one loser, and that’s the followers watching,” Westwood stated Tuesday forward of his U.S. Senior Open debut.
“We have to in some way determine a solution to get the perfect gamers taking part in in opposition to one another extra typically.”
One consequence of the PGA Tour-LIV Golf divide is that the 4 majors have turn out to be much more distinguished. In contrast to common tour occasions, LIV Golf gamers can tee it up at The Masters, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open, and The Open Championship. Meaning followers get to see the highest gamers compete side-by-side solely 4 occasions per yr.
LIV has additionally seen success in current majors, as 4 of the final eight main champions at the moment play on the Saudi-backed circuit. Look no additional than Bryson DeChambeau, who gained the newest main at Pinehurst No. 2.
“Whenever you have a look at the U.S. Open two weeks in the past or the Masters or the PGA Championship, individuals are blissful to see Bryson [DeChambeau] or Cam [Smith] or Jon Rahm coming and taking part in in these large occasions,” Westwood stated.
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“It’s principally getting all the perfect gamers collectively in a single match to compete in opposition to one another, and that’s what you need on the highest stage. You need all the perfect gamers there.”
This week’s Senior U.S. Open options two LIV Golf gamers: Richard Bland, who gained final month’s Senior PGA Championship, and Westwood.
Westwood earned a spot on this week’s U.S. Senior Open as a result of he has performed on a current Ryder Cup workforce. He represented Workforce Europe at Whistling Straits in 2021, incomes a single level. The People trounced the Europeans that yr, 19-to-9.
Lower than one yr later, Westwood joined LIV Golf, the place he has not had a lot success. But, Westwood will tee it up with loads of confidence at Newport Nation Membership this week, due to his current efficiency at LIV Golf Nashville, the place he tied for third—the perfect results of his LIV Golf profession.
“I began to swing properly, and my complete recreation was coming collectively once I performed at LIV Houston three weeks in the past. Then I went residence and did somewhat bit of labor on it. I most likely haven’t been working as onerous on my recreation as I’d have preferred to, however I put in a bit extra work within the week off,” Westwood defined.
“Putted properly final week. I sharpened my quick recreation up as a result of I’ve been taking part in extra, and my recreation is in a very good place. Performed properly on the ultimate day, which was good. I haven’t been ending tournaments off, so having enjoyable for the final 4 holes, and ending that match off strongly has given me a whole lot of confidence going into this week.”
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By. Make sure you try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You possibly can observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.
