AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack
- R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers called out LIV Golf as "harming the perception of the sport."
- Slumbers called out the Saudi-backed upstart league as being "entirely driven by money."
- 24 LIV Golfers are set to tee it up at the 2022 Open Championship, but how many will be back next year is an open question.
On the eve of golf's return to its most historic course, the sport still can't escape the shadow cast over it by the emergence of LIV Golf.
Speaking ahead of the 150th Open Championship at the Old Course at St Andrews, Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (known simply as "The R&A") chief executive Martin Slumbers called out the Saudi-backed upstart league as being bad for the sport.
"I firmly believe that the existing golf ecosystem has successfully provided stable pathways for golfers to enter the sport and develop and realize their full potential," Slumbers said. "Professional golfers are entitled to choose where they want to play and to accept the prize money that's offered to them. I have absolutely no issue with that at all. But there is no such thing as a free lunch."
Slumbers added that he was not very impressed by the first two events LIV hosted, deeming them to be "entirely driven by money."
"I believe the model we've seen at Centurion and Pumpkin Ridge is not in the best long-term interests of the sport as a whole and is entirely driven by money," Slumbers said. "We believe it undermines the merit-based culture and the spirit of open competition that makes golf so special.
"I would also like to say that in my opinion, the continued commentary that this is about growing the game is just not credible and, if anything, is harming the perception of our sport, which we are working so hard to improve."
LIV Golf has already poached several top players from the PGA Tour with the promise of bigger purses, a lighter schedule, and guaranteed cash just for joining the new league. Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson both reportedly got nine-figure deals simply for showing up, and still get to compete for their share of a $25 million purse at every LIV event.
At the Open Championship this week, 24 LIV Golf athletes will tee it up, including names like Mickelson, Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, and Patrick Reed.
Speaking with reporters, Slumbers said that they weren't looking to ban LIV Golfers any time soon, but that everything would be up for review.
"Looking ahead to The Open next year, we have been asked quite frequently about banning players," Slumbers said. "Let me be very clear: That's not on our agenda. But what is on our agenda is that we will review our exemptions and qualifications criteria for The Open. And whilst we do that every year, we absolutely reserve the right to make changes as our Open Championships Committee deems appropriate."
While no active players have been kept from the field this year due to their affiliation with LIV, the R&A did draw a line in the sand with regard to LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman, who was uninvited to this year's festivities despite being a two-time Open Champion.
"We decided that we didn't want the distraction," Slumbers said of the decision. "We wanted to ensure that the conversation was all about this week and playing golf and balls in the air [on Thursday] and the champion golfer on Sunday."
R&A boss calls out LIV Golf as 'entirely driven by money' ahead of Open Championship
Source: Kalayaan News
0 comments :
Post a Comment