"They have turned their backs on what has allowed them to get in this position."
Ahead of what could be his final competitive Open appearance at St Andrew's Old Course, Tiger Woods firmly laid down his position on
LIV Golf, LIV golfers, and players turning their backs on the PGA and DP World Tours.
LIV Golf reportedly offered the 15-time major winner a seven-figure deal.
Woods, however, rejected the offer and spoke about the matter publically for the first time at St Andrew's.
"Some players have never got a chance to even experience it... never really got a chance to play out here, and what it feels like to play on a tour schedule or play in some big events."
"What are these players now doing for guaranteed money, what is the incentive to practice? What is the incentive to go out there and earn it in the dirt?
"Some may never get the chance to walk the fairways at Augusta National," Woods added. "I don’t understand it."
LIV Golf: Full list of players who have joined as more big names sign up
If the PGA and DP World Tour officials were hoping such strong comments from a living legend like Woods, allied with that of Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Justin Thomas, would deter other golfers, they appear to be mistaken.
The Public Investment Fund of the gulf kingdom of Saudi Arabia funds LIV Golf.
[caption id="attachment_267913" align="alignnone" width="800"]
Team Europe vice captains, from left, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell and Henrik Stenson during the opening ceremony of the Ryder Cup 2021 Matches, at Whistling Straits. (Photo by Tom Russo/Sportsfile)[/caption]
'Brought to an end with immediate effect'
More golfers are jumping ship to
LIV Golf, ahead of the exhibition tour's third event, to date, at Trump National Golf Club, in Bedminster Golf Club, New Jersey.
Open champion Cameron Smith and fellow Aussie, Marc Leishmann have also joined up, while others such as
Tommy Fleetwood,
Adam Scott, and 2021 Masters champion,
Hideki Matsuyama have been linked with a switch, the trio have yet to fully confirm their intentions.
With LIV Golf set to confirm former Open champion Henrik Stenson as their latest acquisition, a statement from Ryder Cup Europe confirmed the Swede was losing his 'Team Europe' captaincy for the 2o23 event 'with immediate effect'.
A statement, in part, read:
'In light of decisions made by Henrik in relation to his personal circumstances, it has become clear that he will not be able to fulfil certain contractual obligations to Ryder Cup Europe... Confirmation of the new 2023 European Ryder Cup Captain will be made in due course.'
https://twitter.com/LIVGolfInv/status/1549495362502672391
Ahead of the US Open, earlier this year, Shane Lowry stated he would
not be signing up to be a LIV golfer. He stated:
"For me, I play on the PGA Tour and European Tour and that's what I'm going to do. I've been lucky enough to give my family a life that I never thought was possible from playing a game of golf. I'm happy with what I've got there."
Full list of LIV golfers.
Below is a complete list of confirmed LIV golfers, going down their world rankings as of the beginning of end of August 2021, with * denoting amateurs.
LATEST ANNOUNCEMENTS (August 30)
- Cameron Smith (Australia)
- Joaquin Niemann (Chile)
- Marc Leishmann (Australia)
- Harold Varner III (USA)
- Cameron Tringale (USA)
- Anirbahn Lahiri (India)
PREVIOUSLY CONFIRMED
- Dustin Johnson (USA)
- Brooks Kopepka (USA)
- Abraham Ancer (MEX/USA)
- Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa)
- Bryson DeChambeau (USA)
- Phil Mickelson (USA)
- Lee Westwood (England)
- Bubba Watson (USA)
- Kevin Na (USA)
- Talor Gooch (USA)
- Patrick Reed (USA)
- Paul Casey (England)
- Sergio Garcia (Spain)
- Henrik Stenson (Sweden)
- Richard Bland (England)
- Shaun Norris (South Africa)
- Matt Jones (Australia)
- Matthew Wolff (USA)
- Pablo Larrazabal (Spain)
- Sam Horsfield (England)
- Ryosuke Kinoshita (Japan)
- Scott Vincent (Zimbabwe)
[caption id="attachment_266447" align="aligncenter" width="594"]
Paul Casey (left) and Ian Poulter of Team Europe celebrate winning The Ryder Cup in 2018. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)[/caption]
Full list of LIV golfers (continued... )
- Ian Poulter (England)
- Bernd Wiesberger (Austria)
- Hudson Swafford (USA)
- Oliver Bekker (South Africa)
- Jinichiro Kozuma (Japan)
- Justin Harding (South Africa)
- Carlos Ortiz (Spain)
- Sadom Kaewkanjana (Thailand)
- Laurie Canter (England)
- Branden Grace (South Africa)
- Charl Schwartzel (South Africa)
- Hennie Du Plessis (South Africa)
- Phachara Khongwatmai (Thailand)
- Sihwan Kim (USA)
- JC Ritchie (South Africa)
- Henrik Stenson (Sweden)
- Adrian Otaegui (Spain)
- Hideto Tanihara (Japan)
- Pat Perez (USA)
- Martin Kaymer (Germany)
- Jediah Morgan (Australia)
- Blake Windred (Australia)
- Wade Ormsby (Australia)
- Ratchanaon "TK" Chantananuwat* (Thailand)
- Peter Uihlein (USA)
- Ian Snyman (South Africa)
Full list of LIV golfers (continued... )
- Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland)
- Travis Smyth (Australia)
- Viraj Madappa (India)
- Itthipat Buranatanyarat (Thailand)
- Turk Pettit (USA)
- Oliver Fisher (England)
- Chase Koepka (USA)
- Andy Ogletree (USA)
- James Piot* (USA)
- David Puig* (Spain)
- Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra (Spain)
- Kevin Yuan (Australia)
"I've always loved coming to Ireland."
At the JP McManus Pro-Am, Tiger Woods spoke about why he loves playing golf in Ireland and his favourite courses to play.
