Billy Horschel returned to the UK for a second visit in some two months and once again labelled as hypocrites his former PGA Tour colleagues who’ve joined the breakaway LIV Golf Tour.
Ahead of July’s Genesis Open Horschel was very much a golfer just waiting to be asked about the biggest controversy to embrace men’s professional golf, and when he did he ensured himself headlines around the sporting globe describing the LIV golfers as hypocrites and liars.
And now as defending BMW PGA Championship title-holder, the visiting American has again slammed the rebel LIV golfers as hypocrites.
Horschel also echoed Spaniard Jon Rahm’s views attacking other LIV players who he suggested were being opportunistic in turning up to Wentworth and denying spots to more deserving European-based golfers.
“Even though Westwood and Poulter have been stalwarts for the European Tour, I don’t think those guys really should be here,” Horschel said.
But the defending champion reserved his strongest tones for players such as Mexico’s Abraham Ancer and American Talor Gooch. “You’ve never played this tournament, you’ve never supported the DP World Tour,” Horschel said.
“Why are you here? You are here for one reason only and that’s to try to get world ranking points because you don’t have it.” LIV Golf have applied for world ranking status but their events do not yet earn points. In fact, LIV Golf currently falls short in 15 OWGR clauses in their 54-hole events being recognised for ranking points.
“It’s hypocritical because some of these guys said they wanted to play less golf.
“It’s pretty hypocritical to come over here and play outside LIV when your big thing was to spend more time with family and want to play less golf.”
However not everyone agrees with Horschell and some fans took to social media to point out his own minimal support of the DP World Tour, and of the seven DP World Tour events Horschel has contested this 2022 season only two are ‘regular’ tour events.
A year ago, Horschel teed-up in a dozen events but only four of those were also ‘regular’ season events, including his Wentworth triumph and two of those seven being added to his schedule post his Wentworth win.
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