Former Masters champion and PGA Tour stalwart Fred Couples wants players joining LIV to be honest and just admit they’re going for the money.
The 64-year-old has been a vocal critic of both the Saudi-backed Tour and the players who’ve joined over the past two seasons, and now he’s saying that he’s had enough of the false narrative that they’re choosing to move because they’re ‘growing the game’ or because LIV is such an appealing product in ways other than financial.
“I want to see the next superstar say, ‘You know why (I’m going to LIV)? Because it’s unreal.'” the former 15-time PGA Tour winner said on Sirius XM. “They play Riviera and TPC Phoenix in front of 300,000 people, but I want them to go for free. And then go on CNN and every TV show and say they’re going because it’s that good.
“$100m doesn’t get it, $200m doesn’t get it, $300m, doesn’t get it, but for $400M it’s a great product and it’s a great show. My ass!” he added, in a clear response to fellow Green Jacket winner Jon Rahm who had also been a regular LIV detractor since its arrival.
“I want the next guy to go to say ‘I’m going for free boys – I love this tour. I don’t like the PGA Tour anymore.’
“But no one is going to do that. What does that tell me? That it’s all about money. Which is fine, but don’t sit there and say they’re changing the game. What are they changing? For 50 years the game has been changed. Arnold Palmer changed it. Jack Nicklaus changed it. Tiger Woods changed it. The LIV tour ain’t changing a thing.”
Jon Rahm has said the size of his offer from LIV weighed into his decision to join the tour.
Fred Couples has no problem with that, but he’d like for everyone to stop telling him how great LIV’s product is.@fredcouplesgolf | @coachgeorge805 pic.twitter.com/E0CzcR3EgI
— SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio (@SiriusXMPGATOUR) December 12, 2023
One player who agrees with Couples’ assessment is Englishman Eddie Pepperell. Seldom shy to voice his opinion, Pepperell is another who has taken several shots at LIV in the past, though, for balance, has also been critical of both the DP World and PGA Tours when in disagreement.
Pepperell suggests that the fact that LIV had to dig so deep into their pockets to secure Rahm’s signature is proof that the opposite is true and that LIV is an “awful product.”
Freddie is right on the money here.
And again, the fact LIV had to stump up $400m/$500m for Jon, doesn’t show what a success story it is, quite the opposite.
LIV will remain an awful product, even after signing Big Jon Rahm. https://t.co/uA9ExIG19v
— Eddie Pepperell (@PepperellEddie) December 12, 2023
Despite Rahm expressing his desire to still compete on both the PGA and DP World Tours and remain eligible for Ryder Cup participation, a leaked official memo to PGA Tour players confirmed that the world number three has been suspended “due to his association with a series of unauthorized tournaments.”
Since Rahm has yet to actually tee it up in a LIV event – and won’t do so until early February – the suspension seems a little premature given each of the previous suspensions weren’t announced until after players had hit their first competitive shots, however PGA Tour leadership may have been acting early to prevent any other players who are on the fence from opting to follow Rahm and also declare their wishes to remain active on all circuits.
Though the PGA Tour have acted, the DP World Tour and CEO Keith Pelley are yet to make their position clear, but providing Rahm doesn’t resign his membership like Ian Pouter, Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia among others did, he’ll remain eligible for Ryder Cup selection barring a change in qualification criteria in the intervening 18 months.
Tony Finau had been heavily rumoured to be following Rahm out the door, as has Tyrrell Hatton, a player Rahm is close with and partnered to great effect at the Ryder Cup in Rome, but it seems that the Finau speculation was premature following an Instagram post that claimed he was looking forward to the 2024 PGA Tour season and included the hashtag #imnotleaving.
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