Dual European Ryder Cup captains Darren Clarke and Jose Maria Olazabal are united in declaring golf’s warring factions need to start talking to each other.
Clarke posted a second day 67 Senior Open to move to eight-under and two shots clear of the field while Olazabal struggled in missing the cut at Gleneagles.
This week’s event, like so many other tournaments in recent months, has again been dominated by the game’s best airing their views on the subject continuing to command golfing headlines for all the wrong reasons.
And the 2011 Open Champion, Clarke, who is looking now to add a maiden over-50s major championship to his golfing CV, alongside his double Augusta winning Spanish friend, echoed what many in the game are now suggesting, and that it’s high-time the PGA Tour and DP World Tour start communicating with those at LIV Golf.
“I’m not getting away from LIV Golf because I was never in it! It’s irrelevant for me,” said Clarke to Gleneagles reporters.
“But just for the sake of the game as a whole, it would be nice if some dialogue could take place. That would be for the benefit for everyone. I’m not that smart, I’m not involved and it’s nothing to do with me. But it’s a sad state of affairs for the game right now, so let’s hope it can be resolved one way or the other.”
Clarke’s views are shared by most at Gleneagles including fellow European Ryder Cup Jose Maria Olazabal.
“At the moment, it’s not nice to see and read what is going on in golf, including clashes between players and the sounds of people booing from the grandstands at some LIV players competing in The Open”, said Olazabal speaking with Irish Golfer Magazine.
“At the moment, and the way I see it, I don’t know what is going to happen in the future but I cannot see anything good for the game of golf at the moment.
“I believe all parties are going to have to sit down and discuss the whole situation, as what is taking place at the moment it is not nice how things are unfolding.
“Every week we have a new tournament but all the talk ahead of the tournament is about LIV Golf, suspension and fining of players and other controversies and it’s just not nice for the game.
“We now have talk of Cameron Smith maybe joining LIV Golf and this straight after winning The Open, and one of the biggest achievements a golfer can accomplish in his career but no sooner had he won and there’s talk he may join LIV Golf.
“The attention should be on Cam Smith winning the 150th Open Championship and that’s they way I think about it, and this talk is just not good for the game of golf.
“Hopefully in a few months time, and it’s not going to be a quick fix, all parties will sit down together and work out a resolution or an agreement that suits everyone. I don’t know if that is possible but they must be at least seen to meet and talk about the issues facing the game”.
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