Paul McGinley is one of more respected TV golfing analysts but he’s at odds with a number of DP World Tour players teeing-up in this week’s flagship BMW PGA Championship in leafy Surrey.
McGinley admits he’s ‘heart-broken’ that 18 now mega-rich LIV Golf stars are teeing-up this week alongside the rank-and-file DP World Players at Tour HQ.
The LIV players competing this week at Wentworth have been shown no favours by the Tour with regards to being banned in teeing-up in Wednesday’s Pro-Am, being advised they will not feature in TV coverage of the feature groups while they’ve also been bluntly asked not to wear attire that sports the LIV Golf logo.
Not sure what past Masters champ Patrick Reed will do as he avoided being lambasted by the R&A at last month’s 150th Open Championship turning up to St. Andrews adorned in the LIV Golf logos on his cap and both collars on his shirts.
The ‘rules’ put in place this week for LIV golfers has discouraged double Major-winning Martin Kaymer from teeing-up. The prolific winning German has competed in every BMW PGA Championship from 2007 to last year but admitted last week ahead of the LIV event in Boston he did not feel welcome at Wentworth, so he’s withdrawn.
McGinley addressed the worsening relationship between the three main bodies saying: “It breaks my heart because I have an emotional connection with every one of those players.
“I will see Poulter and I’ll shake his hand at Wentworth, the same with Westwood and all of those guys that I shared team rooms with. That bond will never be broken. But we’re on different sides now, and it’s really sad that it has come to this.”
However not all agree with the 2014 victorious Ryder Cup captain and now valued SKY Sports analyst.
Three players took to Twitter to sound their disapproval with the Irishman, with Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano saying: “Please don’t speak on behalf of all the members @mcginleygolf. I have no problem whatsoever with the @LIVGolfInv players playing on the @DPWorld Tour.
French golfer Romain Langasque said: “Same for me actually. No problem seeing them. The DP World Tour allowed them to play .. why would they not come and play the best tournament in Europe?”
And Aussie Scott Hend, who never pulls any punches, also jumped onto his Twitter account saying: “Trust Me….. Paul doesn’t speak for every Member….. It’s not like we aren’t Mates…. Just because they went and played for a better offer…. Give it a rest…. A majority wouldn’t be able to play if they had rectified the entry Criteria/Category.”
Four Irish will tee-up at Wentworth headed by past champion Rory McIlroy along with Shane Lowry, Graeme McDowell and Jonathan Caldwell.
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