You may or may not recall that Pat Perez and Patrick Reed took parting shots at the PGA Tour and commissioner Jay Monahan on their way out the door as they defected to the LIV exhibition series.
On Tuesday, prior to this week’s Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club outside North Berwick, Billy Horschel went on the offensive and ripped the defectors.
“I’ve been really frustrated by it because there’s a lot of guys that are hypocrites, that aren’t telling the truth, that are lying about some things, and I just can’t stand to sit here anymore and be diplomatic about it as I have been in the past,” Horschel said at his Tuesday press conference. “I don’t fault anyone for going to play the LIV tour. I don’t have any ill will for anyone going to play the LIV tour. I have ill will toward comments that they’ve made, comments saying that Jay Monahan doesn’t listen, the PGA Tour doesn’t listen to us.
“Jay Monahan and everyone at headquarters is the PGA Tour — they work tirelessly for us to reap the financial rewards and have all the opportunities that we have. At the same time, I am one of 200-plus members of the PGA Tour. I am the PGA Tour, just as 200 other members are the PGA Tour, so when you take shots at the PGA Tour and Jay Monahan, you’re not just taking shots at them, you’re taking shots at us,” Horschel said, getting a bit fiery.
Horschel then pointed to the hypocrisy of the players who are complaining about suspensions handed down by the PGA and DP World tours. LIV will go from eight events to 14 events, and as Horschel explains, if guys also wanted to play the PGA Tour, that would be, at minimum, 29 events.
“It’s ridiculous to hear some of these comments some of these guys made, saying, well, this allows me to play less tournaments, I’ve played 30-35 weeks a year,” Horschel said. “No one’s forced you to play that many events. The PGA Tour says 15 events minimum. If you keep your card in those 15 events, then that’s fine. If you want to play better or you want to play more so you get a chance to win the FedExCup? So be it. So be it! No one’s made you play that first playoff event to miss family obligations. No one has.”
Horschel directed that playoff event comment at Perez, who joined the LIV tour and competed last week in Portland. Perez spoke about how he missed the birth of his child in order to play the first FedExCup event because he was on the bubble in points.
Horschel was also pretty blunt about those who want to play the LIV and the PGA Tour as well.
Horschel called that “asinine.” “Go play your LIV tour and forget about the PGA Tour,” Horschel said. “You didn’t want to support the PGA Tour going forward — if you don’t want to be a part of this tour which has given you so many opportunities to make a name and build a financial stability for your family and everything, then that’s fine.
“Just stay away, and we’ll be fine without you guys.”
Steve Stricker Defends At Senior Players:
The only group with back-to-back majors just happens to be the old guys — the Champions Tour.
They head to Firestone Country Club in Akron for this week’s Senior Players Championship where super-senior Steve Stricker defends his title on the famed South Course.
This is one of those “round-up the usual suspects” kinda major. Firestone typically brings the elite players to the forefront and Stricker has been a dominant force on the over-50 set. Same for Steve Alker, who came from no-status to star on this tour.
Miguel Angel Jimenez is a factor each week as well.
Alker leads the Schwab Cup standings, Jimenez is second behind him, Stricker’s fourth followed by Bernhard Langer, another name to watch this week at Firestone.
Annika Sorenstam Will Play At American Century:
Annika Sorenstam will be among the celebrities competing this week (Friday through Sunday) at the American Century championship at South Lake Tahoe.
Sorenstam, who has been showing up on a more regular basis over the past year, will also play the following week in the LPGA Tour’s team event with fellow Swede Madelene Sagstrom.
Vinny Del Negro is the defending champion at the tournament that uses a modified stableford points system.
It will also give braggart Charles Barkley a chance to prove that his golf game has, indeed, improved.
NBC will telecast the action.
6 Comments
forky76
The players don’t want to play 15 pga tour events a year.. so the leavers are right, monaghan is not listening to them. If bryson is good enough to keep his card playing say 5 events, then that should be enough.
Rory has even softened his stance today. Very interesting interview with the bbc if you havent seen it. Peace might finally be in the pipeline, but I suspect monaghan will need to step aside for this to happen.
Tom Edrington
If I’m not mistaken the LIV exhibition series will be increasing their events to at least 14 next year, so that blows that argument….I believe majors count toward the 15 so LIV guys will have to play 19 if they play in all four majors which only a few will…..Monahan will not be leaving for a LONG time, can’t say the same for Greg Norman, LIV insiders are saying he needs to go….
baxter cepeda
Oh Billy Billy Billy. Monahan is not your daddy. Your not going to get the company.
Man I like this forky. Guy has some sense.
Yes LIv goes to 14 next year which is one of their few mistakes. It should be 12, probably less really. Less is more is their thing. And it’s how they can compromise.
Forky is absolutely right the pga tour needs to drop its 15 event requirement. Significantly. It just has to happen.
The 3 tours need to work so players have a chance to play the best events on the pga tour.
It Liv stars are signed to 9 figure signing deals plus all the marbles. And it’s very entertaining. And it’s only getting better.
I bet Monahan is out before Shark. Shark is entering his commissioner leak. The guy looks like an Australian sea King or something. He created this thing that is just getting started.
Monahan is struggling. Big time. He isn’t the man for the job.
Tom Edrington
Baxter: I’m nominating you to replace Greg Norman as LIV boss…
baxter cepeda
I think the pga tour needs me more.
Tom Edrington
Absolutely not, you’d try and sell it to the Saudis.