Major champions Fred Couples and Zach Johnson turned their collective cold shoulders on the LIV exhibition series and they had plenty to say about it this week — none of it flattering.
Couples has been very involved with U.S. Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup teams and Johnson is the captain for the to-be-formed U.S. Ryder Cup team for the 2023 matches in Italy.
First things first, Johnson had some interesting observations that can probably be viewed as bad news for the former PGA Tour players who have defected over to the LIV exhibition series.
“So what I know is this: In order to play on the Ryder Cup team, whether you’re top six or a (captain’s) pick, you must garner Ryder Cup points through the PGA of America,” Johnson said as he prepared to compete in this week’s John Deere Classic. “In order to garner Ryder Cup points through the PGA of America, you have to be a member of the PGA of America. The way that we’re members of the PGA of America is through the PGA Tour.
“I’ll let you connect the dots from there,” Johnson said matter-of-factly.
For the record, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau were on the last U.S. Ryder Cup team. If “connect” Zach Johnson’s dots sounds like we think it sounds, it was probably their last. As for Patrick Reed, he was passed over last go-round and given his attitude, wasn’t going to be on the next team either. The quality of his play has greatly diminished as well — as has D.J.’s that of Koepka and DeChambeau — a common trait among the LIV defectors.
As for Couples, one of golf’s all-time most popular figures, he didn’t hold back.
“They’re all saying they want to change golf, they’re doing it for the better of golf,” Couples said. “No one has said, ‘Hey, when I look back 50 years from now — we’ll have made this tour (what it is).’ No one has said that. You know why? Because they’re not going to be around in three years.”
Fact of the matter is LIV has now spent more than a billion dollars out of the pension plan meant to benefit Saudi government employees with no means or plan on how to ever turn a profit. Couples knows that’s not their overall plan, as the Saudi Arabian funders have more than enough money to spare. Freddie has a hard time fathoming how over-the-hill players are making for so little production.
“I cannot believe they can pay a guy $150 million for that,” Couples said of LIV Golf’s eight-event calendar in 2022 and 2023. “What, Phil wouldn’t have gone for 100 and Dustin (Johnson) for 70? Then what does that tell you right there?”
Couples also dislikes the source of the money.
“I think this is a family thing for me,” Couples said. “I’m a little peon from Seattle, but I know where the money’s coming from, and I think my family would disown me if I went. Of course, that’s easy for me to say because I’m not going, so I can actually tell you whatever I want to tell you.”
Couples also sounded off on Mickelson.
“I don’t think I’ll ever to talk to him again,” Couples said of Mickelson. “What for? I’m not in the same boat as him anymore, and probably never will play golf with him again. I’m not saying that to be mean. We’re just in different orbits.”
Annika To Play In LPGA Team Event:
Tournament officials from the Great Lakes Bay Invitational announced this week that LPGA Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam will play with fellow Swede Madelene Sagstrom.
The LPGA team event at the Midland Country Club in Michigan runs July 13-16.
The field has 72 teams. Sisters Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn are the defending champions.
More LIV Misery For Mickelson:
It’s a good thing Phil Mickelson got paid up front and there’s obviously a reason he went to the LIV — he can’t break an egg anymore.
Mickelson’s stellar play on the LIV exhibition series continued on Thursday at Pumpkin Ridge as Lefty floundered his way to a three-over par 75.
He wasn’t alone in the “Poor Play Club” — as 19 of the 48-man field shot over par as the LIV considers using the new slogan “These Guys Used To Be Good.”
Carlos Ortiz was the best of day one’s shotgun start with a five-under par 67. Dustin Johnson was a shot back with 68.
Charl Schwartzel, after his win last week, took the day off and shot 74.
4 Comments
forky76
My view of this LIV series is that it is being more widely accepted outside of the US. The western US time zone is very unfriendly to Europe, South Africa and the Middle East (it started at 11pm where I live). It would also have been a very early Friday morning start in Asia Pacific. So viewer numbers would have been significantly lower in these parts of the world.
I just want to watch the best players play golf. I’m not a hypocrit to buy saudi oil or Chinese electronics, then condemn golfers for doing business with the same people. The John Deere classic this week has a field weaker than a decent Korn Ferry event. LIV and the Irish Open is what gets my attention this week.
US culture is extremely resistant to change.. for example the rest of the world stopped using cheques in the 1980’s and went metric in the 1960’s.. but you guys persist :).
Reading some of the social media you get a very different picture of LIV than what is being written my the mainstream media. It seems here to stay, and there will be plenty who tune in to watch. The PGA tour will be changed forever by this.. there is no going back to the way it was. You just have to accept that.
Tom Edrington
If you want to see “THE BEST” they are all on the PGA Tour. Simple as that. Plenty to watch? Got a whopping 54,000 the first one. With no OWGR points only the players with exemptions will get in majors, the young guys will have to go through qualifying starting at local level, PGA Tour players are exempt into final qualifiers for US Open. Most of the LIV guys are fading in the rankings — DJ knew the writing was on the wall — no wins since that fall 2020 Masters…..Brooks is afraid his body is turning on him, Bryson’s body won’t allow him to swing that hard long-term…..there’s some commonality among those who have defected…..When the LIV increases to 14 or 16 events, these guys are contractually obligated to play in all of them and that will take care of the “we want more time off” argument.
forky76
By your descriptions of these guys, does that mean you also think of Tiger as a ‘washed up has been’. Of course not. Some people attract attention regardless of their current form. Brooks, Bryson, DJ, Phil, all fall into this category. These guys are all huge names in the world of golf. While ever they are attached to LIV people will watch. If they do all end up getting banned from the majors, any major winner from this period will forever have an asterix against their name due to the weaker fields.
Tom Edrington
Well, the LIV offered Tiger close to One Billion, so what does that tell you; The difference between Tiger and the aforementioned Koepka, Bryson and DJ is that Tiger out-worked everyone on the PGA Tour for more than 20 years; Truth about DJ is he’d rather be on his boat with his brother cruising the Jupiter Inlet; Brooks knows his body is failing him, also doesn’t love the game; Bryson knows his body won’t last much longer; No Tiger is a victim of his own doing, the wreck left him with issues even he finds nearly too difficult to overcome; Brooks, Bryson and DJ have seven majors between them….they used to be big names. No one really missed Bryson while he was recovering from surgery; The one trait Brooks, DJ and Bryson have in common is they are all pretty lousy personalities, little to no fan interaction…..Phil crushed his own legacy by helping organize and orchestrate the LIV, a total sell-out…..Phil and the phony “thumbs-up” to the galleries…..Phil’s a completely different guy when no one’s looking.