Former PGA Tour commissioner Deane Beman has criticised the players who’ve defected to the LIV Golf Invitational Series.
Speaking to Golfweek (opens in new tab), the 84-year-old, who held the position between 1974 and 1994, was scathing of the players who’ve signed up to it. He said: “There are certain players that have gone over there that I think have made a mistake for their career but maybe they don’t care as much as I thought they did about what it stands for and what it means to be a champion golfer. A lot of them are just thinking about the money.”
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“Their real stripes are showing. Some of the people who have benefited enormously from what the Tour has put together are fully disclosing their integrity. It’s a money grab. I don’t see anything good about it. If they are reasonably responsible people, there is enough money in being successful on the PGA Tour to satisfy anybody. If you have $50 million, $75 million, $100 million, what do you need another $50-75-100 million? It’s all about money.”
Beman was equally critical of the Saudi-based backers funding the Series. He said: “Overall, I don’t think the people putting up the money give a damn about the game of golf. They are trying to use what we built over decades, what I think is the most courageous and responsible sport that there is and that has integrity and respect for the rules and respect for the game and respect for competition, I don’t think the people putting up the money give a damn about any of that. They are putting up money for their own personal benefit. I don’t think it is good for the game of golf.”
Before July’s 150th Open at St Andrews, R&A boss Martin Slumbers said the Series is not in the best long-term interests of the sport as a whole and is driven by money. He also stated that the idea LIV Golf is growing the game is not credible. Those are sentiments Beman agrees with. He said: “I think what the head of the R&A said is exactly right. He got it spot on. They’ve got all the money in the world. I don’t think what they…
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