Thomas Pieters insists he was happy to trade a legacy in golf to take the LIV Golf money on offer, with the happiness it provides for his family more important to him than golf.
Pieters still feels any criticism he gets for accepting the cash from the Saudi-backed enterprise is unfair, and somewhat hypocritical given just how many businesses and companies are backed by money from that region.
In a revealing appearance on Barstool Sports’ Fore Play podcast (opens in new tab), the Belgian also opens up on his experience playing on the PGA Tour, which he says was a lonely existence and not one he will miss.
But the biggest insight from Pieters was his reasoning for making the move – with the 31-year-old seemingly happy to give up on his PGA Tour career and the prospect of leaving a golfing legacy in favour of making his life more comfortable.
“I’ve done 10 years of being on the road and trying to achieve my dreams,” Pieters told the Fore Play podcast. “I’m not Rory McIlroy, I’m not Tiger Woods, I’m not going to be in the history books or have a massive legacy, and that’s OK.
“I’ve made an unbelievable living out of golf, which is amazing for me and my mrs and my kids. I don’t worry about that at all, actually. It’s just sport. It’s just golf. Happiness is so much more than just playing golf.”
Pieters got homesick on the PGA Tour
Although signing for LIV Golf currently ends Pieters’ chances of a Ryder Cup return and limits his chances of getting into the Majors – he’s comfortable with his decision due to the amazing financial rewards and the loneliness he felt on the PGA Tour.
“As a kid you obviously dream about playing on the PGA Tour, winning golf tournaments,” he added. “I played a year on the PGA Tour. I did not like it. I got very homesick, very lonely, so for me that was kind of like tick the box, I tried it over there, wasn’t my thing and then LIV came around right at the right time.
“Everybody who was playing on it last year that I talked to said it was very exciting, new and that was something that really spoke to me.
“You can’t lie about it financially, it’s amazing, and it was something as a family, father of two daughters, as well with my girlfriend, it’s awesome to have such good schedule, as well.”
Pieters is trying to stay out of the political arguments about the funding for LIV Golf coming from the Saudi Arabia PIF, saying that criticism is a touch hypocritical.
“Obviously there’s a lot of…
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