Laurie Canter admits the feud between LIV Golf and the traditional tours has made it “embarrassing to be a professional golfer” at times.
The inception of the Saudi-funded breakaway circuit sparked a bitter war of words between players and senior figures on both sides of the divide, as men’s professional golf was thrust into controversy amid allegations of sportswashing and threats of legal action.
It’s little wonder then that Canter, who signed up ahead of the inaugural LIV Golf event at the Centurion Club last year, has been left with a sour taste in his mouth.
“There have been points where it has been embarrassing to be a professional golfer,” Canter told the Guardian. “I have had teaching pros say to me that they have been embarrassed by some of the conduct that has gone on. That is not what being a golfer is about.
“Camaraderie between pros should be one of the best things about being a golfer. There has not been enough people sitting in a room, chatting. I think if you are a member of a tour, you have a responsibility to air grievances privately. Saying things through the press is not the way to go about it if you are serious about doing what is best for the game.”
The Englishman is part of the Majesticks and added that the ongoing fallout has been harder for his higher-profile team-mates, which includes Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson. The trio all quit the DP World Tour to avoid facing further sanctions, while Stenson was stripped of the Ryder Cup captaincy for his defection.
“It is way more difficult for those guys than me,” Canter added. “They have had way more to deal with. The burden those guys have had … they have done loads for the [DP World] Tour.
“Lee Westwood got to world No 1 as a stalwart member of the European Tour. Whatever he says about that tour, no matter what side of the fence you perceive him to be on … if you are not listening to him then you haven’t done your homework. These players genuinely care about the tour, even now.
“I have never been in the spotlight or chased that. I worked hard to be on tour, which was my dream. To go from that to the point where a lot of mud was being flung in…
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