Viktor Hovland denies LIV rumours but slams PGA Tour ‘arrogance’
One of golf’s most famous athletes is Viktor Hovland.
Despite the fact that Viktor Hovland has no intention of joining Jon Rahm at LIV Golf, the defending FedEx Cup champion criticized the PGA Tour’s management for their “arrogance.”
The Norwegian stated, “I doubt that” you will see him go to LIV Golf as he prepares for the 2024 PGA Tour season, in an interview with Discovery’s golf podcast “Fore” in Norway.
The world number four could do without the no-cut design, regardless of whether the Visit’s new Signature Occasion model elements a line of restricted field, no-cut occasions.
However, he did not hold back in his criticism of the PGA Tour, which is attempting to negotiate agreements with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and the Strategic Sports Group, a group of billionaire team owners.
“In the event that I had gone to LIV, I don’t figure I would have improved as a golf player,” said Hovland, who won multiple times in 2023 and featured in Europe’s Ryder Cup win in Rome. ” And afterward it is, as it were, the finish of conversation.
However, I am not to blame for those who make that choice and travel there. Then we need to attempt to track down a game plan eventually. We’ll see.”
While reports connecting Hovland with LIV Golf keep on waiting, he’s now dedicated to the season-opening occasion, The Guard, in about fourteen days, as well as the AT&T Rock Ocean side Supportive of Am, the WM Phoenix Open and the Beginning Invitational.
He said he “truly wasn’t simply stunned” to see Rahm take the LIV money yet figures the PGA Visit has a ton to deal with as it battles to rejoin the expert game.
In the translated comments, Hovland stated, “It would be a bit silly to criticize the players for leaving.”
“All things considered, you just hear one point in the media, and there are many various parts occurring simultaneously here.
“I thoroughly comprehend the reason why he left. That is a great deal, large chunk of change. Furthermore, basically when the administration of the PGA Visit has done genuinely horrendous work.
“Just all things considered: The position I’m in is not a problem for me, and I’m extremely grateful for everything. However, management has not performed well.
“They nearly consider the players to be work, and not as a component of the individuals. All things considered, we are the PGA Visit. Without the players, there isn’t anything.
“At the point when you get to see what occurs away from plain view, how the administration really decides, which are not in the players’ wellbeing, but rather best for them and their thought process is ideal …
“They are financial specialists who say that, ‘No, it ought to seem to be various stuff.’ There is a lot of self-importance behind everything.”
Hovland stays against LIV as a result of its no-cut design, despite the fact that the PGA Visit has embraced that model for its Unmistakable Occasions.
He stated, “You need competition with 150 players and a cut.” In the event that you don’t play all around ok, you’re out. There is something about it that makes your game somewhat more honed.
I don’t think I would have improved as a golfer if I had attended LIV.
In the mean time, Kildare’s Lauren Walsh and Banbridge’s Olivia Mehaffey descended the list of competitors after cycle three at the Last Phase of the Women European Visit Q-School in Morocco.
At Al Maaden Golf Marrakech, Walsh was four over with three holes to play when she birdied the 16th and 17th for a two-over 75 that dropped her to tied 34th on three-under.
The main 20 and ties after five rounds will be granted LET cards, yet Mehaffey needs a low round now to make the 72-opening cut for the best 65 and ties.
A two-more than 74 at Illustrious Golf de Marrakech left Mehaffey tied 96th on four-north of, three shots outside the projected cut mark.
Russia’s Nataliya Guseva, playing as an unbiased competitor, shot a five-under 67 at Regal Golf de Marrakech to lead by two shots from Singapore novice Shannon Tan on 16-under.