PGA Tour winner issues fiery response after controversial LIV Golf comments

Chris DiMarco raised some eyebrows when complaining about the purses on the PGA Tour Champions and begged LIV Golf to buy the league, but his friend has claimed he was only joking

Former PGA Tour winner Chris DiMarco was only joking when he begged LIV Golf to buy the PGA Tour Champions, according to Rocco Mediate.

The veteran golfer made the eyebrow-raising comments on the “Subpar” podcast with Mediate, where he suggested LIV Golf should take over the 50-and-over PGA Tour Champions circuit – a circuit both currently play in.

But this week, Mediate has stated that DiMarco was just joking with his words – despite many seemingly feeling that he was being serious after the latter had seemed to criticise the PGA Tour.

Speaking on his SiriusXM show ‘The Rocco Hour, he said: “So Chrisy said that, and that is a complete – joking, like, yeah, I want the LIV tour to buy us so we can play for more money.

“They’re not buying the Champions,” he said on his show. “They’re not even looking at our tour. Our tour is just fine the way it is. OK. We’re playing for 2 million bucks a week, good. We’re 100 years old. No problem. So everybody that’s busting his b***s, just stop it. Just stop it. Please. It’s called a joke. Deal with it. Next.”

During the initial podcast that caused the showdown, DiMarco had seemed to be serious when discussing the idea of LIV Golf purchasing the 50-and-over Champions Tour.

He said: “Well, we’re kind of hoping that LIV buys the Champions Tour, to tell you the truth. Let’s play for a little real money out here. I mean, this is kind of a joke when we’re averaging 2 million [dollars]. There was like seven guys last week from TPC that made more money than our purses.”

His comments were widely controversial, however, with fans and pundits alike hitting out at DiMarco over his LIV demand. Paige Spiranac tore into the three-time PGA Tour winner, saying: “Chris DiMarco has made over $22 million over his career on the course. That number is not counting sponsorship money. Hand up if you’re tired of pro golfers complaining about money.”

Mediate and DiMarco have both had long, successful career on the PGA Tour making over £15million each, with the former adding that they are financially set and not in need of joining LIV.

Mediate added: “Trust me, we’re very happy. And we’re right where we’re supposed to be. I always say that to people. You’re always where you’re supposed to be. You want to be somewhere else. But you’re where you are. … I always say that. And it’s true. Nothing you can hide with that.

“Yeah, I had to get that out because I’m like, wait a second, he’s one of our guys. If he was being serious and demeaning, then yeah, we would have taken him apart. But he wasn’t. He was joking around. So please – enough is enough.”