PGA Tour star fumes at Tiger Woods course after LIV Golf forced change
Designed by Tiger Woods, El Cardonal Diamantes hosted the WWT Championship last week after El Camaleo Mayakoba switched allegiance earlier this year.
PGA Tour star Kelly Kraft criticized the Tiger Woods-designed course that hosted the Tech World Cup instead of El Camaleon at Mayakoba.
The Woods designed course was used on the PGA Tour for the first time last week when the WWT Championship was held at Diamantes El Cardonal. Erik Van Rooyen was the man to beat as the South African shot an impressive nine-under 62 to win his second PGA Tour event on Sunday and the final round.
It’s fair to say that not everyone was happy with the debut of the Woods-designed layout after Kraft took to social media to vent his frustration.
Kraft finished the week tied for 71st in Mexico, shooting eight under in four rounds. Clearly frustrated after the tournament, he wrote on Instagram: “I don’t know where to start about golf. I’m just saying @pgatour could do a better job choosing courses to host these events.
andquot;I don’t think it was my favorite course and I’ve played on tour for a while. Better luck next week, andquot; however, he thanked the tournament organizers, adding: andquot;Side note, I will say @wwt_inc did a great job on this. Thank you for your hospitality!andquot;
El Cardonal de Diamante will host the Mexican tournament for the first time since LIV Golfo took over its former home at El Camaleon in Mayakoba. After having a strong relationship with Mayakoba for some time, the PGA Tour decided to end it after the Mexican course joined forces with its LIV rivals.
The Mayakoba lineup hosted LIVand#039’s first event of 2023 earlier this year, with Charles Howell III winning by four strokes in the first circuit event on Mexican soil. Despite the controversial move, El Camaleon hoped it could host both PGA Tour and LIV events at the same time, despite the bad blood between the tours.
In a statement obtained by Golf.com in December 2022, a Mayakoba spokesperson said: “The PGA Tour did not notify Mayakoba in advance and has not yet notified Mayakoba that they will not renew the 2023 WWTC at Mayakoba. Their contract remains in effect. morning andquot;Mayakoba is looking to host its 17th year on the PGA Tour. Unless confirmed by the PGA Tour, the Mayakoba event could remain on the PGA Tour’s 2023-2024 schedule. Of course, the tour ended their relationship with the North American resort, turning to El Cardonal de Diamante earlier this year.
Amid the criticism, designer Woods attended this week after he was photographed walking around the track on Tuesday as the contestants began training. Woods himself has not played competitively since withdrawing from the Masters in April.
The career of the 15-time champion and player has been on hold since he seriously injured his right leg in a car accident in Los Angeles in February 2021. Seven months after his latest injury, Woods is reportedly closing in on a comeback that could come next month and #039; At the Hero World Challenge, where he will host the tournament in the Bahamas.
