PGA’s Billy Horschel has strong words for ‘hypocrite’ LIV golfers
Heading into the Scottish Open, the winner of the recent Memorial Tournament took a moment to offer his thoughts on LIV’s golfers and he wasn’t kind.
As things stand, it’s pretty safe to say that the launch of the LIV Golf Tour has created deep divides in the golf world with many who have joined the tour saying they did so having lost faith in the PGA. Is that really the case? One PGA player doesn’t think so.
PGA’s Billy Horschel slams LIV Golfers
Speaking on Tuesday, PGA golfer Billy Horschel didn’t hold back when giving his thoughts on former PGA Tour members, who have since jumped ship for the controversial LIV Golf Invitational Series ahead of the Scottish Open. Horschel insisted that he had no “ill will” towards any of those that chose to leave, however, he was quick to point out that he won’t stand for what he sees as lies that they’re spreading about the PGA Tour.
“I’ve been really frustrated because there are a lot of guys that are hypocrites that are not telling the truth and lying about some things that I just can’t stand to sit here anymore and be diplomatic anymore about it as I have been in the past,” Horschel said. “I don’t fault anyone for going to play the LIV Tour. I don’t have any ill will for anyone going to play the LIV Tour. I don’t feel ill will toward the comments they make, comments that [commissioner] Jay Monahan doesn’t listen to PGA Tour [players] or that Jay Monahan doesn’t listen to us. Jay Monahan and everyone at headquarters is the PGA Tour. They work tirelessly for us to reap financial rewards and have all the opportunities we have. ...At the same time, I am one of the 200-plus members of the PGA Tour. I am the PGA Tour. So when you take shots at the PGA Tour, you’re taking...shots at us. And to say that they don’t listen is a complete farce, it really is.”
The impact of LIV on the golf world
There have of course been several big names that have since left the PGA Tour in order to join the Saudi Arabian-backed venture, including but not limited to Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, Patrick Reed, Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson who revealed he was paid $125 million just to join. The PGA Tour and DP World Tour have since suspended players joined the league, though some were actually permitted to play in the U.S. Open and in next week’s British Open on the grounds that they had previously qualified. Ian Poulter was one of three players who was granted permission to play by the DP World Tour in a British court on Monday. As such Poulter will be present for this week’s Scottish open, but it’s something that Horschel doesn’t view in a positive light.
“I believe they made their bed,” Horschel said. “They decided to go play on a tour, and they should go play that tour. They shouldn’t be coming back over here to play the DP World Tour or the PGA Tour. To say that they wanted to also support this tour or the DP or PGA tour going forward, while playing the LIV tour, is completely asinine in my opinion … So it’s unfortunate that those guys made their bed and that’s what they want to do. Leave us alone, honestly.”
Billy Horschel pushes back on allegations about PGA schedule
As a seven-time winner on the PGA Tour and the current world No. 15, Horschel is no stranger to how the annual schedule can disrupt one’s personal life. With that said, he was in no mood to accept the criticisms made by LIV golfers about the PGA’s schedule. Most recently Pat Perez claimed that he was forced to miss the birth of his son because of the PGA Tour’s schedule. Horschel believes that to be flat out wrong.
“We have the opportunity to make our schedule, so to say that we have to play X amount of events and they don’t have time off, no one makes you [play],” Horschel said. “I’m on the road for five weeks. I have not seen my family for three weeks. I haven’t seen them for the last three weeks: U.S. Open, didn’t see them in Germany, I stayed over here in London for a week, I’m not seeing them this week, I’m staying for next week, so five weeks. But that’s what my wife and I decided. When we laid our schedule out, it just worked that way. I made that decision to not see my wife and kids for five weeks. Am I crying about it? No. I understand. I’m living my dream trying to play golf professionally and support my family financially. ...So I’m just tired of these comments. Like go play the LIV Tour and forget about the PGA Tour.”