10 December 2023 , 17:36
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Mackenzie Hughes has become the latest PGA Tour star to question LIV Golf's mega-money spending after Jon Rahm was lured with a £450million contract.
Rahm's move to the LIV setup was finally confirmed on Thursday, as he followed in the footsteps of the likes of Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson. Rahm however appears to be biggest coup yet, with the Masters champion penning a record-breaking deal with the Saudi-backed series.
The move caps off what his been a quite remarkable spending spree by the rebel league, which has changed the face of professional golf thanks to the backing of the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF). LIV's eye-watering signing fees and prize pots have also forced the hand of the PGA Tour, who have increased the amount of cash on offer to their playing members in a bid to thwart the threat of their rivals. One player who has been able to benefit this is Hughes.
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The Canadian however now believes things are going too far, and took to social media to share his thoughts on the fast-moving saga that is pro golf. "Men’s professional golf is in a sad place. The direction it's headed right now isn't healthy or good for the sport," he tweeted.
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"Unfortunately, money has changed things. Charity used to be a huge priority on tour, but it's taken a backseat. LIV has overvalued the worth of golfers so much that it has ruined our perspective, and pushed purses to unsustainable levels. The marketplace seems broken."
On the back of the PIF's newfound influence on the sport, the PGA Tour have been forced to swallow their pride and team up with the Saudi fund with framework agreement negotiations ongoing. One of the biggest issues surrounding the battle between the Tour and LIV has been the split of golf's elite players, with the likes of Koepka and Johnson banned from competing on the American-based circuit.
Hughes hopes that when a deal is finally reached between the two rivals, that the world's best can be reunited for the sake of the fans. "Fans want to see the best compete against each other. Instead, we are watching the top players split into separate camps," he added.
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"It is frustrating to watch. I'm also a huge sports fan and would hate for my favorite players to get plucked away one by one." Amid the recent Saudi u-turn, PGA Tour boss Jay Monahan has come under huge scrutiny from his players.
On the back of the initial announcement of the agreement in June, a number of Tour members had called on Monahan to step aside from his role. The future of commissioner Monahan has continued to be scrutinised in the months that have followed, but Hughes is hopeful the circuit's leadership can come away with a positive outcome.
"We need to find a way to resonate with all of you and lead the PGA Tour back to higher ground," he added. "Hopefully, our leadership can make that happen. The uncertainty has been really difficult for us but I remain hopeful."