Viktor Hovland gets it spot on as LIV Golf and PGA Tour share 'soulless' problem
Viktor Hovland has summed up many fans' feelings over the state of professional golf with his latest swipe at the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.
The world number four is not a fan of the increasing part money is playing in the discourse surrounding the elite game, with LIV and the PGA jostling for position despite ongoing merger talks. Saudi Arabia-funded LIV made a huge splash in 2022, snapping up top players from the PGA Tour including Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson on huge contracts.
The PGA Tour has responded by hiking prize money for some of its top tournaments, known as "Signature Events" and reducing the size of the fields to increase the best players' earning potential and reduce the risk of an exodus of more players to the breakaway tour.
Events such as the Genesis Invitational and the Memorial Tournament have increased purses of $20million in 2024, but reigning FedEx Cup champion Hovland believes the increased focus on the financial side of the game risks alienating fans. He says motivating players with money more than prestige is "soulless".
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“Obviously, LIV is bringing in a lot of money to the sport and there’s a lot of competition which I think is good. But it seems to have been a response from the PGA Tour’s side – it’s just more talk about the money and I think that’s a little bit sad,” Hovland told the Son Of A Butch podcast.
“Now money is important, and everyone needs to get paid accordingly and in a fair way, but I don’t think that needs to be the driving force behind this or the story every single week. Not to dog on a tournament here or there, you could put the purse of the John Deere [Classic] to $6 million for first place, but I’d much rather win a Memorial or a tournament like that.
Viktor Hovland has slammed the "soulless" state of professional golf (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)“You’re going to have those memories of winning that event, seeing your name on that trophy – that’s pretty cool. Obviously, the pay cheque is pretty nice as well, but if that’s what you’re remembering by the end of the week, that feels a little bit soulless in my opinion.”
It is not the first time Hovland, who starred for Europe in the Ryder Cup last year, has taken aim at PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and his fellow decision-makers. In December, he said the tour had done a "damn bad job" following two-time major champion Jon Rahm's stunning move to LIV. Hovland has also blasted Monahan and his colleagues, claiming they have not always acted "in the best interests of the players".
Hovland has also fumed at the lack of transparency from PGA Tour and LIV bosses as merger talks drag on since a framework agreement was announced in June. He added: “I don’t know what the path forward is, to be honest, it’s been a little sad, but I try not to think about it too much.
“It’s a little comical to see what’s going on in the game of golf, but I hope there’s a resolution in the future because at the end of the day, I just want to compete at the best golf courses, the best tournaments and against the best players. However that’s going to happen, I don’t know, but that’s what I’d like to see.”
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