29 June 2023 , 12:22
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LIV Golf star Graeme McDowel l has hit back at Sir Nick Faldo, after the legendary six-time major champion claimed ' nobody is interested ' in the breakaway circuit.
Faldo is on hosting duties this week at the British Masters, and discussed LIV Golf after it was confirmed earlier this month that the rebel series would work in unison with its rivals at the PGA Tour and DP World Tour. Despite an apparent truce being called, the three-time Masters champion did not hold back on his thoughts.
The Englishman was discussing the uncertain future of professional golf on the back of the shock agreement between the PGA Tour and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia.
Ahead of the new era, Faldo does not hold much hope for LIV Golf. Asked if he saw a future for the breakaway league, he brutally responded: "I don’t think so, because nobody’s really interested They’re not going to get the sponsorship they want. They call it a team [event] and it’s not because it’s stroke play."
With Faldo's event taking place at the famed Belfry, LIV Golf is also in action this week at another iconic European golf course. The Saudi-backed series are being hosted in Spain for the very first time, as LIV Andalucia takes place at Valderrama.
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Nick Faldo is hosting this week's British Masters (PA)Unsurprisingly Faldo's comments quickly reached Spanish shores, and European Ryder Cup hero McDowell had his say. Whilst the Northern Irishman labelled Faldo one of his heroes, he staunchly defended the LIV setup. "Nick Faldo was my hero in the nineties. I had multiple Pringle sweaters in my closet," McDowell told The Bunkered Podcast.
"He’ll always be a legend to me. But he hasn’t been out here. He hasn’t come out to see this for himself. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Just come out here and have a look and watch the best players in the world. There are guys that care a lot about this product and I can’t wait to see where it plugs in because I truly believe it will be a part of golf in the future.”
Graeme McDowell responded to Nick Faldo (Chris Trotman/LIV Golf via Getty Images)Despite the criticism, it seems the Northern Irishman was not surprised to hear Faldo's comments following the past 12 months of rivalry within the sport. McDowell commented: "Nick’s there at the British Masters protecting [his event]. That’s the biggest takeaway for me over the last 12 months. People are going to protect what they’re going to protect in the moment...
"I mean, Nick’s at the British Masters and he cares about his tournament, so he’s not going to say anything good about a world-class field at Valderrama this weekend. Of course he’s not going to say anything good about us. I get it. I’m at that point where I don’t even hold anything against anybody anymore because all they’re doing is protecting their turf.”