One LIV star has pointed the finger on the likes of Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler for the continuing rift in golf
Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler have been apportioned blame for golf’s division (Picture: Warren Little, Getty Pictures)
LIV Golf star Graeme McDowell has pointed the finger on the likes of Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler for the continuing rift splitting the game’s largest names. The Northern Irishman has attracted criticism for suggesting he joined the Saudi-backed circuit merely attempting to “eke out a residing.”
Golf has historically been a sport that rewards its elite performers very generously. However LIV Golf raised the stakes significantly when it burst onto the scene in 2022, providing much more profitable offers to these keen to stroll away from the PGA Tour and DP World Tour. McDowell, 46, was amongst those that made the change, leading to years of bitter infighting amongst the game’s main figures. But McDowell tried to shift duty away from himself, as a substitute directing blame in direction of golf’s headline acts.
“Individuals will say I do not deserve it and I am accountable for lots of what is occurred,” he stated throughout a latest interview with Bunkered, the place he additionally outlined his need to captain Staff Europe on the Ryder Cup. “However I am a really, very small cog on this huge wheel.
“The divisiveness has come from the very best gamers on the earth. It hasn’t got here from the 40-somethings like myself which might be simply attempting to eke out a residing and staying aggressive on a possibility that was offered to us, which might have been loopy to say no to from a enterprise perspective.”
The notion that McDowell is merely “eking out a residing” competing on the Saudi-backed circuit will strike many as absurd. The 2010 US Open champion is known to boast a complete internet price of round £30million, with roughly one-third of that amassed by his LIV Golf earnings over the previous three years.
“I am undecided G-Mac’s model of ‘eke out a residing’ would sq. with most different individuals’s,” wrote one fan in response to McDowell’s assertion. One other social media consumer questioned: “Was he being severe when he stated ‘attempting to eke out a residing?'”
A 3rd critic quipped: “Yeah really feel dangerous for that poor lad and his $40m internet price, that is actually ekeing out a residing. If he does begin a GoFundMe rely me in!”
Graeme McDowell and McIlroy have been a part of 4 Ryder Cup-winning groups collectively (Picture: Getty)
McIlroy, 36, has beforehand been among the many most outspoken opponents of those that defected to LIV. However, his place seems to have mellowed considerably in latest occasions.
Scheffler, 29, hasn’t been fairly as forthright in his disapproval, though he has advised those that departed for LIV bear duty for any divisions. When questioned about negotiations for a possible merger between the PGA Tour and LiV earlier this 12 months, Scheffler indicated individuals would want to “ask these guys [in LIV]” why the game has been divided.
Tensions have existed between McDowell and McIlroy, who’ve claimed 4 Ryder Cup victories as teammates, and the previous’s transfer to LIV risked damaging that bond. However, ‘G-Mac’ has beforehand maintained that relations between himself and his countryman stay cordial.
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“Myself, Rory and Shane [Lowry] are very shut and stay very shut and have finished by this course of,” he stated in 2023. “I have not seen the blokes in order that’s the issue due to the best way the schedules are.
“I have been in a single a part of the world however stay in touch, at all times looking for them and at all times pulling for each of them and I believe the identical from their aspect as nicely.”
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