LIV Golf contender tears into PGA Tour

The chance to secure a move from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf is an enticing one for many.

Next week, the Saudi-backed LIV circuit will host its inaugural Promotions Event in Abu Dhabi and among the field are several notable names.

And it appears that the financial carrot is not the only one luring in the likes of Jason Dufner, Victor Dubuisson and Jeff Overton.

Speaking to Golf Channel, PGA Tour winner Chris Stroud has detailed why he will tee it up in the one-off LIV qualifier.

After 15 years and over 400 starts on the PGA Tour, the 41-year-old has hit out at the established circuit for its treatment of lower ranked players.

He said: “I’ve been frustrated with what the Tour’s done for years, since I was on the [Player Advisory Council].

“The Tour doesn’t care about you if you’re not in the top 30 and I learned quickly that I needed to take care of myself.

• Jay Monahan issues 12-word rebuttal to his critics

• Major champion named in LIV Golf Q-School field

“The Tour has built this bad culture. I love [Jay Monahan], but the Tour has never tried to give back to the players, we’ve never had a voice. So, Jay has had a free hand to do whatever he wants.”

Tour commissioner Monahan has repeatedly come under fire since his circuit announced a shock framework agreement with LIV’s bankrollers in June.

But the American has also been slammed for his management of the tour, including elevated events and financial distribution.

Only the top 50 from last year’s FedEx Cup points list are assured starts in next year’s signature events, which offer larger prize purses and considerably more points.

Stroud added: “I believe [Monahan] and a lot of people at the Tour genuinely care about us, but the system has never been set up to help the players.

“The Tour has taken all this extra money and not spread it out properly. I’ve talked to so many players about this and the answer is always, we need to be unionized.”

• Jordan Spieth details freak injury

• Tiger Woods gives verdict on Ryder Cup ‘Hatgate’ drama

That seems to be an alien feeling to lower-ranked PGA Tour pro’s and that is why Stroud explained it is a no-brainer to compete in next week’s lucrative qualifier.

The 2017 Barracuda Championship winner said: “I’ve learned this over 16 years on Tour, every single year I see more unhappy players — and players on LIV are happy.

“I talked to Marc Leishman today and he said the team aspect is fun, but the coolest part is these people care about us.

“I go straight to LIV, without question [give up his Tour status]. Even if it were just for one year it would be worth it because the Tour has done everything wrong.

“If they say I can’t be on the PGA Tour, that’s fine. I love the PGA Tour and what it stands for but I’m so unimpressed with how everything has transpired the last three years.”

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.