LIV pro says anti-Saudi players should go to Japan

Martin Kaymer has a message for any fellow pro who considers Saudi Arabia’s investment into golf to be “blood money”.

Go play on the Japan Golf Tour

Two-time major champion Kaymer made the remarks at the end of a week in which the PGA Tour and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia – the sovereign wealth fund that bankrolls the LIV Golf League – announced plans for a shock truce.

It was revealed on Tuesday that the PGA Tour, PIF and DP World Tour have entered into “a landmark agreement to unify the game of golf, on a global basis.”

• McEwan: Golf’s strange union exposes phoneys

• Rory McIlroy: PGA Tour has to compensate players

Whilst most of the details still have to be established, one thing that does seem clear is that pros who rejected LIV on ethical grounds will soon have no option but to take Saudi money.

Well, almost no option.

Speaking to The Telegraph, LIV man Kaymer proposed a solution.

“I’m really looking forward now to the reaction of all the people who said, ‘We don’t want to play for blood money, we don’t want to sell our soul,’” said the German.

“Well now they need to move to Japan [and play on the Japan Tour] in order to stay true to their word.

“I do feel a little sorry for the PGA Tour players who trusted everything that was said. But at the end of the day, you know, they will all have a warm meal on their plate.”

Saudi Arabia has been widely condemned by many within the sport, and even more outside it, because of its terrible human rights record and links to the 9/11 terror attacks in New York.

• DeChambeau feels sorry for PGA Tour players

• LIV CEO Greg Norman reacts to tours’ merger

Kaymer admitted he had considered all of that before ultimately deciding to join LIV last year.

“I stood up to my values and stood up to the feeling in my heart,” said the former world No.1. “I was brave enough and stood up for myself to a lot of people, also here in Germany who criticised me and gave me s***.

“Funny enough, they have sent me nice messages [since the announcement]. It’s such a hypocritical world that we live in, so, it’s even more important to make your own decisions.

“Don’t judge too much because when all is said and done, you might do the same thing.”

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor