PGA of America chief blasts LIV Golf

As his organisation prepares to take centre stage with this week’s PGA Championship, the PGA of America’s CEO has taken multiple swipes at the LIV Golf League.

In an interview with The Times, Seth Waugh weighed in with thoughts on everything from the Saudi-funded circuit’s format to its bid for world ranking points.

“I don’t think division is good for the game,” said Waugh. “Hopefully, it’s good for those individuals that have made whatever decisions they have, but the game has moved on. It’s amplified those who have stayed, and the ones who have left have largely disappeared from the landscape, in terms of an exposure perspective.”

Waugh’s remarks come ahead of this week’s 105th PGA Championship, which takes place at Oak Hill in Rochester.

A total of 18 LIV golfers are in the field for the second men’s major of the season but it’s clear what Waugh thinks about where they’re now playing their golf.

“Their logic about the team play being something significant that people can get behind I think is flawed,” added Waugh. “I don’t think people really care about it. And I don’t see how it’s a survivable business model.

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“They can fund it for as long as they want to, but no matter how much money you have, at some point, burning it doesn’t feel very good. I don’t see they are accomplishing much. It seems logical to me, then, that you would work towards some sort of agreement. I hope the game comes back together in some form.”

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As the man at the helm of the PGA of America, Waugh has a seat on the board of the Official World Golf Ranking.

LIV submitted its application to earn OWGR points last year but, to the chagrin of many on and around the Greg Norman-fronted enterprise, it has yet to receive them.

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“There are certain parts of their structure that can be solved by math, but there may be some pretty fundamental things that are harder,” added Waugh. “There’s the potential conflict with the team aspect and then access — how do you get relegated and promoted?

“They had our latest response weeks ago, and we haven’t heard back. They have made a bad assumption that this will be a quick process. It never has been. Every application has taken a year-plus as far as I’m aware.”

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