‘It Was Brutal’: After His Latest Defection, LIV Golfer Reveals a Hefty Price He and His Family Had to Pay

Since its inception, several players have made the switch to the LIV Golf Series. From young rookies to major championship winners, the field is littered with past PGA Tour players risking their legacies for a new adventure. But the backlash faced by the defectors has been harsh, with many accusing the golfers of playing solely for money. The situation was no different for Thomas Pieters, who joined the rebel league recently. How did he manage the toxic messages?

Thomas Pieters dives into the abuse he received during his LIV Golf switch

Before the beginning of the new season, there were rumors circulating around a big name moving to the LIV Golf Series. However, fans were left waiting, but Pieters provided some excitement after he decided to accept his contract.

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However, what followed was a brutal phase for Pieters and his family, as netizens left no stone unturned in criticizing the 31-year-old. The Belgian recently showed up at the Fore Play Golf show, where he expressed his disgust with the hate he received online.

“For about a week it was brutal on Twitter, and yeah, I felt bad for my girlfriend reading all that stuff. And my mom was a bit worried that her golf club… she would get some comments, but right now, nothing really, no,” he said.

How has Pieters performed in the LIV Golf Series?

The 31-year-old made a name for himself on the DP Tour, before moving across the Atlantic and participating on the PGA Tour. But a year was enough to make Pieters homesick, with the Belgian describing the period as being “lonely.”

It made the golfer review his opportunities elsewhere, and that’s when the LIV Golf Series arrived with a contract. Pieters immediately signed with the rebel league, where he was inducted into the newly formed RangeGoats GC.

However, the Belgian was far from his best in the league. He finished 32nd on his debut at LIV Mayakoba, before a 34th-place finish to score par in LIV Tucson. His team, RangeGoats, secured an 8th-place finish on both occasions.

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