via Reuters
Golf – The 149th Open Championship – Royal St George’s, Sandwich, Britain – July 15, 2021 England’s Lee Westwood on the second green during the first round REUTERS/Rebecca Naden
via Reuters
Golf – The 149th Open Championship – Royal St George’s, Sandwich, Britain – July 15, 2021 England’s Lee Westwood on the second green during the first round REUTERS/Rebecca Naden
The Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series already has its schedule ready for the tournaments. However, the only thing that the golf world is still unsure of is how many of the PGA and DP World Tour players will play in the league. Among a few so far, English golfer Lee Westwood is one of the players who has shown an interest in being part of the event.
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The current world no. 58 didn’t hesitate to answer when Sky Sports asked him about his participation in the LIV Golf Series. “I have put a release in with the PGA Tour and the European Tour,” he said in the interview. “As many people are.”
🗣️ "F1 race there, #NUFC are owned by people from there, there's been boxing there, snooker and darts there…"
Lee Westwood defends his decision to ask for a release to play in the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series opener ⛳pic.twitter.com/vw6peUNG1j
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) May 4, 2022
He further explained that it was not difficult for him to decide whether he wants to play in the event or not.
Recently, the LIV Golf Series released the venues and dates of its events, and the Centurion Club in London is one of them. Being an English golfer, Westwood expressed his joy in playing before his home crowd.
Will the decision make Lee Westwood ineligible for the Ryder Cup captaincy?
“That ball’s in the European Tour’s court,” Westwood said while discussing whether his decision would adversely affect his chance of being a Ryder Cup captain.
“I have no influence over the way they think,” he added. Last year, the golfer had revealed his intention of not wanting to be named Team Europe’s captain at the 2023 Ryder Cup.
Read more: The Real Reason Why Paige Spiranac Quit Professional Golf
Westwood had asked for a release to play in the Saudi-backed league. Since both the European and PGA Tour consider it as their rival league, it is not sure whether he can ever be a captain at the Ryder Cup now.
Westwood defended his decision to play at the LIV Golf Series!
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“We play European Tours in Saudi Arabia,” Westwood said. “I’ve had releases from the PGA Tour saying that I can go play in Saudi Arabia,” he added.
via Reuters
Golf – The 2020 Ryder Cup – Whistling Straits, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, U.S. – September 25, 2021 Team Europe’s Lee Westwood on the 1st hole during the Foursomes REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
According to him, the Tours had no problem playing in Saudi in the past. He also added that other sports, like Formula One, snooker, and darts were held in the country. “Golf is not the first to have links to Saudi Arabia,” he further added. “But it seems to be under more scrutiny than anywhere else.”
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What do you think of Westwood’s comments about playing at the LIV Golf Series?
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