3 Most Controversial Talor Gooch Moments Explored

Talor Gooch has stirred the pot quite heavily this time. Perhaps fed up with failed clarion calls to Major organizers for a rule change, the 32-year-old said that the watered-down field at the Majors will have less significance. Gooch, who had the sympathy of the golf community until recently, suddenly found himself at the center of the controversy.

The Oklahoma native, though, has kicked up storms with his unpopular opinions before as well. Gooch took a not-so-subtle jab at the PGA Tour commissioner less than two years ago, when the latter announced the elevated events. Here are three times when his words have landed him in troubled waters in the past. 

Talor Gooch’s unfiltered opinion on majors

Gooch believes that majors won’t carry the same weight ignoring talents on LIV. In an interview with Australian Golf Digest, the 32-year-old said, “If Rory McIlroy goes and completes his [career] Grand Slam without some of the best players in the world, there’s just going to be an asterisk. It’s just the reality.”

Gooch has made no secret of his dislike for OWGR. OWGR has denied world ranking points for LIV Golf pros, forcing players like Joaquin Niemann, David Puig, and others to look at international events for a way into the majors. So far, only Niemann’s efforts have yielded a Masters invite. Puig, on the other hand, has earned his spot at the Open. Interestingly, behind OWGR’s denial of points was LIV Golf’s radical format, something that Talor Gooch feels should remain intact. 

Read More: Has Talor Gooch Ever Won a Major? His Career on PGA Tour Explored

Thursdays are irrelevant, and LIV has done away with them

After switching sides, Jon Rahm was “hopeful that the leaders of LIV Golf might listen to some of my advice and maybe see some changes in the future for the better of the game.” Although the Spaniard didn’t specify, considering his previous dissatisfaction with the LIV Golf format, it was widely read as his nudge for some changes in the shotgun start, no-cut format. 

Gooch added his thoughts in a chat with Australian Golf Digest and said, “(Rahm) has been vocal about some stuff he didn’t love, but he wouldn’t have come to LIV if he thought he was going to win 10 tournaments a year and have no competition.” Adding further, the 2023 LIV Golf Player of the Year said, “I lean towards keeping it at 54 holes. Part of it, too, from my experience on the PGA Tour, was Thursdays are just irrelevant from a fan perspective (except for) only a couple times a year.” While that PGA Tour dig ignited a fresh controversy, it wasn’t something Gooch was inexperienced with.

Talor Gooch compared the LIV Golf vibe with the Ryder Cup

Fresh off coming after a team victory at the LIV Orlando in 2022, Gooch compared the crowd with the Ryder Cup audience. “I haven’t played a Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup, but I can’t imagine there’s a whole hell of a lot of difference.” The Oklahoma star, who recently owned a bull-riding team in his state, was widely ridiculed on social media for his callous statement. A year later, Gooch added some clarification.

“Look, it was said in the heat of the moment. My teammates and I had just collected $750,000 each for winning the team event at LIV Portland, and it was one of the rowdiest crowds I’ve ever seen,” Gooch told the Telegraph last July.

Read More: Despite His $30M Final Laugh, LIV Golf’s Biggest Star Talor Gooch Faces a Massive 2024 Tragedy Amid OWGR Controversies

It is unclear why Talor Gooch specifically mentioned McIlroy’s name this time. Notably, the Northern Irish golfer proposed a lenient approach towards including LIV golfers in the PGA Tour events later. Nevertheless, golf analysts and fans didn’t take very kindly what Gooch said about the Majors, as the top names in the breakaway league are mostly exempt in all four majors one way or another.