‘We Were The Criminals’: $800,000 Woes Trigger LIV Golfer to Launch Scathing Attack After $3 Billion Merger

The PGA Tour and LIV Golf have been at opposite ends of the pole for a long time. However, with the latest merger talks that included the DP World Tour, what should have been a peace treaty has instigated a lot more hostility from golfers than before.

Players are confused by the sudden change of heart of the leaders of the PGA Tour and DP World Tour. After being incessantly penalized for partaking in LIV Golf, many golfers including Richard Bland find it preposterous and have finally taken a stand against the American circuit.

Richard Bland voices his concerns about the hypocrisy of the merger

The English golfer who entered the world of Pro golf with the European tour in 1998 and received his PGA Tour card in 2002 has faced a lot of controversial situations over the course of his golfing career. Back in 2022, when LIV Golf started their tournaments and championships, Bland was fined for partaking in Saudi’s PIF-backed events.

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“When I first got my card in 2002, if someone said to me 21 years later, you will resign from the tour and be fined nearly $800,000, I would’ve said you’re barking mad” the Englishman admitted to National Club Golfer. He never imagined receiving a total of $800,000 in fines ever since 2022. “The announcement that came along a couple of weeks ago – it was a bit left field. I wasn’t expecting it. Things might just settle down, but they seem to have nailed us to the cross again.” He further elaborated, “We were the criminals on a hostile tour, and now, the powers that be have done a deal with the same people that fund that tour.”

The Pro Golfer’s consternations extended beyond the merger and toward the two leaders who made the decision. “Jay and Keith have got a lot to answer for and if I’m honest, I’d be surprised if Jay would be in a job very soon.” The hostility he feels stems from the hypocrisy of the situation. “He’s going to come under a lot of player scrutiny because there’s probably a lot of players in the US that turned down offers from LIV – he can’t make that decision for them but I’m sure he’s probably tried to persuade them to stay.”

While the golfing community may have assumed that the merger would bring peace, the English golfer along with his compatriots is not happy. “It’s just a sad way for things to end. I certainly didn’t want that to be the case. I think there’s a lot of double standards going on that other guys can play another tour and play the DP World Tour with no repercussions – but if you don’t play on that tour, then there are repercussions”

Seems like the LIV Golf defectors aren’t the only ones facing repercussions. Jay Monahan and Keith Pelly are in the crosshairs of several enraged golfers from both the PGA Tour and LIV Golfers. The terms of the proposed contract are raising eyebrows from both current golfers as well as retirees with stakes in the PGA Tour.

The English golfers are joining forces against the PGA Tour

Richard Bland is not entirely alone in his stance with Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia, and Phil Mickelson also sharing his views on the matter. LIV Golf appears to be a better fit for them.

Earlier in June, English golfers Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter received a lot of backlash from the golfing community for forfeiting their gameplay in the PGA Tour’s events. However, now with Richard Bland joining the gang and retiring from the tour, it seems like a consensus.

“I don’t think it helps the DP World Tour at all. I know Lee’s resigned, Poulter’s resigned. Sergio resigned and Martin’s resigned. You’re just looking at future Ryder Cup captains and they all deserve to be Ryder Cup captains for what they’ve given to the tour. It’s just sad,” remarked the Englishman. In light of being excluded from the Senior’s Championship due to outstanding fines from the DP World Tour, his rage seems somewhat justified.

Do you think Jay Monahan and Keith Pelly will face a lot of backlash from LIV Golfers? What are your views on the $3 billion merger that seems to cause such uproar among golfers both young and old? Share your comments with us and let us know which way you’re leaning in regards to the deal.

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