PGA Tour legend slams LIV Golf and says he ‘feels bad’ for breakaway stars

Renowned golfer Nick Price, a three-time major champion, has unleashed a scathing critique of LIV Golf, the breakaway tour funded by Saudi Arabia. Price, who formerly excelled on the PGA Tour, is adamant that LIV Golf will continue to face challenges in garnering viewer interest.

Despite attracting several top-tier players from the PGA Tour, including current Masters champion Jon Rahm and 2022 Open winner Cameron Smith, Price, 67, remains unconvinced about the appeal of LIV Golf. He believes that Commissioner Greg Norman and the financiers behind LIV Golf have fallen short in creating an engaging product.

LIV Golf tournaments diverge from traditional formats, opting for a 54-hole structure and incorporating a team element throughout the season. However, Price remains skeptical of these innovations.

In a candid interview with the Bunkered podcast, Price expressed his uncertainty about LIV Golf’s long-term strategy, stating, “Like everyone else, I don’t know what the end game is. The way the game is fragmented, nobody likes it. I’ve tried to watch LIV, but I don’t think the product they have is very good. I don’t know why they tried to reinvent the wheel.”

Drawing parallels to the Indian Premier League (IPL) in cricket, Price speculated that LIV Golf may have drawn inspiration from its franchise-based model. However, he maintains that the current iteration of LIV Golf fails to captivate audiences.

Price lamented the situation, remarking, “Right now, I don’t think the product they’ve got is something people will rush to their TV to watch, and it’s sad because they have so many great players.”

Despite boasting a roster featuring golfing luminaries like Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, and Bryson DeChambeau, LIV Golf’s viewership remains dwarfed by the PGA Tour. In 2023, the PGA Tour amassed over £400 million in TV revenue, while LIV Golf’s estimated earnings stood at a meager £2.4 million.