Former World No.1 reveals LIV Golf snub: “I don’t blame them”

Former World No.1 and 2015 PGA Championship winner Jason Day recently shared the reasons behind his decision to stay with the PGA Tour and not join LIV Golf, the Saudi-backed breakaway league that has made headlines since its launch in 2022. Day disclosed that LIV Golf passed on him, considering him “too injured” to offer a contract. Known for his sometimes reserved stance on the controversial league, Day made it clear he wasn’t necessarily opposed to exploring options, but his focus remained on his goals within the PGA Tour.

Speaking to Code Sports Australia, Day explained that he hadn’t outright rejected an approach from LIV Golf. Instead, the league’s representatives informed his agent that his history with injuries was a deterrent. “It was a business move to just go in and explore the potential of what would happen,” he said, adding, “I said [to my agent], ‘No worries, I’m happy with where I’m at, but it’s always nice to know.’ And they [LIV Golf] said, ‘We love Jason, but he’s too injured; he just gets too many injuries.’” Day even found humor in the situation, joking, “I don’t blame them.”

Day, now 36, boasts 13 career victories on the PGA Tour and recently returned to the winner’s circle with a win at the 2023 AT&T Byron Nelson, marking his first victory in five years. Currently ranked No. 36 in the Official World Golf Ranking, Day has not secured a win this season but has demonstrated a high level of consistency, missing only three cuts. His strongest major performance this year came at The Open, where he tied for 13th at Royal Troon.

As Day looks to the future, he expressed optimism about the potential for unity between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. “I’m hoping we join back together because there’s definitely a lot of players on the LIV tour that we miss on the PGA Tour,” he said. Though he has avoided the politics surrounding LIV, he emphasized that he values the competitive balance that comes from having the world’s best players in one arena.

This comment comes amid news from The Sun that the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) have agreed to a $1 billion deal that would grant the PIF an 11% stake in PGA Tour Enterprises, with Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the key figure behind LIV, reportedly poised to take a leadership role as chairman. Notably, Rory McIlroy, one of the PGA Tour’s staunchest supporters, claimed he was unaware of this deal.

For Jason Day, his PGA Tour journey remains a priority. As he looks to add another major title to his record, he is hopeful for a future where golf’s top players, regardless of league affiliations, can compete on a unified stage.