LIV Golf stars dug out over Masters ‘etiquette’ as European hero calls for ‘restriction’

European Ryder Cup hero Padraig Harrington has brought up concerns regarding the behavior of LIV Golf players during the Masters tournament, particularly focusing on Jon Rahm and his peers’ conduct at Augusta.

Rahm, among 12 other LIV Golf stars, participated in the April event, returning as the defending champion. However, his performance this time fell short, finishing 20 shots behind champion Scottie Scheffler, tied for 45th place at nine-over-par.

Throughout the tournament, Rahm’s frustrations were palpable, especially during the challenging conditions of the first two rounds. Notably, Rahm displayed visible frustration on the 18th tee during the first round, venting expletives after missing the fairway. Tyrrell Hatton, Rahm’s teammate, also expressed frustration, uttering profanity during his third round.

After their transition to the Saudi circuit earlier in the year, both Rahm and Hatton were informed they wouldn’t face penalties for swearing on the course, in contrast to the PGA Tour’s regulations.

Observing the language used by LIV Golf players at the season’s opening major, their former European Ryder Cup captain Harrington expressed his disapproval. He remarked on the Rough Cut Podcast, “There was quite a bit of – on the Masters last week, there was an awful lot of extra expletives from LIV players.”

Harrington continued, emphasizing his adherence to golf etiquette and expressing hope that players on the Saudi-backed circuit would clean up their language. He stated, “Yeah, there’s no hold back on LIV on that and maybe, you know, that’s something that I don’t want to see going into the game.”

While Harrington acknowledges the occasional outburst on the course, he stressed the need for moderation. He highlighted the importance of respecting the game’s etiquette and avoiding damage to the course or disruption to playing partners.

In essence, while some level of frustration is expected in competitive sports, Harrington advocates for a more restrained approach, particularly concerning language and behavior on the golf course.