Viktor Hovland with LIV bombshell out of nowhere on eve of The Open

As the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon approaches, European Ryder Cup and PGA Tour star Viktor Hovland has opened up about his thoughts on LIV Golf. In an interview with The Times of London, Hovland shared his reflections on whether he might regret not joining the Saudi-backed league, which has made waves in the world of elite men’s golf since its inception in 2022.

Hovland, 26, revealed that he had asked his agent to explore a potential move to LIV Golf after Jon Rahm, the 2023 Masters champion, signed a five-year contract with the league for a reported half a billion dollars in December. Rahm’s surprising decision was quickly followed by Tyrrell Hatton’s last-minute switch to LIV Golf, highlighting the allure of the breakaway tour.

Throughout the controversy surrounding LIV Golf, Hovland has maintained a neutral stance. He acknowledged that, aside from Rahm, he might be one of the league’s highest priority targets due to his age and global appeal. His critical comments about PGA Tour boss Jay Monahan also suggested that LIV officials saw potential in convincing him to join.

“If I’m going to say no to something, I want to at least know what it is,” Hovland stated. “A lot of the players I’ve talked to want more transparency. And if you claim you’re representing our best interests, you at least meet with the people involved. Now we’re in this stalemate or whatever you want to call it, but it’s not something that required the prediction of 20 different chess moves.”

As LIV Golf enters its third season, the end of some players’ contracts after the 2025 season raises questions about future signings. Despite the uncertainty, Hovland expressed no hard feelings towards those who joined LIV Golf, understanding the grey areas in the current golf landscape. However, he noted that the league’s product wasn’t appealing enough for him to make the switch.

“I have no hard feelings against the guys that went,” Hovland added. “I completely understand because there are a lot of grey areas at the moment but, for me, I did not think their product was appealing enough to go.”

Hovland emphasized that money isn’t his primary motivation, despite his substantial earnings since joining the Tour in 2020. With $29,337,636 in official prize money to his name, he remains focused on improving his game rather than material gains.

“I’ve already made a lot of money,” he said. “I’m not a very materialistic person. It’s nice to make life easier for yourself, but that’s not what gets me up in the morning. At the end of the day, the question is ‘What’s going to make me a better player?’ And hey, in 20 years, if I’m on the back end of my career, playing LIV Golf wouldn’t be too bad. It might have been a pretty cool opportunity but, right now, it’s something I think I’d probably look back and regret.”

As the PGA Tour navigates potential deals with LIV’s backers, the landscape of professional golf could shift significantly. For Hovland, the decision to stay or go remains a complex one, driven by his passion for the game and his desire to continually improve.