Ernie Els labels LIV format 'circus golf' in rant against PGA Tour commissioner

29/12/2023 17:50

In the midst of a rant aimed at PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, Ernie Els labelled the LIV Golf format as ‘circus golf’.

Els simply isn’t a fan of expanded term team golf campaigns and feels these type of events don’t serve to sate public appetite for ‘real golf’.

The former Major winner also commented on PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan with whom he has had dealings as a course designer.

Els said the people involved in LIV have a love for the game but argued the format isn’t what golf fans want to see.

"I know Yasir, I know some of those Saudi guys,” Els told Sports Illustrated.

“They love the game. But this [LIV format] is circus golf. That's not where I stand.

"Team golf doesn't work. It works maybe in a two-month, three-month happy season. Get these guys together, get teams together and play around the world. But [then] play real golf."

Els demanded that Jay Monahan, the commissioner of the PGA Tour, be fired in the wake of the tense merger with LIV Golf.

The gap between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf increased earlier this month when Jon Rahm became the latest well-known player to leave the PGA Tour in favour of the breakaway tour supported by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia. The Spaniard struck an agreement that might be worth up to £450million and sent shockwaves through the sport which had believed that some sort of truce had been brokered.

When LIV Golf unexpectedly decided to combine with the PGA Tour in June through a proposed equity deal between the pro tours and the breakaway league’s underwriters, it also signalled the apparent end of golf’s huge division. Since the PIF entered the sports world, it has faced strong criticism.

Many, including the PGA Tour, have pointed to Saudi Arabia’s human rights record as a reason for reticence to do business. However, the merger announcement was a shocking move that demoralised many athletes and former players like Els.

The tours’ ongoing legal battle will be put on hold as they work to become one organisation as a result of the merger. An agreed deal will unite the DP World Tour and the commercial operations and rights of the PGA Tour and LIV into a new, unnamed business.

Els is angered by Monahan's conduct in setting up the framework agreement.

"If this happened in my day, in my prime, there's no way he's around," Els said.

"No way. And the board has to change. You do s*** like this. I'm sorry, it's not right.

"Talk to us, tell us what you're going to do, plan on negotiating. Don't just go rogue as a member of the board and come back with a deal and think we're all going to say yes. You're affecting people's lives. You're affecting the professional game. It's just so bad."

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