Australian golfer Matt Jones has taken a swipe at PGA loyalists ahead of LIV Golf’s inaugural Adelaide tournament, claiming some of his rivals were “bitter and jealous” that Greg Norman’s Saudi-backed circuit didn’t approach them.
America’s elite professional tour remains locked in an ugly feud with the breakaway league, with several of Jones’ former colleagues speaking out against those how jumped ship and joined the rebel tour.
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The two-time Australian Open winner, the first Aussie to sign with LIV Golf, suggested some of the PGA stars were feeling “a little upset” they weren’t invited to defect.
“Not one person I know was being critical, they might have been a little upset or jealous. I think there‘s a lot of that,” Jones told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“Maybe they didn‘t get contacted or a chance to do it – and then they were bitter and jealous.
“In hindsight, they‘ve got nothing to worry about because of the purses they’re playing for (in the PGA Tour’s elevated events).”
Jones, a member of Cameron Smith’s All-Australian team Ripper GC, will compete in this weekend’s LIV Golf Adelaide event, a three-day tournament commencing on Friday, with $37 million worth of prize money to be won.
The 42-year-old criticised the PGA Tour’s failure to bring a regular event to Australian shores, claiming LIV Golf could easily accommodate extra events down under. The rebel circuit is already considering bringing a second tournament to Australia in 2024.
“We’ve been to China, we’ve been to South Korea, we’ve been to Japan now. The PGA Tour is not dumb. They know where the money is and where the markets are to make money. And that’s what they’re all about,” Jones told the publication.
“I think it’s a shame it hasn’t happened. I know there’s been multiple conversations from certain Aussie players to try to get one down here and I know it’s never happened. I can’t see it happening now.”
Norman is adamant the critics, apart from the PGA Tour, have been silenced and LIV Golf has strengthened its presence four tournaments into its second season.
“We‘re doing the right thing for players. We’re doing the right thing for the game of golf,” Norman said.
“Do we have headwinds? 100 per cent we do. Will those headwinds dissipate and go away? Yeah, they will.
“It’s not even 12 months since we launched … so just to see what we’ve created within the family of LIV … has really hit me pretty hard, emotionally, quite honestly. It’s a testament to understanding what people wanted.
“And our product’s not gonna go anywhere. We‘re gonna keep going, we’re gonna keep innovating. We just keep growing.”
