Champion in the ring Billy Horschel and world number six Jon Rahm have attacked Jon Rahm and Billy Horschel, the golf LIV players that will be competing the BMW PGA Championship.
DP World Tour members like Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood are allowed to play in the event at Wentworth following their suspensions from playing in the inaugural tournament of the breakaway backed by Saudi Arabia temporarily extended by appeal.
American Talor Gooch and Mexico’s Abraham Ancer are in the field because they are among the top 60 in the world However, Horschel believes that they’re “hypocritical” in chasing ranking points when they have never expressed an interest or involvement in this competition prior to.
“Even though Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter have been stalwarts for the European Tour, I don’t think those guys really should be here,” Horschel stated.
“I believe that the American players who haven’t been supportive of the DP World Tour should be present. Abraham Ancer, Talor Gooch… You’ve not played in this event and you’ve never backed any of the DP World Tour. What’s the reason you’re here?
“It’s absurd because of the things the guys have said when they claimed they would take a break from golf. It’s pretty hypocritical to go to this area and play golf LIV when your main goal was to spend more time with your family and to play less golf.
“I would not consider Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter hypocrites since they have never stated that they would play less. If they have made public statements that they want to play less are the hypocrites.”
“I am aware that some agents have given some players inaccurate information, and some of them are furious (off) because they were listened to by their agents about this.
“Some of the agents who were involved in this case led them on a dangerous path. They didn’t provide them with all the information they needed and weren’t playing devil’s advocate in the way they ought to have.
“I assure you that if I had been in their place my agent would play devil’s advocate and I could have been devil’s advocate. We did discuss what we would do if LIV had come to us, and what would be the advantages and disadvantages.
“And we came up with the list. There were plenty of cons on the LIV Golf side, and there were a lot of cons in that side of the PGA Tour and DP World Tour. There are many more advantages on this side.”
The presence of LIV players on the field has led to less-ranked DP World Tour members missing out, and Rahm’s buddy Alfredo Garcia-Heredia currently being the first reserve.
“There are many players that have been key for European Tour golf and the Ryder Cup that have a lot of collective years on the European Tour,” Rahm declared. “Them are coming, but I don’t think it’s an issue.
“What I’m not understanding is that the fact that some players have not been interested in playing on this event, the European Tour, have never expressed any interest in participating in this tournament, and are being offered an opportunity to earn World Ranking points and maybe be able to make it into the majors next year.
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