The PGA Tour-LIV Golf cut up has been the topic of many a debate.
Nevertheless what isn’t doubtful is the majors are the one time the perfect golfers on the planet all lock horns.
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Forward of the third main of the 12 months – on maybe the hardest course on the US Open circuit – nine-time main champion Gary Participant has reopened the controversy concerning the worth of wins.
Exterior of the majors Participant believes golf event winners – on either side of the divide – ought to have an asterisk hooked up to their names as a result of world’s main professionals being divided by rival Excursions.
In an unique talkSPORT interview with Jim White, 1965 US Open champion Participant insisted that though the usual of the sport in in a great place, having elite gamers on the PGA Tour and LIV Golf is damaging the game.
World No 1 Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy stay the headline acts for the PGA Tour, whereas the LIV Golf steady consists of the likes of Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm, each in-form main champions.
“Golf could be very wholesome in the meanwhile, but when solely LIV Golf and the traditional tour may get collectively, as a result of confrontation isn’t good,” stated Participant, a nine-time main champion.
“Now here is the factor. Whenever you win a golf event immediately, you’ll be able to’t say that you simply gained a event with the world’s greatest gamers, as a result of half are on the LIV Golf tour and half are on the common tour.
“So there must be an asterisk once you win a event. Should you win a significant, that is completely different. Nevertheless it’s a pity it is obtained to this.”
It isn’t the primary time {that a} golf professional has known as for asterisks to be hooked up to event victories, with LIV Golf star Talor Gooch even questioning the validity of a Masters win.
In an interview with Australian Golf Digest final 12 months, Gooch stated: “If Rory McIlroy goes and completes his Grand Slam with out a number of the greatest gamers on the planet, there’s simply going to be an asterisk.
“It is simply the fact. I feel all people wins every time the majors determine a solution to get the most effective gamers on the planet there.”
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McIlroy brushed apart Gooch’s feedback and believed his quotes had probably been taken out of context. “I’ll give him the good thing about the doubt,” he stated.
And an asterisk wouldn’t have been in McIlroy’s ideas when he lastly accomplished a profession Grand Slam of majors at Augusta in April following an epic final-day battle with Justin Rose.
He joined an elite group of six males, together with Participant, to have gained all 4 main crowns, and Participant acknowledged McIlroy’s achievement whereas additionally paying tribute to Rose.
Requested if he was delighted to see McIlroy add his identify to the Grand Slam membership, Participant stated: “Sure, completely. He’s accomplished the set, he is a beautiful golfer and a superb younger man.
“After which we’ve got Justin Rose, who was victorious in defeat. He missed a brief putt to win the Masters, and I felt very sorry for him as a result of I have been second 3 times. Solely your spouse and your canine know who’s second, sadly!
“He is a beautiful younger man as effectively. So isn’t that great? First and second in The Masters each from Britain.”
McIlroy’s kind has taken a dip since he left Augusta Nationwide with a priceless Inexperienced Jacket, with Scheffler the bookies favourite to win this week’s US Open at Oakmont.
Scheffler claimed the third main of his profession at Qual Hole in successful the PGA Championship however is anticipated to face a stiff problem.
A trio of LIV Golf stars in defending champion DeChambeau, 2021 winner Rahm, and an in-form Joaquin Niemann, a four-time champion this season.
Though many LIV Golf followers insist the present Official World Golf Rankings will not be match for function, Participant has no doubts over who’s at present the most effective golfer on the planet.
“Scottie Scheffler is for sure the most effective participant on the planet immediately,” the South African legend stated.
“Lee Trevino, who’s an excellent decide, was telling me that he watched him hitting balls the opposite day. He stated ‘he’s so good’, and it’s great to see that.”