“Good but hoping $700,000,000 won’t change his mind” – Viktor Hovland’s recent comments on PGA vs LIV draws mixed reactions from fans
Viktor Hovland recently opened up about his opinions on the game of golf, saying that the PGA Tour and LIV Golf saga has made the sport quite ‘soulless’. The World No. 4 spoke about the competition between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour and what the future of golf will hold. Speaking on Butch Harmon’s podcast, Son of a Butch, Viktor Hovland said that money has started having quite a big stake in the game, becoming a driving force for most. He said according to Golf.com:
“Obviously the LIV is bringing in a lot of money to the sport and there’s a lot of competition, which I think is good. But it seems to have been a response from the PGA Tour’s side, that OK, we’re going to — it’s just more talk about the money and I think that’s a little bit sad.”
Fans had mixed reactions to Hovland’s comments. Some fans did agree that money was the driving force behind the need to play for many golfers. However, some others think that the long-standing tradition of PGA Tour events, especially the Majors, is what drives audiences to watch golf.
“Good but hoping 700 mil wont change his mind,” one fan wrote.
Good but hoping 700 mil wont change his mind
— jon nepomuceno (@jonpogi) March 2, 2024
“Hanging onto history is why PGA Tour had average age 64 TV audience,” another fan wrote.
Hanging onto history is why PGA Tour had average age 64 TV audience.
Evolve.
— Sekrah (@sekrah) March 2, 2024
Here are some more reactions:
Agree 100%, but this is exactly the stance Cam Smith took before the check wasn’t big enough https://t.co/hkecgSeSMX
— powerpoint artist (@spinninlogos) March 2, 2024
I think that he’s right, but how do you make the non-major events more interesting? Bigger purses don’t work, or so it seems.
Is shortening the season or having fewer events part of the answer for the PGAT?— PoochDaddy (@PaulDer03945565) March 2, 2024
100% spot on.
— Ben Hogan 1953 (@TinCup2020) March 2, 2024
Rahm said the same thing until they threw $400M in his face. https://t.co/KrX5sv42D3
— Justen Booket (@Jbook08) March 2, 2024
Spot on by Viktor. There is not a single person on here who can say without looking it up how much money he won last year. But you know the run he went on last year to win the Tour Champ. You know he won Memorial. And you know he had a great chance at the PGA
— Joe Cafiero (@JoeCafieroGR) March 2, 2024
I think most fans will agree with Viktor. Do these guys deserve good money? Yes. But when you only chase money and take unrealistic evaluations where you earn more than the top soccer, football, or baseball players in the world for a niche sport. Then you’ve lost the plot.
— Patrick (@panderson1988) March 2, 2024
He’s makes a good point.
LIV has removed the grind & accomplishing something on merit, it’s taken passion & grit out of the game.
Making cuts & climbing the ladder was a palpable feeling when new players accomplished it. LIV has none of that, PGA losing it at the top.— Sir Larry (@LarryTheSir) March 2, 2024
Nobody cares who wins the Memorial, ppl care about majors, that’s it, that’s the list… https://t.co/SOLHKNjYcV
— MVP (@sparks1404) March 2, 2024
Viktor Hovland calls pro golf ‘soulless’ due to PGA Tour and LIV Golf tussle
Viktor Hovland said that it is the bigger tournaments that are starting to matter more, especially the Majors, the Memorial Tournament, the Players and other such big events. He however, pointed out that if golfers are only remembering the prize purse and not the game itself, then the game has reached a critical point.
“Yeah, that’s pretty cool. Obviously the paycheck is nice as well, but that’s — if that’s what you’re remembering by the end of the week, I kind of — that feels a little bit soulless, in my opinion. So, you know, it’s, yeah. I don’t know what the path forward is, to be honest. It’s been a little sad, but I try not to think about it too much,” Hovland said during the same podcast. For Viktor Hovland, the future of golf is quite uncertain. However, he hopes that a resolution can be found, and that the top golfers are able to play in the best tournaments across the world.
