On this week’s episode of GOLF’s Subpar Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz are joined by 3-time PGA Tour winner Hudson Swafford for an exclusive interview. The former LIV Golf player talks his initial decision to join the rival league, what path he may have to rejoining the PGA Tour and what to expect when the contracts of LIV’s biggest stars expire following the 2026 season.
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34 Comments
I have only ever watched one LIV event (Doral) and wasn’t impressed. As for getting back to the PGA Tour……. That will be a hard sell. How do they integrate back into the lineup? Will there be a Q School situation? With less and less spots at each event this will be a tricky. The players that stuck it out will have to be involved in that decision, somehow.
Great interview fellas, appreciate both tours because it is elite level golf.
His wife has given birth twice more since Colt asked him about joining LIV.
The narrative that the Pay Four is struggling have been put to bed with today's numbers.
So basically he left because he was worried about his future and decided it was a softer place economically. It wasn’t about growing the game and doing good in the world. It wasn’t to chase a higher form of competition. It’s basically what everyone always said it was about – money. Unfortunately, had he stayed he would probably still be playing, would have probably gotten a medical exemption and would have been better supported.
Liv sucks, bottom line.
Solid interview. Keep the stache Sleeze!
The decision didn’t work out in the end. It may have ended his pro golf career. Careful what you ask for.
Whew…..what day is it??…..actually slipped into a coma listening to Swafford answer these questions.
I am sure Hudson is a very nice person but he wasnt a huge asset on the PGA Tour when he was playing well…he has no value currently to either tour.
In regards to the statement a sponsor "should be able to do what they want…" I dont see Pepsi telling Patrick Mahomes to throw it across the middle more or who the Yankees should draft next. Its a ridiculous statement.
They should make it a true playoff like other sports. Top 70 and they all start at zero. Top fifty of tournament advance to next, then top 30.
They made a decision, put on your big boy pants and live by the repercussions, sucks to be them, no sympathy
Someone just say, I left for the money. No one could blame them.
Why does he think the pga tour should allow guys to come and go as they please? Cherry picking events as he said. Scottie was right, go ask those guys.
He clearly doesn't understand the basic economics of the game of golf. You can't play fewer tournaments that are shorter in length (3 rounds vs 4) with less air time (shot gun start 4.5 hours of TV time vs PGA with 8 hours of TV time) and make more money. TV ad revenue does not work that way nor does sponsorship money. That is the reason why PGA tour players are required to play so many tournaments.
As each year goes by, LIV players become less and less relevant. The great players who go to LIV do well in the majors for a year and then drop off (see Brooks and Rahm) with Bryson as the lone exception. TV ratings for the PGA have been very good this year and trounced LIV events in head to head events in the same time zone even vs 2nd tier PGA events. This is why there won't be unification. The PGA doesn't need them now and will need them even less with each passing year.
If he wasn’t dropped by LIV, would he be crying now? Get better. You left the PGA. SUCKED at LIV.
The problem is you. You aren’t good enough to be on either tour. Maybe when interest rates lower you can get into mortgages.
I tried to watch LIV a few times, but it was like watching the USFL. It felt very minor league.
You did the crime you do the time. You left the PGA tour voluntarily, now someone else has your place.
there should be no signature events. all events should pay similiar prizes. majors and players should be the only elevated events purse wise. all full field events. every player should have to play all tourneys over a 5 year period.
If soccer players can play a few seasons in one league, finish their contract, then join another with no drama, why can’t golfers do the same? The PGA Tour already lets its members play the majors — none of which are PGA-run — and even allows cross-play inside its own U.S. ecosystem: Korn Ferry Tour players like Neal Shipley have teed it up in PGA Tour events in the same year. Players also move between DP World Tour & PGA Tour, KFT & PGA Tour, Champions Tour & PGA Tour, and now TGL & PGA Tour with no issue — simply because it’s all PGA-controlled. If that’s fine internally, blocking similar freedom with other tours isn’t about protecting the sport, it’s just anti-competitive.
Hudson who???
Can’t believe you gave this clown any airtime. You can’t be that desperate for guests you’re a solid broadcaster and one of my favorites on CBS. This muppet Swafford better be paying you some of them Saudi COINS because he’s the most delusional weapon I’ve ever heard. Yeah leave a tour, sue them, then ask to be friends. Name me any company in the real world that would allow that to happen. But I guess the Mickey Mouse PGA tour isn’t a real company so he’ll probably be on the PAC within a year.
Why are you interviewing a real estate agent? I thought this was a golf podcast?
Hudson Swafford should voice the next Forest Gump movie
Hudson Swafford will be caught up in an internet scam in his old age
Hudson “I’m not involved in any talks”. I’m baffled as to why this titan of the real estate industry hasn’t been asked to throw his dunce hat in the ring.
Congrats to Hudson Swafford for being one of the only guys who went to LIV who got much the best of it. It worked out perfectly for him. I guess he would get 8 to 10 million? I have no idea, but it had to be something like that. Kevin Na was on Colin Cowherd's show yesterday, and you can tell this is a scam on the public to try to avoid backlash when these players are allowed back. If enough people talk about it, then the public, other players, and even media will not be so harsh when these guys are allowed back. Newsflash…..nobody wants these players back….at all. They made their choice. I would even say it would be ok to not let Bryson and Rahm back. Send a message or it can happen again.
The Sunday political shows used to do this crap months before we bombed countries or went to war….they would trot people out bad-mouthing the country they were planning to invade. It is propaganda and I see right through this stuff. What are the odds that you get a Hudson Swafford and Kevin Na within days on these interviews? I mean, the odds are zero that this wasn't organic. But solid congrats on bashing Rory for missing events. That is legit commentary. Good stuff. I just sense something is up with seeing both Kevin Na and Hudson Swafford mysteriously show up out of absolutely nowhere. These guys are definitely in Chapter Eight in the book of Who Cares? On a side not…didn't Pavon skip a few tourneys earlier in the year…like Signature Events? And blew his card…lol. Edit…I could be a bit off on this. Maybe this interview was organic (maybe not), but there is no way Colin Cowherd just decided to interview Kevin Na out of the blue without a huge agenda by somebody. No chance. This Hudson Swafford interview was good. He brought some good info and perspective.
Hudson's argument about the PGA tour only needing 54 holes for world ranking points was way off. I mean, imagine him having that argument with people? It appears he actually argued that because the PGA tour events only need 54 holes that this made LIV's 54 hole tournaments legit. Crazy talk. But he made some pretty good points other than that…..gotta have a hard cut, etc.
The only part of team golf that is remotely interesting at all is when you have a journeyman at the Zurich Classic who can somehow fluke out a tour card and PGA Tour win. That is some of the best stuff in golf, if only for a week.
Really loved loved loved when you asked Hudson about his all-time Georgia Bulldog top 5 college golf team. I mean, hearing some of these names that guys like me have NEVER heard of, who were great golfers in college but fell through the cracks is great to listen to. I would like to see a show on the all-time college team that never had great success in the pros, and have these guys talk about 20 or more players one episode.
One of your best episodes, actually. It shocked me. I had a a whole marathon post bashing it because of the headline and had to go in and make a bunch of edits….then just deleted. Great episode, great guest, great questions, and I wish it could have been another hour. Chemistry was also very good.
Proof that anyone can be a “realtor”.🤦🏼♂
Maybe you should have Hudson back for a second interview, and he can come up with answers that make sense. He sued the Tour…why should they give a sh## if he ever comes back? LIV was not created for players like him, his career is collateral damage in a bigger fight. Know your place.
Seems like this guy has zero integrity. Kinda like these two podcasters.