Lee Westwood responds to Rory McIlroy’s ‘peculiar’ comments regarding LIV Golf’s shift to 72-hole tournaments. Westwood dismisses McIlroy’s opinion, stating ‘he’ll change his mind next week.’
We delve into Westwood’s reasoning behind LIV Golf’s decision, including the pursuit of Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points and the desire to better prepare players for major championships. Was McIlroy right?
Also, we examine the impact of LIV Golf’s format change on players, sponsors, and fans, and analyze whether this move will help LIV Golf gain more legitimacy in the golf world.
The LIV golf debate. Westwood versus Mroy, a battle of opinions. In a recent interview, LIIV golf star Lee Westwood shared his thoughts on the ongoing debate surrounding the controversial golf league. He made it clear that he isn’t swayed by the opinions of fellow golfer Rory Mroy, who has been vocal about his stance on LIIV Golf. Westwood’s comments came in response to LIIV Golf’s decision to increase the number of holes played from 54 to 72, bringing it more in line with traditional golf tournaments and the PGA Tour. This move has sparked controversy and raised eyebrows, especially considering that LIIV Golf’s unique selling point was its shorter format. Mroyy’s take a peculiar move. Rory Mroy, who initially opposed LIIV Golf, but has since softened his stance, described the rule change as peculiar. He believes that ranking points could have been obtained with three rounds and that the issue of three versus four rounds wasn’t the primary concern. Mroyy’s main argument is that by adopting a more traditional format, the IV golf is losing its disruptive edge and aligning itself with the rest of the golf world. He questions whether the ranking points will truly benefit the players, especially considering the potential weakness of the fields due to ranking drops. Westwood’s response, a confident prediction. When asked about Mroyy’s comments, Westwood had a confident reply. He stated, “I don’t pay too much attention to what Rory says. He’ll change his mind for next week.” Westwood believes that the rule change is a positive step for the players, sponsors, and fans. It allows for an additional day of golf, which he thinks is a win-win situation. He also highlights that the OWGR points are a significant factor in the decision along with the desire to represent the major championship format more accurately. The impact on players and the future of LIV golf has faced challenges in establishing itself as a serious commercial entity. The lack of ranking points has put players without major exemptions at risk of missing out on future tournaments, potentially jeopardizing their careers. Even players with exemptions have struggled to make an impact at the majors in recent years. Since its launch in 2022, LIIV Golf players have only won two out of 14 majors. The league’s announcement about the rule change included a statement from two-time major winner John Rom, who described it as a win for the players. And here’s where it gets controversial. While Westwood and Rom see the rule change as a positive step, Mroyy’s perspective raises questions. Is LIV Golf sacrificing its unique identity to gain ranking points? And will these points truly benefit the players in the long run? What do you think? Is LIV Golf making the right moves or are they losing their edge? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
