Tiger Woods’ former coach Hank Haney is active on social media and regularly weighs in on the controversy between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour. On Tuesday, September 17, Haney addressed recent news about the negotiations between the two tours.
According to a Bloomberg report about the negotiations between Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and the PGA Tour, some PGA Tour players feel that LIV Golf players should return the money they received if they want to be reinstated.
Hank Haney criticized this stance, writing on X (formerly Twitter):
“Are the same PGA Tour players going to give back all the extra money they made because the LIV tour/players caused the PGA Tour purses to go up dramatically? As they like to say, can’t have your cake and eat it too.”
In a subsequent post, Tiger Woods’ former coach opined that no player would return the money. Haney said the players knew the risks when they decided to take the plunge. He wrote:
“No one who went to LIV would ever give their money back, they took a chance, got paid and fully knew the consequences of their decisions, which included the good and the bad. Guaranteed long term financial security was worth it to them for all the negativity that came with it.”
What does the report say about LIV players?
The Bloomberg report cites sources close to the negotiations between the PIF and the PGA Tour but does not reveal their identities. Reports indicate that the recent meeting in New York was close to a final agreement but the issue of player reinstatement remains unresolved.
The most contentious issue is reportedly the case of Jon Rahm. Rahm signed with LIV Golf in December 2023 for a reported sum between $300 million to $600 million, making him the world’s highest-paid athlete of the year according to Forbes.
The source cited in the report claims some players believe Rahm and other current LIV Golf stars should return the money they received for joining the breakaway league.
Other options being considered include paying fines to gain access to PGA Tour events, donating to charity, or forgoing future financial benefits for their Tour results. Rahm and the rest of the players have reportedly rejected such options according to the report.
Another complex issue in the negotiations is the possibility of PGA Tour players agreeing to participate in events outside the United States. American players have traditionally been reluctant to have extensive schedules outside their country.
LIV Golf regularly hosts tournaments around the world. The Saudi-backed league is nearing the end of the 2024 season with the Team Championship and has already announced the first four events of the 2025 calendar.
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Edited by Prathik BR
