PGA of America chief Seth Waugh has hit out at the progress of LIV Golf, claiming that the Saudi-funded circuit is yet to have 'accomplished much' in its short history.
When the idea of a breakaway circuit was initially proposed over one year ago, many within professional golf squashed the idea. This included playing voice of the PGA Tour Rory McIlroy, who labelled the plans 'dead in the water' after a number of big names ruled themselves out.
But 12 months on LIV Golf finds itself in its second competitive campaign, and whilst there are still plenty of creases to iron out, the breakaway league is enjoying more success than anyone initially predicted.
One man who is yet to be convinced though is PGA boss Waugh. Playing down the breakaway league's progress under the funding of the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, he told The Times : "They [Saudi Arabia] can fund it for as long as they want to.
"But no matter how much money you have, at some point burning it doesn’t feel very good. I don’t see they are accomplishing much." There is no doubt the rivalry between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour has torn the sport in two, from ugly verbal spats, to legal battles in court.
The two rivalling sides seemingly called a truce at Augusta National though, as 18 LIV stars returned to the PGA Tour for last month's Masters. The same number of rebels are set to return and tee it up at the PGA Championship next week, and Waugh is hoping for similar peace at Oak Hill.
"The good news is the Masters went first and set the stage for, frankly, civility,” he added. “That’s the tone we want — nobody died, right? I lived in a world of disruption my whole business career and disruption is generally healthy.
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"It makes you better, and the game is better.” He went on: "“I don’t think division is good for the game. “Hopefully, it’s good for those individuals that have made whatever decisions they have, but the game has moved on.
"It’s amplified those who have stayed and the ones who have left have largely disappeared from the landscape — in terms of an exposure perspective.” The PGA Championship kicks off in New York next Thursday (May 18), with a whole host of LIV stars including Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson and Cameron Smith all in the field.
