Billy Horschel Takes Exception to Comments Made by LIV Tour Players, Can No Longer Remain ‘Diplomatic’

PGA Tour golfer Billy Horschel has heard enough from players who defected for the Saudi-backed LIV Tour. 

Over the past several weeks, multiple big-name players have left the PGA Tour to join the big payday that is the LIV Tour. A war of words has commenced from both sides, with tensions clearly running high as the LIV Tour gets underway. 

Ahead of the Scottish Open, Horschel defended PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and was highly critical of some of the comments made by golfers who joined the LIV Tour. 

“I’ve been really frustrated by it because there’s a lot of guys that are hypocrites, that aren’t telling the truth, that are lying about some things, that I can’t stand to sit here anymore and be diplomatic about it, as I have been in the past," Horschel said. "I don’t fault anyone for going to play the LIV Tour. I don’t have any ill will toward anyone going to play the LIV Tour. I have ill will towards the comments that they’ve made.”

“Comments saying that Jay Monahan doesn't listen to the PGA Tour, the PGA Tour doesn't listen to us. Jay Monahan and everyone at headquarters is the PGA Tour,” Horschel continued. “They work tirelessly for us to reap the financial rewards and have all the opportunities that we have. At the same time, I am one of 200-plus members of the PGA Tour. I am the PGA Tour, just as 200 other members are the PGA Tour. So when you are taking shots at the PGA Tour and Jay Monahan, you're just not taking shots at them, you're taking shots at us. And to say that they don’t listen is a complete farce.”

 

There have been numerous players on the LIV Tour who have mentioned being able to play less golf on the new tour, saying that joining the LIV Tour would mean spending more time with their families. On Tuesday, Horschel took offense to those comments, saying that the PGA Tour only asks for 15 events per year. 

“I’m just tired of these comments,” Horschel said. “Go play your LIV Tour and forget about the PGA Tour. You didn’t want to support the PGA Tour going forward. Don’t tell me you're going to play LIV when they go to 14 events and then go play in 15 events under the PGA Tour and play in 29 . That’s not a smaller schedule. You’re not playing less. 

LIV golfers were allowed to play in June’s U.S. Open, while the British Open announced that the tournament will honor the exemptions for all players for July’s Open Championship at St. Andrews.