PGA Tour professional According to Peter Malnati, the LIV Golf team model is “forced.”
Peter Malnati, the player director for the PGA Tour, called LIV Golf’s team model “fake” and questioned Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s recently introduced interactive TGL.
Along with Webb Simpson, Jordan Spieth, Adam Scott, Patrick Cantlay, and Tiger Woods, Malnati, 36, is one of six player directors on the PGA Tour.
After shooting a third-round 66 at The Players Championship on Saturday, he was candid about a variety of current issues in the golf world.
Malnati disclosed that, despite a report indicating as much, none of the player directors had been informed of a scheduled meeting with PIF chief Yasir Al-Rumayyan on Monday.
In an attempt to either work out a deal or move on, Scott has urged Woods and the other five player directors to meet with PIF as soon as possible.
However, during his extensive interview at Sawgrass, it was Malnati’s controversial remarks regarding team golf that most people found offensive.
Peter Malnati, PGA Tour player director, takes aim at LIV Golf.
Malnati, who has only won once on the PGA Tour, called LIV Golf’s current team model “forced,” “contrived,” and “fake.” Malnati won the 2015 Sanderson Farms.
In addition, he asked if golfers actually cared who won the team competition.
Malnati said:
“I’m not sure what they’re doing, but it looks to me like a really artificial team structure. Which team won the tournament, in the end, does it really matter to fans? Are there any LIV fans who are interested in the winner? I’m not sure what they want or care about.” That really seems so forced to me. We could, in my opinion, also stage a fabricated team golf event somewhere other than the FedEx Cup competition. I would like to know more about the question of what he actually wants, though. For one thing, I don’t think it’s some manufactured, phony way to add up the scores of random guys and call them a team. That’s not it, in my opinion. I haven’t spoken to him, so I’m not sure, but I assume he’s referring to more things like the Ryder Cup.”
Malnati questions TGL
Malnati was then questioned about his thoughts on Woods and McIlroy’s upcoming tech-enhanced TGL, which will include captains and teams.
He acknowledged that aside from the fact that TGL sold and promoted team franchises, such as those on LIV Golf, he didn’t know much about the company.
The stadium roof of TGL, which was created by McIlroy and Woods, collapsed at the end of 2023, forcing the company to start in 2025.
Malnati said:
Is that the purpose of this TGL endeavor? The only reason I even know that the TGL, or teams within it, are owned by owners is because I saw the Atlanta team, which is owned by the same person who owns the Falcons and is now on the PGA TOUR Enterprises board. It sounds exciting, but I had no idea that’s what TGL was. That’s it, then. Team golf is played. We will strike it within a dome or carry out their plan.”
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