Since entering the LIV Golf League two years ago, Lee Westwood has faced a barrage of criticism from both golf fans and professional players such as Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods. The Mirror dissects them here.
Lee Westwood has hit out at “brainwashed” LIV Golf critics.
In the summer of 2022, the 51-year-old Englishman was among the first players to defect to the contentious league supported by Saudi Arabia. As a result of his decisions, he faced constant criticism from both sports fans and other players. Speaking recently about the criticism received on the Fairway to Heaven podcast, Westwood said, “I’ve learned not to give a s*** what anybody thinks after 30 years of being a professional sportsman.”
Before moving to LIV, Westwood had spent the most of his career favoring the European Tour and had not been impressed by the elite level of the PGA Tour. “I’ve been on the European Tour for almost 30 years, and even though I won twice in the United States, I didn’t join that tour,” he continued.
“I liked playing in Europe and I felt like I belonged there,” he continued. When COVID-19 emerged, many individuals relocated to the United States due to factors like world ranking points and other incentives. However, I remained in Europe and performed at European tour events in order to help them and, I suppose, advance those fields.
“I think a lot of those people are now starting to understand that they were brainwashed by certain people with just purely financial motivations on their mind,” Westwood said, taking aim at his detractors. To really bolster their argument and persuade the public that they were superior to us and that we were bad, they were fabricating these tales and attempting to instill in people these notions about us players who were headed to League of Legends.”
Throughout the years, Westwood has had several arguments concerning the LIV league with golfers and fans. He is a man of few words and always stands by his choices. The Mirror dissects them here.
Brutal McIlroy swipe
Before the Ryder Cup in the previous year, McIlroy stated: “It’s a little weird not having them around, but this week of all weeks it’s going to hit home with them being here.” We won’t miss them as much as they will miss being here. This week has seen them realize that their choice has prevented them from participating, which is difficult.
We’ll see what transpires and whether they will still be a part of the ever-evolving and dynamic golf landscape in the future. I’ve always believed that this week will be the turning point when it becomes clear that they won’t be around.” His remarks were aimed at Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, and Westwood. He also mentioned Henrik Stenson, who lost his position as captain of Team Europe after he joined the LIV Golf setup.
The best thing that happened to the 2023 Euro Ryder Cup team was Henrik going to LIV, McIlroy said in response to an online question about whether he believed Stenson should have been allowed to resume as captain. But neither Westwood nor Poulter found the words to be comforting. With a mocking clap in return, Poulter said, “Guys, chill out. This is a parody fake account. I can assure you that Rory McIlroy wouldn’t claim this is phony. He is a gentleman and wouldn’t make such a statement about a teammate.” “Nice to see the season of goodwill in full swing!” wrote Westwood in the interim. Cheers to a Merry Christmas! My first beer, I remember!”
Westwood bites back
In response to criticism of his choice to play in the LIV series from players such as McIlroy and Woods, Westwood did not hesitate to assert that the PGA had imitated it with its TGL “high-tech golf league.” “I laugh at what the PGA Tour players have come up with,” he said to Eurosport. All it is is a duplicate of LIV’s work.
There are a great deal of hypocrites in the world. Everyone agrees that LIV is “not competitive.” All of them highlight the “short fields” and the non-cut nature of LIV. Now, ironically, they are putting forth 20 events that bear a strong resemblance to LIV. Eventually, hopefully, they’ll all choke on their own words. And hopefully, just as we were, they will be held accountable
In the meantime, Westwood clarified in response to Tiger Woods’ remarks that LIV stars had “turned their back on what allowed them to get to this position”: “The PGA players that aren’t on the LIV tour will talk the PGA Tour up and put down the LIV tour, while the LIV players will talk the LIV tour up.” I don’t focus too much on what other people think. Tiger is free to have his say.
Westwood savages PGA Tour player
Westwood has verbally quarrelled with other players besides McIlroy. When the Englishman used a crying laughing emoji as a response to the OWGR rankings, in which he was not listed, Eddie Pepperell took offense at him on social media in August of last year. The sentiment did not, however, amuse Pepperell, who responded by criticizing Westwood’s choice to compete in the LIV Golf league for enormous sums of money.
“I’ll tell you what’s a joke, Lee; you earning 3X the average annual salary in the UK in one week for shooting +20 over three rounds,” the 33-year-old wrote. To which Westwood replied, “PIP? Did you miss that one? Games on Monday simulators? Missed that one as well?” aiming a blow at the PGA’s Player Impact Program, a bonus fund that awarded the top players on the circuit for 2021.
Pepperell retaliated, saying, “It’s all ridiculous. From you playing like a turnip to the TGL/PIP and earning £100k last week. Professional golf has become a business driven solely by financial gain. It may always have been this way, and I may be naive, but it isn’t really helping to “grow the game” or advance the sport.
The back and forth ensued, but Westwood
refused to back down, later typing back, “You know who’s in charge of this whole thing! When KP was spewing his political head/master s****, you sat directly in front of me, bowing your head like a nodding donkey while @IanJamesPoulter and I asked all the questions at the Players meeting at Wentworth.”
Westwood’s apology from ex-footballer
Westwood and former Sunderland football player Gordon Armstrong got into a public altercation back in 2022 when Armstrong shockingly likened Westwood’s choice to join LIV Golf to match-fixing in the game of golf. “You’ve likened playing for another league to someone who commits a criminal offence of throwing football matches?” yelled Westwood in response.
How wonderfully you grasp reality! Your employers will be delighted to hear this reasoning, I’m sure.” After Jon Rahm said you guys could never spend all your money, Armstrong first responded, “You took loads more money when you really don’t need it, which I never said was criminal. What I said is that it has completely spoilt your reputation as a legend of European Golf,” but he later deleted the tweet.
However, he later returned to apologise for his comments, adding: “Apologies the bit about other footballers went too far,” with Westwood accepting his apology.
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