Viktor Hovland Thrashes PGA Tour’s ‘Money’ Fixation in a Scathing Attack: ‘Little Bit Sad’
LIV Golf has brought the dough back into the game. An unprecedented amount of money has been thrown at top players. The PGA Tour commissioner, Jay Monahan, too did the same to counter the LIV’s threat. But Viktor Hovland, who earned $35 million last year, remains unconvinced. Rather, he sees a red flag in golf’s obsession with cash at this moment.
Terming the current situation as “a little sad” and “comical” at the same time, Hovland said, winning a tournament solely for the money feels a little “soulless.” Hovland would rather win a trophy that has history and a legacy attached to it than vie for only the big bucks on Sunday. Speaking to Claude Harmon III on the Son of a Butch podcast, the reigning Tour Champion also hinted at why he rejected LIV’s proposal.
Viktor Hovland would rather have his name in history than earn millions
The world No. 4 emphasized that money is important but not his foremost concern. Hovland considers the competition that LIV has brought to be beneficial. But the PGA Tour has also increased the purse size by a huge margin, in addition to bringing in Signature events. Consequently, as an aftereffect, the conversation circulates around it, which the Norwegian feels should stop.
“But it seems to have been a response from the PGA Tour side that, okay, we’re going to [put more money]. It’s just more talk about the money, and I think that’s a little bit sad.” Notably, the Tour lost its long-time sponsor, Honda, last year. Wells Fargo and Farmers Insurance will also leave after their current contracts end. The undue pressure on the sponsors has left them irate, as many insiders pointed out.
