Nick Faldo criticized LIV Golf, claiming its players “have gone soft” due to the tour’s no-cut format, which guarantees earnings and diminishes competitiveness. In an interview, he emphasized that the professional golf experience should involve the fear of failure, which he believes fosters true sportsmanship. Faldo questioned LIV’s business model, arguing that lesser-known players are significantly overpaid without making an impact in golf. Despite acknowledging players’ financial gains, he pointed out dwindling viewership numbers compared to traditional sports, suggesting it’s damaging golf’s reputation. Faldo continues to express skepticism about LIV’s long-term viability and impact on the sport.
Nick Faldo at the 2023 PNC Championship.
Getty Images
Nick Faldo argues that LIV Golf players “have grown soft” due to the absence of a cut in their tournaments and raises concerns about the league’s business strategy, continuing his criticisms as it embarks on its fourth season.
In an interview with Brian T. Smith from TalkSport, the six-time major champion insisted that LIV Golf should focus on its own path when considering a possible merger between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, which finances LIV. However, his most critical remarks were aimed at LIV’s no-cut structure, which ensures its players receive payment.
“I witnessed it frequently,” Faldo told TalkSport. “The players would celebrate — I made the cut, giving me a shot at victory. That’s far more significant than, ‘Oh, thank you very much. I’ll stroll around for 54 holes and pocket a guaranteed check.’ That’s not sport. Such an environment isn’t beneficial for you.”
“Sport is incredibly challenging. The fear of failure is just as motivating as the desire to win. When you’re on a tour without the possibility of failing, you simply can’t fail. It softens you up. I believe some of those players have indeed grown soft.”
Interestingly, following the launch of LIV, the PGA Tour has also shifted some events to a no-cut format. Currently, eight tournaments are played this way — the Sentry, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, the RBC Heritage, the Truist Championship, the Travelers Championship, the FedEx St. Jude Championship, the BMW Championship, and the Tour Championship.
During his discussion with TalkSport, Faldo expressed skepticism about LIV’s business model, labeling its players as “the most fortunate individuals on earth.”
“I claim that the players are the most fortunate because you have individuals we hardly recognize, who have never won, participating in $20 million tournaments,” Faldo remarked.
“You’ve got veterans in their careers earning ten times what they would typically make on tour, guaranteed. Then there are a couple of players earning vast sums without significantly impacting the sport. So, hey, good luck to them. Let them pursue their own goals.”
These remarks are a continuation of Faldo’s criticisms towards LIV. Before the 2023 Masters, he shared this perspective in an interview with the Telegraph:
“I’m not opposed to them,” Faldo stated. “They believed the grass was greener on their side. Fair enough. My concerns arise when he [Norman] claims that this endeavor is to grow the game of golf. We’ve been in this for over 40 years, so hold on, buddy. The truth is they received an outrageous cash offer, which for some was the right decision.”
‘Pickleball was bigger than their 2 stars’: Nick Faldo again slams LIV Golf
Nick Piastowski
“But as we mentioned, it’s gone very quiet. So good luck with trying to change the game.”
Last September, during an interview with the PA News Agency, Faldo criticized LIV’s television ratings, seemingly referencing a tweet claiming that the CW Network’s airing of LIV Golf’s Greenbrier tournament attracted fewer viewers than ESPN’s broadcast of a pickleball event. In the Greenbrier tournament, Brooks Koepka emerged victorious over Jon Rahm in a playoff.
“I think we’re now starting to see that, wow, they’ve had three seasons, and they haven’t made much of an impact on the [viewing] figures,” Faldo remarked in the story. “Ironically, pickleball outperformed their two stars in a playoff, which is the kind of excitement everyone craves. But it was defeated in viewership by pickleball.”
“In the end, it appears that the players are having the last laugh as they are rewarded so generously, either through large prize funds or appearance fees, yet they are not shifting the needle. And I don’t foresee that changing because, as we know, it has severely affected the public’s perception of golf. I still converse with my producer friends in television, and viewers are simply not tuning in. It has negatively influenced the public’s attitude towards golf.”
Since Faldo’s remarks about television viewership, LIV has transitioned its broadcasts to the Fox network.
“>