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ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — The R&A wanted to keep attention on the 150th anniversary of The Open this week and off the ongoing dispute between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf for the best players in the world.
The R&A wasn’t exactly subtle in trying to make sure that happened. It didn’t invite LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman, a two-time Open winner, to St. Andrews for the celebration. It also didn’t include a single LIV player in the pre-tournament news conference schedule, nor the featured pairings for the opening round Thursday.
That didn’t stop many LIV players from performing quite well on the Old Course. Among them: Dustin Johnson (4-under 68), Lee Westwood (4-under 68), Talor Gooch (4-under 68), Ian Poulter (3-under 69), Bryson DeChambeau (3-under 69), and Scott Vincent (3-under 69).
Round 1 of The Open ✅#LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/exqTaU2Wo2
— LIV Golf (@LIVGolfInv) July 14, 2022
Westwood, who is attempting to win his first major at age 49, said he received a warm reception from fans in Scotland.
“I think the media are stoking it up and doing as much as they can to aid that,” Westwood said of the rift between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour. “I think the general public just wants to go out there and see good golf no matter where it’s being played or who’s playing it.”
Westwood also was asked about Tiger Woods’ comment that players who jumped to LIV Golf had “turned their backs” on the PGA Tour.
“He’s got a vested interest, hasn’t he?” Westwood said. “The LIV players will talk up LIV. The PGA Tour players that aren’t on the LIV tour will talk the PGA Tour up and put down the LIV tour.”
Some of LIV Golf’s bigger stars had a tougher time getting around the Old Course, including Phil Mickelson (even-par 72), Patrick Reed (even-par 72), Brooks Koepka (1-over 73) and Sergio Garcia (3-over 75).
Poulter, from England, is a longtime European Ryder Cup fan favorite. There were a couple of fans who booed him before his opening tee shot, but Poulter insisted he didn’t hear them. He also…
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Source : espn
