Viktor Hovland places ‘egocentric’ PGA Tour management on blast

Like many different gamers, followers, and reporters alike, Viktor Hovland believes the state {of professional} golf is in flux.

He feels LIV Golf just isn’t for him, but understands why Jon Rahm bolted to the Saudi-backed tour. Hovland, in the meantime, has dedicated to 6 PGA Tour occasions all through 2024.

However the 26-year-old Norwegian has points with the tour he performs on.

“It might be a bit foolish to criticize the gamers for leaving,” Hovland mentioned on the Norwegian Fore! Podcast.

“In spite of everything, you solely hear one angle within the media, and there are fairly just a few completely different components occurring on the identical time right here. I completely perceive why [Rahm] left. That’s loads, some huge cash. And a minimum of when the administration of the PGA Tour has carried out such a nasty job.”

Hovland just isn’t the primary participant to criticize PGA Tour brass over the previous 12 months. Tiger Woods detailed his ‘frustration’ with the tour within the wake of the Jun. 6, 2023, framework settlement—which dismissed all lawsuits between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Funding Fund (PIF) and put the 2 sides on a path to strike an settlement by the tip of the 12 months.

Picture by Tracy Wilcox/Getty Pictures

Plus, 21 PGA Tour gamers lately employed attorneys, hoping to hunt extra solutions and transparency as these negotiations proceed.

“Simply to be clear: I’m not complaining concerning the place I’m in, and I’m very grateful for every part,” Hovland added.

“However the administration has not carried out an excellent job. They nearly see the gamers as labor, and never as a part of the members. In spite of everything, we’re the PGA Tour. With out the gamers, there’s nothing.”

After Rahm’s departure to LIV Golf, Hovland’s title surfaced as one other participant prone to bolt. However he has dedicated to taking part in at The Sentry—the primary occasion of the 2024 PGA Tour season—in Maui. Then, in February, Hovland will tee it up on the AT&T Pebble Seashore Professional-Am, the Waste Administration Phoenix Open, and the Genesis Invitational at Riviera.

The Sentry, Pebble Seashore, and Riviera represent three of the eight Signature Occasions in 2024, that includes improved facilities and hospitality for gamers and households. In addition they are no-cut occasions with smaller fields—like LIV Golf—and can award $4 million to the winner. Every Signature Occasion has a $20 million purse.

“You want the competitors with 150 gamers and a lower,” Hovland mentioned.

Picture by Michael Wade/Getty Pictures

“If you happen to don’t play effectively sufficient, you’re out. There’s something about it that makes your sport a bit sharper. If I had gone to LIV, I don’t suppose I’d have turn into a greater golfer.”

Hovland, the reigning FedEx Cup champion, is presently the fourth-ranked participant on this planet. He helped lead Workforce Europe to a convincing Ryder Cup victory this previous September and now has his eyes set on claiming a significant championship in 2024.

However he additionally hopes the PGA Tour modifications its methods in 2024, maybe invoking extra transparency in its decision-making processes.

“Once you get to see what occurs behind closed doorways, how the administration truly makes choices, which aren’t within the gamers’ finest curiosity, however finest for themselves and what they suppose is finest,” Hovland mentioned.

“They’re businessmen who say that, ‘No, it ought to appear to be this and that.’ There’s a substantial amount of conceitedness behind all of it.”

Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By means of. Remember to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You’ll be able to observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as effectively.