Lee Westwood: Fans losing out because of LIV v PGA Tour
Englishman is making his over-50 debut this week in the United States
Lee Westwood believes the fans are losing out due the ongoing dispute between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, with the Englishman finally making his over-50 tour debut this week at the U.S. Senior Open.
The 51-year-old had to tried to make his debut on the senior circuit last season at The Senior Open Championship, but his application was dismissed due to outstanding fines administered by the DP World Tour.
The rejection email, which was also sent to fellow LIV player Richard Bland, read: “The committee has considered your application and is not willing to approve it, because you have outstanding fines imposed on you by the DP World Tour for breaching its Conflicting Tournament Regulations. You will therefore be removed from the entry list and your entry fee will be refunded with immediate effect.”
With the DP World Tour not being involved in this week’s U.S. Senior Open, Westwood has received an invitation as a recent Ryder Cup participant, while fellow LIV Golf players Bland and Phil Mickelson will also compete at Newport Country Club.
"At the end of the day, we're in the entertainment industry," Westwood said on Tuesday.
"No matter what the level of golf is, I think if the best players at every level don't come together and play, there's only one loser, and that's the fans watching.
"We need to somehow figure a way that we can get the best players playing against each other more often."
LIV players are currently suspended from PGA Tour events despite Public Investment Fund (PIF), the PGA and DP World Tour announcing a framework agreement last June, promising to unify the game of golf, on a global basis.
While talks are still ongoing, any agreement could allow the likes of Westwood. U.S. Open winner Bryson DeChambeau, Mickelson, Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm to play on the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions once again.
The PGA Tour's current policy is that LIV golfers have to wait one year from their last appearance on the Saudi-backed circuit to play on either circuit.
"At any level, it's disappointing they can't resolve it,” he added.
“The Champions Tour for me is important because people have watched me play and other guys out here play for the last 30, 40 years, and they build relationships with those players and they've seen us grow as players and people.
"Yes, people want to see the youngsters, the new guys on the block coming through and contending. But they also want to see the guys they've made a bond with over the last 30, 40 years."