Three-time Major champion Padraig Harrington has a bone to pick with a selection of LIV Golf players.
And no, it’s not because they defected to the breakaway circuit.
The Irishman is not a fan of the foul language being used on the course by some of the league’s biggest names, which includes the likes of Tyrrell Hatton and Jon Rahm.
The duo are well known for their fiery tempers and outbursts at tournaments, with hot mics picking up expletives from the pair at last month’s Masters Tournament – something Harrington wasn’t impressed by.
“There was quite a bit of — on the Masters last week, there was an awful lot of extra expletives from LIV players,” Harrington said on Peter Finch’s Rough Cut podcast.
“And clearly LIV players don’t get fined for expletives, and I’m not saying they’re encouraged, but they’re certainly not discouraged from doing it. So it was interesting that there was those players who might have held back in the past who are now LIV players were letting go fully.
“I don’t mind the odd bit of cursing and a bit of that, but it was a little — you know, you got to — there’s got to be some sort of restriction on it in some way. So that was interesting. I’m just saying that that’s not a big deal or anything.”
Golfers on the LIV Golf League are not sanctioned for using foul language during tournament play, while the PGA Tour prohibits players from constant use of profanities.
“Yeah, there’s no hold back on LIV on that and maybe, you know, that’s something that I don’t want to see going into the game,” he added.
“Look, I’m not against the players breaking a golf club. My — when I came out in the game, I would have been very, very strong — and I still am strong on the etiquette of the game.
“And I wouldn’t break a club and I would certainly try not to curse or do any of that sort of stuff. But I’ve mellowed a bit that I don’t mind what any other player does as long as he doesn’t damage the golf course or affect his playing partners. So I have no problem.
“If another player wants to break 14 clubs, I’ll actually laugh at him. It’s no problem. But I’m not happy if he decides to smash up a piece of ground on the golf course, you know. So anything you want to do to yourself, well … that’s fine.
“And as I said, I think most players find it funny when we see another player losing the head. But there definitely has to be some moderation on it. There was a little bit too much of it.”
