Martin Kaymer hits a shot in April on the LIV Golf occasion in Singapore.
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Martin Kaymer says he’s questioning in regards to the response of those that criticized him for becoming a member of Saudi-backed LIV Golf — within the wake of the proposed bombshell settlement among the many similar Saudis, the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour.
“I’m really looking forward now to the reaction of all the people who said, ‘We don’t want to play for blood money. … ‘We don’t want to sell our soul,’” Kaymer advised the Telegraph in a narrative revealed Saturday — and that you can read here.
“Well now they need to move to Japan [and play on the Japan Tour], in order to stay true to their word.”
Kaymer’s feedback come after the deal introduced Tuesday that might create a brand new, for-profit enterprise that might be operated by the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund, and finish the pending litigation among the many sides. At a minimal, the settlement was a shock. Since LIV began play a 12 months in the past, the collection had attracted quite a few execs with assured, large-money offers, the Tour responded with a revamped schedule and beefed-up purses, and the perimeters every filed lawsuits.
Criticisms had been additionally stated, with one assault on those that joined LIV being that they had been taking part in for a bunch whose nation has a poor human-rights report and has hyperlinks to 9/11 — and that the golfers had been “sportswashing.” In the interview with the Telgraph, Kaymer, a two-time main winner and former world No. 1 from Germany, stated he heard these ideas.
“I stood up to my values and stood up to the feeling in my heart,” Kaymer advised the Telegraph. “I used to be courageous sufficient and stood up for myself to lots of people, additionally right here in Germany who criticized me and gave me ‘s***.
“Funny enough, they have sent me nice messages [since the announcement]. It’s such a hypocritical world that we live in … so, it’s even more important to make your own decisions. Don’t judge too much because when all is said and done, you might do the same thing.”
Jay Monahan reveals to workers: PGA Tour can’t compete with Saudis’ cash
Nick Piastowski
On the PGA Tour aspect, maybe probably the most largest LIV critic was Jay Monahan, the Tour’s commissioner. To that finish, Rory McIlroy, himself additionally outspoken towards the rival league, was requested this Wednesday: “During this back and forth over the past year, at one point Jay Monahan said a deal like this would never happen out of respect for the victims of 9/11. Obviously you’re not responsible for what Mr. Monahan says, but you can see why this has stirred up a lot of emotions in fans, right?”
McIlroy did.
“I said it to Jay yesterday: You’ve galvanized everyone against something and that thing that you galvanized everyone against you’ve now partnered with,” he stated. “So, yeah, after all I perceive it. It is hypocritical. It sounds hypocritical.
“The one thing I would say is, again, whether you like it or not, the PIF and the Saudis want to spend money in the game of golf. It is — they want to do this. And they weren’t going to stop. So how can — you know, the thing for me and this is the one thing that I’ve always thought about, how can we get that money into the game, but use it the right way. And I think that’s what this ultimately will do, hopefully. I mean, that’s my hope.”
Also within the Telegraph interview, Kaymer believed that LIV golfers must be allowed to play within the upcoming Ryder Cup, and he stated that he had gotten a name on Tuesday from Yasir Al-Rumayyan, PIF’s governor.
Kaymer is a captain in LIV, and it’s not fully clear what’s going to occur with the collection.
“[Al-Rumayyan] congratulated me for making the right choice and trusting the whole product,” Kaymer advised the Telegraph. “And I’m very proud of myself that I did that. For PIF to come in now and buy the PGA Tour, support the PGA Tour, surprised everyone, I guess.”
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