Nick Faldo has never shied away from criticising LIV golf and insists that their star names will continue to fall short at majors due to the make up of their tour
Nick Faldo insists the LIV golfers will continue to struggle at Majors because they aren’t playing enough and “have a fail-free tour”. Several of those who have defected to the Saudi-backed tour were welcomed to the Masters, but few were able to mount a charge.
Jon Rahm, who won the Green Jacket only two years ago, was never a threat and ended up finishing in a tie for 14th. Brooks Koepka and Cameron Smith, both Major winners, failed to even make the cut.
The incentive to go and play on the LIV Tour was largely financial with players receiving guaranteed cash to make the mov. Their tournaments are also less regular, shorter and don’t have the threat of the cut, making prize money a given every time they take to the course.
Several of the big names who moved over have been unable to consistently show the form they had before joining LIV and Faldo maintains that their lack of playing time will ultimately impact on them – as will the lack of jeopardy that comes with making the cut.
He told The Times: “If Max Verstappen only drove in a Formula One race four times a year, I’d be shocked if he could perform. You’ve got to be in the same arena all the time.
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“They have a fail-free tour. They’ve got wonderful appearance fees and prize money galore and they’re guaranteed it next week whether they hit their hat or not. There’s no fear of failure, and that is a serious driving force. Cam Smith has gone quiet. Brooks has gone quiet. You can’t tell me that in some way it hasn’t affected them.”
There has long been talk of a merger between the various tours – bringing to an end the civil war that exists in golf. So far though the likes of LIV and the PGA have been unable to reach any common ground with Faldo not sure an agreement is even necessary.
He added: “I think they thought it was all going to be resolved and they could run off and, even if they had to pay half of it back in a fine, they’d make a huge amount of money. But I don’t think [the PGA Tour-LIV divide] needs to be resolved. They’ve gone off to play their tour. Fine. They’ve done incredibly well [financially] and, if your priority is a boatload of cash, you got it. But if you would rather have an incredible career, I think they’ve hurt themselves.”
Since the inception of LIV they’ve only seen two Major wins – Koepka at the PGA Championship in 2023 and Bryson DeChambeau’s US Open success last year. DeChambeau is the only man who’s been able to regularly challenge and was in the hunt going into the Masters’ final round before falling away.
Faldo was accused of bias commentary against the American, which he batted away. That’s bulls***,” he says. “I like the guy. I texted him after he won the US Open. I don’t like the way he plays at times, which I’m allowed to criticise. He said he was going to attack Troon last year. You don’t attack a links, you thread it down there. I’m not sure about his strategy, but he is great entertainment. I’m a fan.”