Viktor Hovland: 'PGA Tour leadership has done such a poor job'

Viktor Hovland has slammed the PGA Tour’s leadership following Jon Rahm’s move to LIV Golf.

Hovland told Discovery’s FORE! podcast it is “too stupid” to criticise players for joining LIV when the PGA Tour leadership has “done such a poor job.”

The FedEx Cup champion also said there is “arrogance” behind the tour’s decision-making as they look to complete a deal with the Public Investment Fund before December 31.

Players were kept unaware of the tour’s framework agreement with the PIF on June 6 as negotiations had largely been held behind closed doors.

“I wasn’t really shocked, really,” Hovland said of Rahm’s reported £450 million switch, as translated from Eurosport.

“It’s a bit too stupid to criticise the players for leaving. You only get to hear one angle in the media, and there are quite a few different parts happening at the same time here.

“I completely understand why he has left. That’s a lot, a lot of money. And certainly when the PGA Tour leadership has done such a poor job.

“Just to be clear, I’m not complaining about the position I’m in and I’m very grateful for everything. But management hasn’t done a good job.

“They almost see the players as manpower and not as part of the members. After all, we’re the PGA Tour. Without the players, it’s nothing.

“When you then get to see a little bit what happens behind the doors, how management actually makes decisions, which are not in the best interests of the players, but best for themselves and what they think is best.

“After all, they’re not professional golfers. They’re businessmen who say, ‘No, this and that’s what it’s supposed to look like’. There’s a great deal of arrogance behind it all. Then there are things that have to happen.”

The tour revealed on December 10 that talks were ongoing with the PIF, LIV Golf’s primary investors, and the US-based consortium Strategic Sports Group as they continue to pursue private equity candidates.

Viktor Hovland: PGA Tour ‘has done a damn bad job’

Hovland went on to discuss Patrick Cantlay’s role on the PGA Tour Policy Board. The American is one of six player directors also joined by Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth.

Sports Illustrated have previously reported Cantlay has “seized control” and become “arguably the most powerful person on the PGA Tour” in his position on the board.

Woods joined in August to increase player involvement in the circuit’s decision-making and at the Hero World Challenge, he said the player directors had worked “tireless hours” to make a deal with the PIF.

“Cantlay is one of those people who has gotten really bad PR in the media, which happens because the journalists don’t have a clue what they’re really trying to do behind the scenes,” Hovland added on the subject.

“They’re trying to create things fairer, to make it become the players’ tour again.

“When you see it come out in a negative way for Cantlay – it’s an indication that there are a lot of people behind the scenes who aren’t happy with what he’s doing.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen. It’s fair to say that the PGA Tour has done a damn bad job.”

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Matt Chivers

Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.

Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.

Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.

Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spoken to the likes of Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell, Henrik Stenson, to name just a few.

Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.

What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.