19th Hole

Rickie Fowler gives surprising update amid heavy links to LIV Golf

Published

2 years ago

Jun 16, 2022

As players prepared for the third major of the season, fears were that those returning from last week’s inaugural LIV event would attract all the attention.

Related: Jordan Spieth reportedly blanks Kevin Na in awkward exchange at US Open

However, there seems to have been some genuine respect shown by those involved with the publicity-seeking rebel tour and the world of golf looks forward to four days of tough competition at Brookline.

Related: Rickie Fowler provides stunning admission about playing golf with Michael Jordan

This does not, of course, stop rumor and speculation as who may be the next player to jump ship and Sky Sports caught up with one of those names continually banded about – Rickie Fowler.

Formerly ranked world number seven, Fowler is at Brookline as second alternate, and was asked on Tuesday what life was like being in that position.

The 33-year-old conceded, “Can be a little out of place, being an alternate..playing nine today, play nine tomorrow…we’ll see what happens”

Was he hoping someone puts a toe out of place so he can grab a starting slot?

“I don’t wish bad on anyone” said Fowler. “But, you know, if two slots open up…..we’ll have to wait and see what happens.”

Fowler, former world amateur number one and winner of five PGA Tour and two European tour titles was then asked the obvious.

He gave his view on being mentioned as a candidate for the “huge topic in golf at the moment”, after several sources previously reported that the 33-year-old was set to sign with the LIV Golf Series…and it contradicted those reports.

“Unfortunately, there has been a lot of false accusations. I haven’t made any sort of decisions.”

Having been inside the world’s top-50 for 10 consecutive years from 2010, and in the top-100 over the last couple of seasons, he clearly has an affection for the PGA Tour, but admits there is a need to change.

“I believe the PGA Tour is the best place to play, has been and certainly is. I would love to see it be that way in the future but some things do need to evolve, change. So that’s kind of where I’m at”

After admitting the PGA Tour is becoming “more and more divided”, he mentions that, “with LIV, it is a very different format.”

Fowler would like to see them “co-exist”, and expands on that.

“I mean, you have traditional, 72 holes of golf, and then then 54 with the team aspect, so, yeah, I’m just trying to learn as much as I can and enjoy playing on tour and see what happens.”

Having been runner-up in the 2014 US open at Pinehurst, and with further second place finishes finishes at The Masters and Open Championship, as well as 3rd at the PGA Championship, Fowler has excellent back-form in majors.

However, with only four top-10 finishes in his last couple of seasons of regular play, he has drifted to a place just inside the world’s top 150.

It looks all but assured that Rickie won’t get the chance to tee it up this week, as he remains second alternate just hours away from the opening day’s action at Brookline.

You can catch the full interview here.

Man charged with stealing millions of dollars worth of memorabilia from Augusta National

Published

4 hours ago

Apr 18, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

According to a report from the Chicago Tribune, a man has been charged in Chicago with stealing millions of dollars’ worth of memorabilia from Augusta National.

The man, Robert Globensky, was charged with transporting the memorabilia across state lines.

The report states that between 2009 and 2022, Globensky allegedly transported “millions of dollars’ worth of Masters golf tournament merchandise and historical memorabilia” from Augusta National “and transported to Tampa, Florida, knowing the same had been stolen, converted and taken by fraud.”

The document was filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Per the court records there is no mention that Globensky worked for the golf club.

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19th Hole

Talor Gooch: 54 holes is more exciting for the fans

Published

4 hours ago

Apr 18, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

Over the past few weeks, two of LIV Golf’s biggest stars, Jon Rahm and Phil Mickelson, have both expressed that they believe LIV could go to 72 holes.

While speaking to BBC Sport, Rahm said he “wouldn’t mind” going to 72 holes.

“If there ever was a way where LIV could go to 72 holes I think it would help all of this argument a lot.”

“The closer I think we can get LIV Golf to some other things the better. I think it would be for some kind of unification to feed into a world tour or something like that.

“I don’t know if I’m alone in this, but I definitely wouldn’t mind going back to 72 holes.”

Phil Mickelson, while speaking after his final round at The Masters, also said he “wouldn’t be surprised” if LIV went to 72 holes.

“I don’t think it makes a difference either way. We’ve got mini-tours playing 54, Champions Tour playing 54. I wouldn’t be surprised if some or all of LIV events went to 72. I don’t know, but it doesn’t matter. I enjoy the competition.”

Another one of LIV’s top players, Talor Gooch, expressed on Wednesday that he feels quite differently.

“It’s just funny to me, this arbitrary number of 72.”

“Why is it not 90? “Why is it not 108? We just decided to make that number the number, for what reason?”

“Everyone’s talked about world ranking points and all this stuff, but no one’s talked about what do the fans enjoy more?”

“People want something that’s going to be more exciting. And I personally think that the 54 holes is more exciting for the fans.”

After Gooch’s comments, I decided to get some fan feedback for myself, making a poll on X. With about 4,500 votes in at the time of writing this, roughly 84% of voters in the poll indicated they’d prefer 72 holes to just 16% saying they’d prefer 54.

Rahm prefers 72 holes
Gooch prefers 54 holes

Where do the fans stand?

— Matt Vincenzi (@MattVincenziPGA) April 17, 2024

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19th Hole

Brandel Chamblee has ‘no doubt’ who started the McIlroy/LIV rumor and why

Published

1 day ago

Apr 17, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

Earlier this week, rumors began to fly that Rory McIlroy could be making a shock switch to LIV Golf which caused quite the stir on social media.

However, on Tuesday, McIlroy emphatically shut down those rumors, telling Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis at the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town:

“I honestly don’t know how these things get started. I’ve never been offered a number from LIV and I’ve never contemplated going to LIV. Again I think I’ve made it clear over the past two years that I don’t think it’s something for me.

It’s unfortunate that we have to deal with it and this is the state that our game’s in. I’m obviously here today and I’m playing this PGA Tour event next week and I will play the PGA Tour for the rest of my career.”

Golf Channel analyst and longtime LIV critic, Brandel Chamblee, took to social media before McIlroy’s statement to point the finger at “Saudis/LIV,” who he believes started the rumor:

I have no doubt that this rumor was started by Saudis/LIV… to benefit Saudis/LIV after such a poor showing, as a group, at The Masters.

I’d be very surprised if this turns out to be true. https://t.co/SWNgjHtWSM

— Brandel Chamblee (@chambleebrandel) April 16, 2024

When one user pushed back on Chamblee’s claim that LIV golfers had a poor showing at the Masters, Brandel went further into why he believes the opening major of the year was a failure for the breakaway tour.

You think they paid 3 billion for a few top tens and to be +82 as a group at major? A senior citizen beat some of their “stars” and almost all the game’s of LIV players have deteriorated since they sold their souls to the Saudis who only bought a moment in time… nothing else. https://t.co/xERkYsztIJ

— Brandel Chamblee (@chambleebrandel) April 16, 2024