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Fred Couples is the latest to take a swipe at new LIV signing Cam Smith

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Golf legend Fred Couples isn’t a fan of the LIV organization.

Over the past few months, he has virtually disowned Phil Mickelson despite their golfing history – being the last pairing at the 2006 Masters, and working together as vice-captains at the last Ryder Cup, both instrumental in the 19-9 thrashing of the European team.

He has also questioned the motives of those that have signed, and shown disbelief at the 11 players (now 7) that put their name to a lawsuit against the PGA Tour – “I’m glad they’re gone, but stop trashing the PGA Tour,” said the 62-year-old at a recent PGA Tour Champions event. “If you don’t want to be a part of it, you’re suing it? Just go away and make your millions and play golf just like I’m going to do this week.”

Now, the 1992 Masters Champion has turned on the newest and biggest name to sign for the Greg Norman-led tour.

Having avoided a host of questions since The Open, Cam Smith finally opened up to the media about the reasons for his departure from the PGA Tour.

Despite his five wins, and the historic victory at St. Andrews, the Australian star was at pains to point out it was not the money, but conditions of play, that were the reasons for his historic signing.

“I haven’t been back in Australia for three years,” he told Golf Digest. “To spend more time at home, not missing out on friends’ and families’ weddings, and a couple of my friends have had kids over the last four or five years that I still haven’t met.”

“That’s going to be a part of my life that I can’t wait to get back.”

Couples saw that as an opportunity to have a dig, playing on the answers the world number two had given.

Posting on Twitter, Couples wrote:

Twitter is as Twitter does, though, and the replies were very mixed!

One user replied to the 13-time PGA Tour Champions winner, “When’s last time you played and finished a 72 hole tournament? Don’t you make your living now at 54 hole tournaments?”

Another referred to the many ‘side’ events that the 62-year-old has taken part in over the years: “How much in Skins, appearance fees, other silly season or Corp events did Freddy cash in on?? Was a Freddy fan… his petty, childish hatred for LIV players has really turned me…”

There was support there, though, with one fan nodding. “Love it and agree, most of us can relate to earning a living. In addition, real, healthy competitions are great to watch as a spectator,” they wrote.

Whatever the response, it’s clear that Boom Boom isn’t a fan of LIV, Norman, or anyone that takes part.

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19th Hole

3-time PGA Tour winner calls for LIV to buy Champions Tour to fix ‘joke’ purses

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While speaking on the Subpar podcast, former PGA Tour winner and current PGA Tour Champions player Chris DiMarco said he hopes LIV buys the Champions Tour.

“We’re kind of hoping that LIV buys the Champions Tour,” he said.

“Let’s play for a little real money out here. I mean this is kind of a joke when we’re getting $2 million. There were like seven guys last week from TPC (Sawgrass, at the $25 million PLAYERS Championship) that made more money than our purses.”

In 2024, the Champions Tour had a total of $67 million in prize money over the course of 24 events.

DiMarco also defended LIV players for taking the money and said he would take it also.

“They wanted to play for a lot of money, and they deserve it. They have had some great careers, why not go and get some money?”

DiMarco also offered insight on Graeme McDowell’s move to LIV.

“I saw Graeme McDowell at the Old Memorial Pro Member, and he goes, ‘Listen, I went up to Jay Monahan and said I love the tour but I am struggling to keep my card and these guys are offering me all this money and less golf. I’m sorry, I’m going.’ And I do not blame him one bit, and I said I would have too.”

DiMarco was ranked as high as 6th in the world in 2006.

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19th Hole

‘It won’t win you golf tournaments’ – Golf analyst rips Charley Hull’s course management

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Charley Hull came just short of her third LPGA Tour victory over the weekend at the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship when she played her last two holes at 3 over to slip all the way to 10th on the leaderboard.

After the round, Hull was blasted by Sky Sports commentator and former LPGA Tour player Trish Johnson for her lack of golf course management.

While speaking on the Sky Sports Golf podcast, Johnson spoke harshly of Hull.

“I’m probably her harshest critic, because I know how good she is. She doesn’t win anywhere near enough for her talent, and she doesn’t get involved enough, in all honestly.

“The thing with Charley is that you’re never going to change her. I read something the other day that said how much she loves the game and it’s her love of the game [that costs her]. She’s never going to change and she’s just going to go for every pin.

“In theory that’s great, but it won’t win you golf tournaments, it just won’t because she’s not that much better than anybody else. If you put Charley against Nelly Korda, then I’m picking Nelly every single day of the week.”

Johnson also made a fascinating comparison between Hull and a famous male golfer, John Daly.

“Golf-wise that’s the way she plays the game and it’s a little bit like watching John Daly I suppose.”

“There’s something that John Daly had that made him a major winner and a winner, but Charley is kind of lacking that. Her talent is not in question, but maybe her application is. Maybe it’s just the case of her never changing and that will cost her golf tournaments, there’s no two ways about it. You cannot go for every pin because that’s the way you play and it being fun, as other players are better than that and you have to have course management.”

Hull is still only 27, and therefore has plenty of time to work on her flaws to achieve the success her talent should allow.

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Former agent lifts lid on being fired by ‘zombie’ Tiger Woods

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Discussing his new book “Rainmaker” with the Daily Mail, Tiger Woods’ former agent, Hughes Norton, recounted the events leading up to and after his split with the 15-time major champion.

Norton was abruptly fired by Woods in 1998 after his 1997 Masters win and monster deal with Nike.

In the book, Norton talks about the way Tiger views his relationships, calling him a “zombie.”

The solace I can take, which doesn’t provide much, is this: He was an equal opportunity zombie with relationships, his swing coaches, his lawyer, the guy negotiated the IMG representation deal, with caddies, When it’s over, it’s over.”

Norton added:

“It is the way he terminates relationships with everyone. Whether it’s girlfriends, whether it’s his former golf coaches. It’s ironic, really. In a way he’s so good at confrontation on the golf course. If he’s playing you, he will beat your brains out every single time.

“But when it comes to confronting things like me and other people that are in his life, he has no social skills whatsoever. It’s maddening, actually.”

After he was fired by Woods, Norton was let go by IMG, which he believes was due to Woods’ influence.

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