Nick Faldo has been one of the most outspoken critics of LIV Golf over the past year and a half. This week, the six-time major champion is at the Belfry hosting the Betfred British Masters.

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At the event, Faldo was asked about whether or not he believes LIV Golf will last, to which he opined that it would fail due to lack of interest.

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“I don’t think so, because nobody’s really interested,” he replied. “They’re not going to get the sponsorship they want. They call it a team [event] and it’s not because it’s stroke play.”

“You see your mates on the putting green and say, ‘Play well.’ Then you see them in the scorers’ tent and say, ‘What did you shoot?’ That’s it. A team is out there helping, shoulder to shoulder. That’s a true team.”

“You have the ultimate team event, the Ryder Cup, you know the passion and the atmosphere of that. They’re not playing with the same passion and atmosphere as the Ryder Cup. It’s only half a dozen [players] that are really current, half of the field I don’t really know, and half the field are there for the very nice last-placed money that you still get if you shoot 20-over.”

Sir Nick’s comments did not go unnoticed by LIV Golf player Graeme McDowell.

The Irishman joined the Bunkered podcast and shared his thoughts on Faldo’s criticism.

“It’s pinch of salt stuff nowadays,” he said. “I’ve seen it and I’ve heard it and I’ve read it and, listen, we know what opinions are. Everyone’s got one, right?”

“Nick’s there at the British Masters protecting [his event]. That’s the biggest takeaway for me over the last 12 months. People are going to protect what they’re going to protect in the moment.”

“I see players saying things and all they’re doing is protecting their territory. They’re protecting the tours that they’ve chosen to defend. It doesn’t mean they’re bad guys. It doesn’t mean that they’re wrong, or right, or whatever.

“I mean, Nick’s at the British Masters and he cares about his tournament, so he’s not going to say anything good about a world-class field at Valderrama this weekend. Of course, he’s not going to say anything good about us. I get it.

“I’m at that point where I don’t even hold anything against anybody anymore because all they’re doing is protecting their turf.”

McDowell said that Faldo has also been his hero but “doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

“Nick Faldo was my hero in the nineties. I had multiple Pringle sweaters in my closest. He’ll always be a legend to me. But he hasn’t been out here. He hasn’t come out to see this for himself. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.

“Just come out here and have a look and watch the best players in the world. There are guys that care a lot about this product and I can’t wait to see where it plugs in because I truly believe it will be a part of golf in the future.”

With plenty of unanswered questions about the PGA Tour/PIF merger, time will tell if McDowell is right.

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