adminBROOKLINE. – The 122nd US Open teed off in Boston yesterday at a venue that has been the scene of almost as much controversy as LIV Golf is creating.
Brookline Country Club in Massachusetts hosted the 1999 Ryder Cup, which would become known as the ‘Battle of Brookline’ after both European and US media lambasted “boorish” behaviour by the home players and fans.
Now, LIV Golf’s $2bn Saudi-funded storm is rocking the status quo in the game.
And while the 156 players are keen to focus on the immediate challenge ahead of them, they have also enjoyed a “gossip” about the future.
The questions surrounding the Greg Norman-fronted fledgling LIV series have predictably dominated the headlines in the build-up.
While some players have been keen to tackle the issue head on, others have looked uncomfortable, with a few preferring to duck the inevitable grilling.
Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas have emerged as two of the strongest advocates for the PGA Tour, which has suspended all its members who played in last week’s LIV event near London – the European-based DP World Tour is expected to announce what it is doing with its rebels on 23 June.
Northern Ireland’s McIlroy, the 2011 US Open champion, says it is “sad” that LIV is overshadowing the event, while last month’s US PGA Championship winner Thomas has told his peers “you’ve got to do what’s best for you or what you think is best for your career, but selfishly I don’t want you to go”.
Spain’s Jon Rahm, who defends his US Open title this week, says while his “heart is with the PGA Tour” and he is also concerned about the “future of the Ryder Cup” he understands why players such as his compatriot Sergio Garcia have joined LIV.
Phil Mickelson was hesitant and awkward as he dealt with questions about a letter sent to the American LIV players by a group representing victims’ families and survivors of the 9/11 terror attacks – according to an FBI declassified document, 15 of the 19 plane hijackers in the attacks were Saudi nationals.
The letter accused Mickelson, who last year became golf’s oldest winner of a major at the age of 51, of sportswashing and betraying his country.
“I have the deepest sympathy and empathy for them,” he said.
Dustin Johnson, winner of this title in 2016, has not spoken to the media this week, but 2020 champion Bryson DeChambeau, who is arguably the most significant LIV signing to date, said it was “a business decision first and foremost” adding, in line with others who have switched, that it is for his “family’s future”. – BBC Sport
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter