Lee Westwood has expressed his disappointment at resigning from the DP World Tour, however nonetheless feels sanctions towards him and his different LIV Golf colleagues had been unjustified whereas hitting out at Keith Pelley for “leaping into mattress” with the PGA Tour.
Westwood, together with Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia and Richard Bland all resigned from the DP World Tour after being hit with fines for taking part in within the first LIV Golf occasion in London final yr.
After Pelley’s organisation received an arbitration ruling of their favour, Westwood determined to name it quits on the DP World Tour after a stellar profession – to keep away from repeat fines and to attempt to transfer on from the complete sorry saga.
The 50-year-old instructed The Telegraph’s James Corrigan that he determined to pay his nice and transfer on, however nonetheless feels wronged by the complete state of affairs.
“I’ve had wonderful occasions, together with all these Ryder Cups,” Westwood instructed The Telegraph.
“I wouldn’t change these years for the world and really feel I made a contribution to the tour. I by no means would have believed it had ended like this and there needs to be a little bit of disappointment, after all.
“At my age, positive it was possibly simpler to decide on to resign. However this wasn’t a simple resolution and never one I’ve taken calmly in any respect.
“I mulled it over and simply didn’t just like the considered the tour constantly hitting us with extra fines and bans that might have been hanging over me. I’ve paid my nice out of respect for the arbitration panel and have then taken the choices out of the tour’s arms. I actually wish to transfer on.”
Lee Westwood Henrik Stenson and Ian Poulter at LIV Golf
(Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
Westwood hit again at critics who say the LIV gamers knew they had been risking their futures on the tour, saying that for years they’ve been allowed to play on the PGA Tour and internationally.
And the irony of a significant drawback being Saudi Arabia, the place the DP World Tour hosted an occasion, just isn’t misplaced on the Worksop golfer.
“Folks say I knew precisely what would occur, however no person instructed us the extent of the punishments,” he mentioned. “They usually proceed to try this.
“The way in which I view it’s that, as a European Tour member, I used to be allowed to be a member of the PGA Tour with none drawback for all these years. Inform me, what’s the distinction? Simply because LIV is funded by the Saudis – a rustic the place my tour used to play and the place we had been inspired to play?”
I don’t wish to play below that type of regime
One other bugbear of the Englishman is the strategic alliance between the DP World and PGA Tour, once more claiming that European golf is now merely a feeder tour for the American large.
“I’ve been a twin member of the European Tour and PGA Tour, however all the time mentioned I used to be a European Tour member before everything and that I had fears in regards to the US circuit principally being bullies and doing every little thing it might to safe international dominance. Examine my outdated quotes, it’s all there.
“However now, for my part, the European Tour has jumped totally in mattress with the PGA Tour and although Keith (Pelley) says he hates to listen to it, it’s now a feeder tour for the PGA Tour.
“The highest 10 gamers on the tour, not already exempt this yr, have a pathway to the PGA Tour – that’s giving our expertise away. That was by no means the tour’s coverage earlier than this ‘strategic alliance’.
“Sorry, I don’t wish to play below that type of regime. Like, I all the time performed on the Asian Tour, and acquired releases no drawback.
“However then they mentioned I shouldn’t play within the Indonesian Open on the finish of final yr. Come on. No thanks, I don’t wish to play that sport. Anyway, I’ve mentioned all this earlier than. It ought to be apparent why I’ve resigned.”
