The Open winner slams LIV Golf in furious statement with ‘nothing nice to say whatsoever’

News of LIV Golf potentially expanding into New Zealand hasn’t been well-received by one of the country’s greats.

LIV Golf stars celebrate at Greenbrier

Golf legend Sir Bob Charles has made his negative thoughts towards LIV Golf abundantly clear. The 1963 Open champion let it be known he has “nothing nice to say whatsoever” about the Saudi-backed breakaway tour.

Charles’ furious statement comes after LIV officials visited the Christchurch Golf Club in his native New Zealand, where he’s a patron. It’s believed they want to bring an event to the Kiwi’s homeland, possibly as early as next year.

The news has not gone down well with Charles, quickly distancing himself from any association with the Saudis. “I hope they’re not playing at either of my golf courses”, said the 88-year-old, who is also closely involved with Clearwater Golf Club.

“I don’t endorse LIV golf in any way – in fact, quite the opposite. I want nothing to do with it. I wouldn’t walk across the street to watch,” he told the Herald.

“The traditional game that I’ve played for 50 years travelling around the world is in total upheaval and they’re causing havoc – they’re causing problems, and I just have no time for LIV whatsoever.

“It’s not the traditional game… we had a certain set of rules, we had an organisation and they’re a bunch of boys playing in short pants. So I’ve got nothing nice to say about them whatsoever.”

Sir Bob Charles at the 150th Open

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Charles also took aim at LIV’s calibre of players and how much they’re paid. He added: “They’ve been offered some obscene sums of money and some of the guys that play, I’ve never ever heard of. I don’t know that they deserve the money which they have been offered.”

Christchurch Golf Club general manager Mike Hadley confirmed that LIV chiefs had “visited” the course but insisted “there’s been no follow-up” to those meetings. Charles played on both the PGA Tour and Senior PGA Tour during his career.

Merger talks between golf’s two major bodies were announced last year, but an agreement is yet to be reached. It remains to be seen what that deal could look like, with LIV playing 54 holes a tournament compared to the traditional 72 – hence their name in Roman numerals.