(Reuters) – Americans Pat Perez and Patrick Reed mentioned on Tuesday the PGA Tour had solely itself to blame for shedding gamers to the Saudi-backed breakaway LIV Golf Invitational Series, forward of a event at Oregon’s Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club.
Sitting alongside four-times main winner Brooks Koepka, Perez and 2018 Masters winner Reed ripped into the PGA Tour and its commissioner, Jay Monahan, and mentioned the blame for their departure lay at the toes of the golf organizing physique.
“Monahan simply shut it out from the begin. Didn’t need to hear, did not need to take a gathering,” mentioned Perez, a 46-year-old, three-time PGA Tour winner.
“They did not hear to the gamers. Somehow, the tour, they maintain speaking about ‘Oh yea, we work for you, we work for the gamers.’ But it is the reverse. Seems like we work for them. We haven’t got a say in something.”
Earlier this month, the PGA Tour suspended members who joined LIV Golf, with Monahan saying that they had “determined to flip their backs” on the tour.
Asked if the tour might have carried out something to maintain them, Reed responded: “Listen to the gamers for as soon as.”
“We ought to have the option to do no matter we wish, we’re impartial contractors,” mentioned Perez.
LIV Golf members have confronted a barrage of criticism from followers and fellow golfers over Saudi Arabia’s human rights report.
Saudi Arabia’s authorities denies accusations of human rights abuses.
“This group has supplied me a possibility to play golf and have a distinct schedule,” mentioned Perez.
“That’s my solely concern.”
With Portland the second of eight occasions that can supply up purses totaling $255 million, LIV guarantees its opponents more cash with far fewer tournaments on the calendar.
Perez mentioned at his age, after many years on the street lacking time together with his household, getting the name from LIV was like “successful the lottery”.
“I’m a 30- to 33-week man yearly I’ve carried out it,” he mentioned. “And now I haven’t got to.”
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Toby Davis)
