Sir Nick Faldo goes on all time rant (!) about LIV Golf's future

Sir Nick Faldo says he stands by his previous comments about LIV Golf ahead of the Betfred British Masters on the DP World Tour.

Ben Smith

28 Jun 2023

Sir Nick Faldo goes on all time rant (!) about LIV Golf's future

If there's one thing we know about Sir Nick Faldo, he's absolutely not afraid to speak his mind.

The Hall of Famer is in England this week as host of the Betfred British Masters on the DP World Tour at The Belfry.

Faldo, 65, joined the media on 28 June to discuss the tournament, how he sees the future of men's professional golf unfolding after the warring factions set aside their differences, Rory McIlroy's Open chances and the future of LIV Golf.

We got our first look at the 'framework agreement' between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf's Saudi backers, PIF, earlier in the week.

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In no uncertain terms, the document provided more questions than answers.

It does, however, appear to confirm that at the end of the 2024 season the top brass of the PGA Tour and LIV Golf will assess the rival league and whether or not it should continue.

WATCH: Sir Nick Faldo in tears during final CBS broadcast on the PGA Tour
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— GolfMagic (@GolfMagic) August 8, 2022

The yet-to-be-named new company set up by the organisations will 'undertake a full and objective empirical data-driven evaluation of LIV and its prospects and potential'.

Sir Nick doesn't believe LIV Golf will last and he stands by his previous comments. In January, Faldo labelled the tour 'meaningless'.

He told the media:

"I wouldn't want to play it. I honestly don't think 54 holes feels like -- you know, look, going to the first tee in a taxi, you've got somebody on a violin before I tee off, I'm not sure -- back in the day, you know.

"And the same guys -- half the field, don't really know and half the field, it's very nice last-place money, if you shoot 20-over you still get that and go home.

"Yeah, nothing feels competitive. I think they all suffer the atmosphere, and they are all big brands, and then you're being told, well, I think 20,000 people, they would rather watch Penn & Teller do a bunch of tricks.

"So it's not really -- that disappeared in a way, which you can do. You stop playing -- golf moves on. All the tours move on. So that's really where I have never felt it was me."

So can LIV Golf survive?

Faldo said:

"No, I don't think so. I think it will just -- because nobody is really interested. Sponsorship, they are not going to get the sponsorships they thought.

"They call it team, and it's not a team, is it, because it's stroke play. You see, you made some on the putting green -- oh, see you in the scorer's tent, say what did you shoot, that's it.

"Out there, the team is out there helping shoulder-to-shoulder, that's a true team. I don't get that part. There's no real goals on a team, you look at The Ryder Cup, the passion, the atmosphere -- they are not playing with the same passion and atmosphere as The Ryder Cup, a team event."

Watch:

"Why can't we go around the world and really support the Tours?"
Sir Nick Faldo has his say on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf merger pic.twitter.com/9wy1N5QU0Q
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) June 28, 2023