Sky Sports commentator goes on hilarious LIV Golf rant: "BOO BLOODY HOO!"

Sky Sports commentator Tony Johnstone says it was 'a shock' that Thomas Pieters decided to join the LIV Golf League in the latest GolfMagic podcast.

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Tue, 21 Feb 2023
Sky Sports commentator goes on hilarious LIV Golf rant: "BOO BLOODY HOO!"

Sky Sports commentator Tony Johnstone says it was 'a shock' Thomas Pieters joined the LIV Golf League in the latest episode of GolfMagic's podcast From The Tips as he expressed his disappointment at not "seeing him compete again". 

Johnstone joined our Andy Roberts and Harry Benjamin on Monday to chat about a number of topics in the golf world. 

Chief of which was that man Tiger Woods, who sparked controversy during his PGA Tour return with his prank on Justin Thomas

Six-time European Tour winner Johnstone, 66, saw that moment differently. He told us: "It was all blown out of proportion." 

He also had some interesting comments on some 'entitled clowns' who play on the PGA Tour and LIV Golf League. 

Johnstone explained that there needs to be 'an enforcer' who can slap some sense into the players who earn 'zillions' for hitting a ball around a field. 

Pieters has now finally been confirmed as a LIV Golf player. He will join Bubba Watson's RangeGoat GC side. 

Related: LIV Golf League 2023: Teams, players, captains

The 31-year-old Belgian's decision now puts a 2023 Ryder Cup appearance at risk. He was odds-on to make Luke Donald's team. 

We will not know the European LIV players' Ryder Cup fate until we find out the outcome of the DP World Tour v LIV Golf hearing

Johnstone told From The Tips

"That was a real shock to me as well. You know, I've always thought that Thomas absolutely has the game to win majors. 
"He elevates his game in the bigger tournaments. Every time there is a major or a WGC event or a Rolex Series event he produces his best golf. 
"I mean, he really does. He turns it on. He didn't in Abu Dhabi but generally speaking his best golf comes out at the bigger events. 
"I was quite looking forward to seeing him win a major. He might still. But his world ranking is going to plummet now, because they don't get world ranking points." 

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LIV Golf will begin their second campaign still without OWGR accreditation. 

Phil Mickelson reckons golf's governing bodies have 'colluded' to prevent breakaway tour players from achieving the points they so desperately need to qualify for golf's four major championships. 

Johnstone was entirely unsympathetic in this regard. 

He said: 

"That's the other thing with LIV as well they keep bleating [on about] world ranking points. 
"They knew there were no world ranking points. They knew their format wasn't going to qualify. Oh, 'Woe is me I'm so hard done by.'  
"Boo bloody hoo I mean, really. Jeez! Do us a favour, guys!"

Watch:

He added: 

"But yeah Thomas, it's not for me to be disappointed. I'm disappointed that I won't see him competing again. That's what disappoints me. 
"I love his swing. He's now got two kids [and] I'm sure that had some bearing on it. [He's thinking of financial] security for the family. You don't know what's going on in a guy's head either. 
"You don't know if a guy is not enjoying travel. Look, that's also a lot of BS as well, talking about 'I want to be at home with my family blah blah blah.'" 
"They're going to travel a heck of a lot too. They've got 14 events, plus the majors. There's 14 events that they have to play. 
"Look, they might want to play less. They might not want the stress of having the grind to compete with the best players in the world." 

What do you make of Pieters' decision to join LIV? Will you watch the breakaway tour in 2023? Tweet us your thoughts.  

More episodes of From The Tips