"It all changed this year for the worse" - Former LIV Golf pro pinpoints league's downfall

Poland's Adrian Meronk insists he doesn't regret his switch to LIV Golf but "hated" changes league officials made to the circuit in its final year. 

Meronk joined the breakaway tour in January 2024 for a reported $10m fee, months after he was overlooked for a place on Luke Donald's European Ryder Cup team. 

He claimed a lone individual title in Riyadh during a three-season spell with Martin Kaymer's Cleeks GC, earning $15,636,23 in official prize money. 

Meronk, who never appeared 100 per cent committed to staying with the league as it attempted to restructure, will return to the European tour in 2027. 

"I loved it," Meronk told Mirrors Sports US when asked to sum up his stint with LIV Golf.  

"The first two years were amazing. So much fun being with the team, traveling around the world. 

"We got treated amazingly, played a lot of great tournaments, the fans were amazing; the whole setup was amazing."

Not all of it was rosy, according to Meronk. 

LIV decided to abandon its 54-hole format and extend its tournaments to 72 holes, putting them in line with the more traditional tours. 

The shock move was seen at the time as an attempt to curry favour with the sports global rankings body. 

"It all changed this year, to be honest, for the worse," added Meronk. 

"I didn't like the fact that they changed it to four rounds, wearing pants; it got much stiffer, you know what I mean?

"And obviously the news in April as well; it changed everything. But the first two years were amazing. I really enjoyed it, and I'm super happy that I was part of it."

Meronk was referring to the fact LIV's financiers, the Saudi PIF, decided to withdraw its multibillion dollar backing. 

LIV players were told in January that funding was in place until 2032. 

London-based credit firm, BC Partners, attempted to step in to take LIV forward without the PIF but pulled out of a deal, reportedly over a lack of player support. 

Going forward, Meronk's aim is to secure automatic qualification for Donald's team that will take on Jim Furyk's United States at Adare Manor next September. 

Meronk is currently second in the standings, owing to his victory at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. 

"I'm trying to play well and get that automatic spot," he said. "But it's still a lot of tournaments and a lot of time to do it.

"That would be another big step in my career, and I think I'm ready. I still have to improve my results in majors and the biggest tournaments.

"But I think the win at the Dunhill got my confidence up. It was a good step in the right direction. Hopefully, I can build on that and keep getting better and keep getting good results in those big events."

"Right now, I'm not too focused on it because we probably can't qualify this year anyway.

"But in the future, I definitely would like to go there and compete with the best in the world"

Meronk added that another goal is to earn a PGA Tour card.