Former LIV Golf critic Billy Horschel wants PGA Tour rule change
Outspoken PGA Tour pro Billy Horschel says the Players Championship should extend an olive branch to LIV Golf professionals.
Billy Horschel was once one of LIV's harshest critics but like Rory McIlroy the American is now calling for harmony in the golf world.
So much so, he wants the PGA Tour to extend an olive branch to the breakaway tour players and let them into next year's Players Championship field.
There is no denying that whilst the field this week at TPC Sawgrass is strong it could be improved with a few LIV additions.
The flagship PGA Tour event is without 2022 champion Cameron Smith. There's also no Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm or Dustin Johnson.
Horschel told Sky Sports: "If we see ourselves as a fifth major, which I believe we are, shouldn't we, maybe put out a little bit of olive branch?"
The golfer told the publication he had a conversation with PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan about the idea.
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"It's unfortunate that we don't have some of the best players in the world here," he added.
"I did have a conversation with Jay about a year and a half ago about if the majors were going to let the guys that went to LIV, shouldn't we maybe let them in?
"If we see ourselves as a fifth major, which I believe we are, shouldn't we, maybe put out a little bit of olive branch?
"We had a great conversation about that and I understood his side of it and the PGA Tour side, but I think personally it's tough to say that we don't have all the best players in the world here.
"Take out the world rankings, take out everything. Everyone knows by the eyeballs test who the best players are in the world and I think, hopefully, a year from now we will have all the best players back here again playing."
At the height of the golf's 'civil war', Horschel labelled the rival league players hypocrites.
Without naming names, he even accused some golfers of outright lying in a sensational rant before the 2022 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
"I just can't stand to sit here anymore and be diplomatic about it," he said.
Ian Poulter has since insinuated Horschel asked LIV Golf for a $40m contract but that is an unsubstantiated claim.
Horschel's latest comments will be welcomed by world number two McIlroy.
McIlroy told reporters before the Players he wants the 'train to speed up' and bring the rival golf tours together.
The Northern Irishman urged golf's decision-makers to urgently make peace.
"We all need to sort of move forward and try to bring the game back together," McIlroy said. Read more about that here.
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