The 2023 Open Championship kicked off on Thursday, and a number of talented golfers showed out and impressed with their skills on the course. However, former British Open winner Ernie Els made more of a statement off the golf course on Thursday rather than on it.
Els, who is best known for his Open Championship wins in both 2002 and 2012, didn’t have the best Round 1 on Thursday. He put up a respectable, but unexceptional 75 score to finish four over par.
After his round, he spoke to the media where he discussed the LIV Golf-PGA Tour merger, and didn’t mince words about how he felt on the matter. He absolutely blasted PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan.
“If this happened in my day, in my prime, there’s no way he’s around,” Els told Sports Illustrated about Monahan. “No way. And the board has to change. You do s— like this. I’m sorry, it’s not right. Talk to us, tell us what you’re going to do, plan on negotiating. Don’t just go rogue as a member of the board and come back with a deal and think we’re all going to say yes? You’re affecting people’s lives. You’re affecting the professional game. It’s just so bad.”
Els then went on to refer to LIV Golf as “circus golf”.
“I know Yasir, I know some of those Saudi guys,” Els added. “They love the game. But this (LIV) is circus golf. That’s not where I stand.”
Els is amongst the most respected players of all time, especially on the PGA Tour where he was won 19 times over his illustrious career. Considering this, fans certainly took notice of his harsh comments towards Monahan.
https://twitter.com/GolfNutSociety/status/1682067479559049217
https://twitter.com/bigmikea78/status/1682104087523762179
Whenever a player like Els speaks, the golf world definitely listens, and it will be interesting to see if even more golfers come about and speak their minds about Monahan and the LIV-PGA Tour merger.
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.