LIV Golf's recruits face a harsh reality
`Who likes to be hated? It's terrible'
For Harold Varner III, signing a contract with the LIV Golf Invitational Series amounted to a “financial breakthrough,” life-changing money that will ensure his son will have “a life I could have only dreamt about growing up.” But the day the news became public and the golf world formally learned Varner was jumping from the PGA Tour to the Saudi-funded breakaway league?
“It sucked,” Varner said. Plenty of fans on social media offered support, but Varner couldn't shake the inevitable backlash.
“Damn, and here we all were thinking you were a good guy,” wrote one critic.
“Money over legacy,” offered another.
“How's it feel to be used?” asked a third.
“Who likes to be hated? It's terrible,” Varner said Wednesday, speaking at a news conference in advance of LIV Golf's Boston event. “I hate being hated. I'd rather not even be known than be hated.”
The latest wave of players to join LIV Golf is different from the early batches. For starters, the group making its LIV debut this week includes two top-20 players — No. 2 Cameron Smith and No. 19 Joaquin Niemann — giving the upstart series its most formidable field to date. But these new LIV signees also knew what to expect, from the fiery fan reactions to the possibility they'll be snubbed by the Official World Golf Ranking system and excluded from future majors.
“I purposely read them all,” Varner said of the fan feedback. “Everyone says don't get on social media. That's stupid. I'm not ashamed of being Harold. I'm ashamed that we don't spread love. We don't spread ... `Hey, man, I get it. It's not what I want you to do, I might be disappointed for you, but you go do your thing.' I thought there would be more of that.”
Smith largely avoided social media. His LIV alliance had been rumoured for weeks, and he's reportedly pocketing more than US$100 million to make the jump. Speaking about his decision for the first time Wednesday, he said that “for me, the biggest attraction was spending more time at home. Getting that part of my life back.”
Smith said he hadn't been back to his native Australia in three years and the looser LIV schedule will give him more time to visit family and friends. He also offered praise for the LIV product, which includes a team competition and is trying to attract a younger audience.
“I think this is the future of golf,” Smith told reporters. “I think it needs to change. Particularly as our golf fans become younger, I think we need to do something to make it exciting for them. I think it's the right move, for sure.”
Winning this year's British Open means Smith has exemptions into the majors for the next five years. Other LIV players signed on without such guarantees. LIV officials remain hopeful their events — which feature 54 holes, 48-player fields, shotgun starts and no cuts — will be eventually recognized by the OWGR.
“I hope that these world ranking points will sort themselves out before my exemption is up,” Smith said. “I think to the fans of major championship golf, it may be a little bit unfair on them. I think majors is about having the best guys in the best field on the best golf courses.”
Varner competed in all four majors this season, making the cut at three of them. The 32-year old had hoped for many more opportunities.