Lee Westwood says he regrets how his European tour ended. Photo: AP/Doug DeFelice
It's fair to say that Lee Westwood has experienced several setbacks in his three decades as a pro, and the last thing he's looking forward to after dropping out of his DP World Tour membership – due to the ever-escalating LIV controversy – it's sympathy. However, from a personal point of view, there is inevitably an element of sadness.
“I was a kid when I competed in my first European tournament, the Madeira Islands Open in 1994, when I won around £3,000 finishing 19th. . I had amazing times including all those Ryder Cups,” said the former world No. 1.
“I wouldn’t trade those years for anything and I feel like I contributed to the tour. I'm not great in statistics, but I must have played about 600 tournaments, won over 20 titles and received three Orders of Merit. So no, I would never have believed it ended like this, and of course there must be some sadness.”
Many will vehemently claim that the 50-year-old was the architect of his own abdication in as an undisputed member of European golf royalty, but the veteran Worksop is adamant the implications were at least 'vague' when he signed a deal to join LIV Golf that was reportedly worth over £20m. /p>
“People say I knew exactly what was going to happen, but no one told us the extent of the punishment,” he said. “And they keep doing it. I believe that as a member of the European Tour, I was allowed to be a member of the PGA Tour without any problems all these years. Tell me what's the difference? Just because LIV is funded by the Saudis, the country where I toured and where we were encouraged to play?
“I was a dual member of the European Tour and the PGA Tour, but I always said that I am a European Tour member first and foremost and that I have concerns about the fact that the American circles are basically hooligans and are doing everything possible to ensure global domination. . Look at my old quotes, everything is there.
“But now, in my opinion, the European Tour has completely merged with the PGA Tour, and although Keith [Pelly, CEO] says he hates to hear it, it's now an additional tour for the PGA Tour. The top 10 players on the tour not yet released this year have a path to the PGA Tour – this will reveal our talent. This was never the policy of the tour before this 'strategic alliance'.
“Sorry, I don't want to play in this mode. For example, I've always played on the Asian tour and had no problems with releases. But then at the end of last year I was told that I should not play in the Indonesian Open. Come on. No thanks, I don't want to play this game. However, I have already said all this. It should be obvious why I retired.”
“The Ryder Cup will lose so much experience”
Indeed, ever since the LIV controversy erupted last year, Westwood has been candid about what he sees as the DP World Tour's agreement to become junior partner with the Americans. Westwood has been arguing on Twitter with former Tour colleagues – Eddie Pepperell and most recently David Horsey, another Englishman – about wanting to get his “cake and eat it,” but now he admits his touring odyssey is over. Well, almost.
“With LIV we have some exciting new chapters and I can play the Asian Tour with his International Series and hopefully the [European] Senior Tour,” he said. “I see no reason why I am not eligible to compete in the Senior Open at Royal Portcall in July.
As far as looking ahead, I believe that one day a compromise can be reached and I may be eligible again then. I won a race in Dubai less than three years ago and it gave me a decade of benefits.
“Of course, at my age it was easier to decide to retire than others who could do it – and that they should tell you, not me – but it was not an easy decision, and I did not take it lightly. everything.
“I thought about it, and I just didn’t like the idea of the tour constantly dumping more and more fines and bans on us that would hang over me. I paid my fine out of respect for the arbitration board and then took the decisions out of the hands of the tour. I sincerely want to move on.”
As for the Ryder Cup, he also resigned.
“Can you imagine them letting Luke [Donald, Ryder Cup captain] draw one of us, no matter how well one of us can play?” Westwood said.
“I don't want to talk about the other LIV players who might not be eligible anymore, but so much experience is going to be lost now, all because the tour has gone to bed with the PGA . Tour. It wasn't like that. And not the way I think it should be. Like I said, it's time for me to move on.”
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