Tyrrell Hutton had "conversations" with a network funded by Saudi Arabia. Photo: David Cannon/Getty Images
Tyrrell Hatton has left the door ajar for a move to LIV Golf after confirming he was «in talks» with the Saudi-funded chain.
< p>Telegraph Sport reported on Friday that the Englishman had become LIV's top target after fellow Ryder Cup teammates Tommy Fleetwood and Nikolaj Hojgaard rejected recent multimillion-dollar offers.
Hutton admitted there had been contact and was not prepared to rule out an exchange. “I would say several people have spoken [to LIV],” Hutton said. “I think it's part and parcel of golf at the moment, but I'm very happy playing on the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour.”
Asked if he had been in touch with world No. 15 Greg Norman's venture replied: “I just said that. There are a lot of people who do it, and I don't think it's anything to shy away from.» So does it stay in place? “For now, yes,” he replied.
With less than two weeks until the start of the new LIV season, attempts to get big names to play alongside Jon Rahm on his new team seem to be ineffective. be even more frantic.
Of course, Hatton and Rahm forged a successful partnership at the Ryder Cup in Rome, and the duo are understood to have been on the phone since the Spaniard jumped ship, clinching a stunning deal that could see him earn up to £450 million. The value of Hatton's deal is likely to be in the tens of millions.
LIV is desperate to lure big names to play alongside Jon Rahm. Photo: Scott Thatch/AP
Fleetwood has already rejected such amounts, but he also admitted that depending on what happens with the ongoing merger talks between the Tour and the Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund, which funds LIV, he cannot guarantee anything in the future.
«I don't think it's like breaking news that LIV is still reaching out to people,» said Fleetwood, world number 11. “You know, some will go and some won’t. And then at some point we will either all play together or not. Like everyone else, I'll wait to find out.
“I will speak for myself as a professional golfer and as someone who is still chasing my childhood dreams and trying to become the best golfer I can be. Until I decide I've had enough or retire, I will always do what I think is best for my golf game, and for now, that's what I'm doing. Who knows if this will change in the future. But at the moment I feel like that's where I want to be.”
The LIV saga continues to cast a shadow on the fairway itself, and it was quite an achievement on an exciting day at the Dubai Desert Classic when Rory McIlroy strapped on the turbochargers to take part in the competition again.
After two rounds, the defending champion was 10 shots behind in 24th place. The nine-year-old player's 63 brought the world number two into second place with Poland's Adrian Meronk, just two behind American Cameron Young.
Rory McIlroy is back in contention in Dubai. Photo: Warren Little/Getty Images
The highlight was a 45-foot putt from the green on the 18th that went for eagle. “Obviously, having something like this come out was a huge bonus,” McIlroy said. “But you know, I played really, really good golf the rest of the day. Definitely better than I've played the last couple of days and it's nice to be back in the tournament again.
“I think because of the way the course is going, I felt like if I could shoot two 67s over the weekend , and I'll at least have a pretty good fighting chance. I almost made those 10 shots in one day, so I'm in a much better position than I thought.» McIlroy has the opportunity to make history at the Emirates Club as the tournament's first four-time winner. leaving Ernie Els behind in the record books. “That would be amazing,” he said. “I have had tremendous success in Dubai, be it at this tournament where I won my first European Tour title, or at Jumeirah Golf Estates for the Race to Dubai.
“Of all the courses I have played in my professional career, and this club is probably the one I know best. I first played here in 2006 as an amateur and have been coming back for 18 years. I love coming back here.”
Свежие комментарии