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Lee Westwood says Rory McIlroy’s latest comment on LIV Golf “wasn’t well thought out” and was “typical of Rory” in the latest disagreement between the two.
The subject of LIV Golf, fines and suspensions from the DP World Tour and other issues have been a source of tension between McIlroy and Westwood on a few occasions.
McIlroy spoke about the value LIV players held in response to a question about possible returns to the PGA Tour, and as usual it stirred up emotions on both sides.
Scottie Scheffler disagreed with the sentiment, while Bryson DeChambeau seemed to aim a retort while discussing LIV’s future in Indianapolis – where Westwood also had his say.
“I heard Rory’s comments yesterday,” Westwood told TNT Sports at LIV Golf Indianapolis.
“I thought Scottie [Scheffler] answered the question well and Rory’s answer was just typical of Rory really, it wasn’t well thought out.”
Westwood and LIV teammate Ian Poulter have been given invites to the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship as they make their DP World Tour return after over three years away.
LIV players have been taking up spots in DP World Tour events with doubts remaining over the team tour, and Westwood points to the Alfred Dunhil and the plethora of LIV golfers getting invites as an example of their quality.
“I really don’t care what people think to be perfectly honest,” Westwood added. “I think it illustrates the fact that people like LIV players playing in their events. Promoters and sponsors, no matter which tour they’re on, they bring quality to tournaments.
“There’s a lot of players on this tour that bring a lot of value to tournaments and the Alfred Dunhill is a point in question where I think Johann Rupert’s got something like 26, 27 invites and he’s given them to, I think, 25 people off LIV have got invites so that just shows you that LIV players do bring value to tournaments.”
Westwood still upset with ‘ridiculous fines’
Westwood and Poulter both paid their DP World Tour fines, reported to be over $1m, and could rejoin the DP World Tour in November after each resigned their memberships in 2023 and previously said they had no desire to return.
Both still disagree with the fines, but decided to pay them now while they’re still indemnified by the Saudi PIF.
The DP World Tour is expected to resume fines and suspensions for members playing in LIV Golf events next year, so there could be more trouble if LIV 2.0 goes ahead.
For now, though, Westwood – who has also confirmed he’ll make his Legends Tour debut at August’s Staysure English Legends tournament at Chart Hills – is happy to return to the Alfred Dunhill.
“I’ve won that tournament and I supported it, I played practically every one until I was forced to give up my membership on the European Tour because of the ridiculous fines,” said Westwood, who hasn’t played on the DP World Tour since January 2023 and last played in the Alfred Dunhill back in 2019.
The popular Englishman will no doubt be a big draw up at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns for the Alfred Dunhill, and time will tell if it’s the first step back towards a DP World Tour return or not.