Sir Nick Faldo says he wishes LIV Golf referred to itself as an “exhibition tour” from day one.
The PIF-backed league was launched in June 2022 and Faldo has never been shy in criticising the breakaway.
Chief among the 68-year-old’s complaints are the absence of a cut, guaranteed prize money and the lack of viewership.
Before the 2024 Masters, Faldo even took a dig at then reigning champion Jon Rahm by saying the Spaniard had prepared for the tradition unlike any other by playing “resort courses in his shorts”.
Faldo described LIV Golf as “fail free” and in comments to the Belfast Telegraph still contends it is an exhibition tour, despite the league abandoning one of their founding principles by extending its tournaments to 72 holes instead of 54.
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“I wish they’d have just said that from day one,” Faldo told the paper.
“Just say it’s going to be the greatest exhibition tour, then you can’t knock it. But don’t tell me it’s championship golf.”
Jon Rahm
LIV Golf signed several major champions and PGA Tour stars in 2022.
Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson and Cameron Smith were among the first wave of recruits and are all said to have commanded more than $100m each.
Faldo claimed they’re happy, adding: “They’ve gone off into their world.
“The players have had the last laugh and are making a fortune even though their tour is getting one-tenth of the viewership.
“Those players have lucked out. I mean, you’ve got players I’ve never heard of competing who wouldn’t get a (PGA Tour) card.
“You’ve got the middle guys who’ll do a couple of years and leave with a lovely chunk of guaranteed money.
“No other tour offers that. And then you’ve got the other guys getting $100 million plus.
“They must be kissing the ground. They’ve done well.”
Faldo makes gloomy Rory McIlroy prediction 
Rory McIlroy
Faldo also told the paper that he believes Masters champion Rory McIlroy will struggle to add to his haul of five major championship wins.
McIlroy won four majors by the time he was 25 but it took him more than a decade to capture his fifth at Augusta National.
It saw the 36-year-old Northern Irishman join Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan and Gary Player in the record books by winning the career grand slam.
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Faldo, who won six majors between 1987 and 1986, believes McIlroy’s career-defining win at Augusta took its toll.
“There was so much emotion at Augusta and you cannot reproduce the emotion to win a major like that again,” he said. “So I think it will be tough for Rory to win another one.”
LIV Golf announce latest player signing
LIV Golf are on a recruitment drive ahead of their fourth full season.
The league gets underway next February under the lights in Riyadh and there are several teams that need to sign new players.
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Last month, Martin Kaymer’s Cleeks added multiple DP World Tour winner Victor Perez to its roster.
England’s Laurie Canter, who earned duel membership on the PGA Tour next season via the Race to Dubai standings, was rumoured to return to LIV.
Canter’s move was made official on Monday and the 36-year-old has linked up with Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Sam Horsfield in the Majesticks team.
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