Former world number one Ernie Els said the PGA Tour board should step down over the decision to merge their commercial operations with the LIV Series and described the Saudi-backed breakaway circuit as "circus golf".

Els said the way the PGA Tour went about the merger without player input was an "absolute shambles" and that PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan would not still be in the role if it was up to him. "If this happened in my day, in my prime, there's no way he is around. No way. And the board has to change," the 53-year-old told reporters at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club, where he shot a 75 in the first round of the British Open.

"I'm sorry, it's not right. Talk to us, tell us what you're going to do, plan on negotiating. Don't just go rogue as a member of the board and come back with a deal and think we're all going to say 'yes'. "You're affecting people's lives. You're affecting the professional game. It's just so bad."

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Els said he was no fan of LIV's team aspect or its 54-hole, no-cut format. "This is circus golf. Team golf doesn't work," added Els, who won the British Open in 2002 and 2012. "It works maybe in a two-month, three-month happy season. "Get these guys together, get teams together and play around the world. But then play real golf.

"That's what this thing is all about. That's what I prided myself on, like Tiger (Woods) and some of these guys, getting yourself into majors and grinding."

Former world number one Ernie Els said the PGA Tour board should step down over the decision to merge their commercial operations with the LIV Series and described the Saudi-backed breakaway circuit as "circus golf".

Former world number one Ernie Els said the PGA Tour board should step down over the decision to merge their commercial operations with the LIV Series and described the Saudi-backed breakaway circuit as "circus golf". Els said the way the PGA Tour went about the merger without player input was an "absolute shambles" and that PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan would not still be in the role if it was up to him. "If this happened in my day, in my prime, there's no way he is around. No way. And the board has to change," the 53-year-old told reporters at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club, where he shot a 75 in the first round of the British Open. "I'm sorry, it's not right. Talk to us, tell us what you're going to do, plan on negotiating. Don't just go rogue as a member of the board and come back with a deal and think we're all going to say 'yes'. "You're affecting people's lives. You're affecting the professional game. It's just so bad." Also read: NFL confirms sale of Washington Commanders to Harris group for whopping $6.05 billion Els said he was no fan of LIV's team aspect or its 54-hole, no-cut format. "This is circus golf. Team golf doesn't work," added Els, who won the British Open in 2002 and 2012. "It works maybe in a two-month, three-month happy season. "Get these guys together, get teams together and play around the world. But then play real golf. "That's what this thing is all about. That's what I prided myself on, like Tiger (Woods) and some of these guys, getting yourself into majors and grinding."

Former world number 1 Ernie Els blasts PGA Tour board over merger with 'circus golf' LIV series

Rory&nbsp;McIlroy&nbsp;said he would rather retire from the sport than sign up for LIV Golf after proposals came to light to offer the former world number one his own team on the breakaway circuit. At a senate hearing earlier this week, a proposal was revealed for both Tiger Woods and&nbsp;McIlroy, two of the sport's biggest names, to own LIV Golf teams and participate in at least 10 events on the rival Saudi-backed circuit.

But&nbsp;McIlroy, who said he did not watch the hearing, said he would have rebuffed any such proposal. "If LIV Golf was the last place to play golf on earth I would retire. That's how I feel about it,"&nbsp;McIlroy&nbsp;said after he carded an opening round of 64 at the Scottish Open on Thursday.

"There's quite a bit of apathy towards everything at the moment. There wasn't a lot of new information there for me (in the hearing), there maybe was for other people." The PGA Tour, European Tour and Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit announced a landmark agreement last month to merge and form a commercial entity to unify golf.

PGA Tour Chief Operating Officer Ron Price and board member Jimmy Dunne testified before the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. At the hearing, the framework agreement with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund was described as an attempt by its government to "buy influence" in U.S. sports.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis-ons-jabeur-and-marketa-vondrousova-to-lock-horns-in-wimbledon-2023-final-615235">Tennis: Ons Jabeur and Marketa Vondrousova to lock horns in Wimbledon 2023 final</a>

"As I said, I've almost been too close to it over the last year and a bit so it's nice to be able to try to distance myself a bit from it,"&nbsp;McIlroy&nbsp;added. "I think I'm apathetic to all the noise around it and as long as the tournaments that I play keep on existing I'll be very happy to play them and be a professional golfer."

McIlroy&nbsp;had been one of the PGA Tour's most vocal backers when LIV Golf poached the world's best players. But the four-times major champion later conceded that the new partnership will ultimately be good for professional golf, saying those who were loyal to the PGA Tour should be compensated.

"I think they were trying to do what was right for the Tour, which in turn means what's right for the players on that Tour,"&nbsp;McIlroy&nbsp;said. "I think I read a quote: "they were negotiating their survival', so I think that's a very fair thing for a business to do."

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Rory McIlroy said he would rather retire from the sport than sign up for LIV Golf after proposals came to light to offer the former world number one his own team on the breakaway circuit.

Rory McIlroy said he would rather retire from the sport than sign up for LIV Golf after proposals came to light to offer the former world number one his own team on the breakaway circuit. At a senate hearing earlier this week, a proposal was revealed for both Tiger Woods and McIlroy, two of the sport's biggest names, to own LIV Golf teams and participate in at least 10 events on the rival Saudi-backed circuit. But McIlroy, who said he did not watch the hearing, said he would have rebuffed any such proposal. "If LIV Golf was the last place to play golf on earth I would retire. That's how I feel about it," McIlroy said after he carded an opening round of 64 at the Scottish Open on Thursday. "There's quite a bit of apathy towards everything at the moment. There wasn't a lot of new information there for me (in the hearing), there maybe was for other people." The PGA Tour, European Tour and Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit announced a landmark agreement last month to merge and form a commercial entity to unify golf. PGA Tour Chief Operating Officer Ron Price and board member Jimmy Dunne testified before the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. At the hearing, the framework agreement with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund was described as an attempt by its government to "buy influence" in U.S. sports. Also Read: Tennis: Ons Jabeur and Marketa Vondrousova to lock horns in Wimbledon 2023 final "As I said, I've almost been too close to it over the last year and a bit so it's nice to be able to try to distance myself a bit from it," McIlroy added. "I think I'm apathetic to all the noise around it and as long as the tournaments that I play keep on existing I'll be very happy to play them and be a professional golfer." McIlroy had been one of the PGA Tour's most vocal backers when LIV Golf poached the world's best players. But the four-times major champion later conceded that the new partnership will ultimately be good for professional golf, saying those who were loyal to the PGA Tour should be compensated. "I think they were trying to do what was right for the Tour, which in turn means what's right for the players on that Tour," McIlroy said. "I think I read a quote: "they were negotiating their survival', so I think that's a very fair thing for a business to do." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Golf: I'd rather retire than play LIV Golf, says world number three Rory McIlroy

India's top-ranked golfer Anirban Lahiri believed the hatred and animosity against the rebel LIV Golf Series has been misplaced. The lucrative LIV&nbsp;Golf Series is funded by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund and has left the golf world divided by poaching some of the best players from across the globe with huge contracts.

LIV Golf is currently locked in a legal battle with the PGA Tour, which believes its status quo has been threatened by the introduction of the rebel series. While PGA has already banned the players who have signed with LIV Golf, DP World Tour - the other leading golf property in the world has only slapped fines.

The PGA Tour had recently countersued LIV Golf accusing the Saudi-backed league of attracting players unfairly by offering them whopping contracts. While the legal battle continues, the numerous top stars who have joined LIV, have been enjoying life in the new circuit and hope for the animosity to take a backseat soon.

Lahiri, who is the first Indian to have signed up with LIV Golf, spoke with WION on the sidelines of the Liv Golf invitational in Bangkok and said the game should not suffer because of the hatred towards the league. Lahiri also urged all parties involved to keep the interests of the fans above theirs.

"It should not have started with so much vitriol and animosity. It was very misplaced. There are three angles to it the way I look at it, there is the business angle in terms of the organisation, there is the angle of the players which is us and where we find ourselves in all of this, and there are fans who love golf," said Lahiri.

"I think the first aspect which is the organisational sort of animosity has spilt over to the second aspect which is the players and that is affecting the fans. I would love for the pyramid to be reversed where you put fans ahead and say let's make golf something that people love to watch like it used to be. And not force just one kind of golf on them.

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It's not about good and bad. I think that's where this whole conversation has completely fallen on itself and golf has gotten divided. If you love golf, and you want to watch good golf that's all that should matter. Not one golf is good and the other golf is bad, I do not agree or subscribe to that. I think the focus needs to come back to golf," he explained.

The Indian golfer revealed he has a lot of friends, who have understood his decision and have supported him in his choice while there are others who he has had a fallout with due to joining LIV Golf. Lahiri wants PGS Tour and LIV Golf to sort out their differences and learn to co-exist as he believes the game has suffered a lot already.

"Just to begin with, it should not have gotten to where we have gotten. I have a lot of friends on the other side so to speak, who understand and get what I am doing and are okay with it. I have some who have fallen out with me which is really sad to see and that's something that needs to go away," said Lahiri.

"At the end of the day, we all respect each other, everybody is making their own decisions on their own choices which is fine but at the end of the day, I don't think golf should suffer. I think golf has suffered enough in the last few months. Going forward, if the organisations can put their spat aside, I think it will be good for golf in the long run and it has to go that way, it has to co-exist," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-asia-is-sleeping-giant-for-game-reaching-non-traditional-destinations-liv-golf-ceo-greg-norman-523325">Exclusive | Asia is sleeping giant to help game reach non-traditional destinations: LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman</a>

Being a professional golfer is not an easy job as Lahir, like many others, has to spend days away from family while playing on tours. However, the Indian golfer considers himself lucky to be doing what he has grown up loving and credits his family for their sacrifices which allow him to focus on his job on the field.

"I don't look at it negatively, I think we are very privileged to be doing what we are doing. We are very honoured to have this life, to be able to play a sport that you&nbsp;love for a living is something that I will never take lightly. Yes every job has its demands, and if you look at the job of playing professional golf, there is a huge demand on the family, the cost is borne by the wife and the kids," Lahiri said.

"Because once we get to a tournament, we are so focused on what we are doing. We kind of go into an alternate space where it's routine, I need to go to the gym, wake up do this, stretch, play, work out, and practice, we are almost so regimented that everything else ceases to exist for us so we are physically, emotionally absent from the rest of your family.

When you are single, you are young, and it's easy to do that but I do feel like I am getting pulled in other directions which is why moving to LIV Golf, playing a little less and spending time with the family was also something that attracted me towards it," he added.

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&nbsp;

India's top-ranked golfer Anirban Lahiri believed the hatred and animosity against the rebel LIV Golf Series has been misplaced. The lucrative LIV Golf Series is funded by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund and has left the golf world divided by poaching some of the best players from across the globe with huge contracts.

India's top-ranked golfer Anirban Lahiri believed the hatred and animosity against the rebel LIV Golf Series has been misplaced. The lucrative LIV Golf Series is funded by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund and has left the golf world divided by poaching some of the best players from across the globe with huge contracts. LIV Golf is currently locked in a legal battle with the PGA Tour, which believes its status quo has been threatened by the introduction of the rebel series. While PGA has already banned the players who have signed with LIV Golf, DP World Tour - the other leading golf property in the world has only slapped fines. The PGA Tour had recently countersued LIV Golf accusing the Saudi-backed league of attracting players unfairly by offering them whopping contracts. While the legal battle continues, the numerous top stars who have joined LIV, have been enjoying life in the new circuit and hope for the animosity to take a backseat soon. Lahiri, who is the first Indian to have signed up with LIV Golf, spoke with WION on the sidelines of the Liv Golf invitational in Bangkok and said the game should not suffer because of the hatred towards the league. Lahiri also urged all parties involved to keep the interests of the fans above theirs. "It should not have started with so much vitriol and animosity. It was very misplaced. There are three angles to it the way I look at it, there is the business angle in terms of the organisation, there is the angle of the players which is us and where we find ourselves in all of this, and there are fans who love golf," said Lahiri. "I think the first aspect which is the organisational sort of animosity has spilt over to the second aspect which is the players and that is affecting the fans. I would love for the pyramid to be reversed where you put fans ahead and say let's make golf something that people love to watch like it used to be. And not force just one kind of golf on them. × Also Read: EXCLUSIVE! We saw the vision: Ian Poulter explains his decision to join LIV Golf, stirs world ranking debate It's not about good and bad. I think that's where this whole conversation has completely fallen on itself and golf has gotten divided. If you love golf, and you want to watch good golf that's all that should matter. Not one golf is good and the other golf is bad, I do not agree or subscribe to that. I think the focus needs to come back to golf," he explained. The Indian golfer revealed he has a lot of friends, who have understood his decision and have supported him in his choice while there are others who he has had a fallout with due to joining LIV Golf. Lahiri wants PGS Tour and LIV Golf to sort out their differences and learn to co-exist as he believes the game has suffered a lot already. "Just to begin with, it should not have gotten to where we have gotten. I have a lot of friends on the other side so to speak, who understand and get what I am doing and are okay with it. I have some who have fallen out with me which is really sad to see and that's something that needs to go away," said Lahiri. "At the end of the day, we all respect each other, everybody is making their own decisions on their own choices which is fine but at the end of the day, I don't think golf should suffer. I think golf has suffered enough in the last few months. Going forward, if the organisations can put their spat aside, I think it will be good for golf in the long run and it has to go that way, it has to co-exist," he added. Also Read: Exclusive | Asia is sleeping giant to help game reach non-traditional destinations: LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman Being a professional golfer is not an easy job as Lahir, like many others, has to spend days away from family while playing on tours. However, the Indian golfer considers himself lucky to be doing what he has grown up loving and credits his family for their sacrifices which allow him to focus on his job on the field. "I don't look at it negatively, I think we are very privileged to be doing what we are doing. We are very honoured to have this life, to be able to play a sport that you love for a living is something that I will never take lightly. Yes every job has its demands, and if you look at the job of playing professional golf, there is a huge demand on the family, the cost is borne by the wife and the kids," Lahiri said. "Because once we get to a tournament, we are so focused on what we are doing. We kind of go into an alternate space where it's routine, I need to go to the gym, wake up do this, stretch, play, work out, and practice, we are almost so regimented that everything else ceases to exist for us so we are physically, emotionally absent from the rest of your family. When you are single, you are young, and it's easy to do that but I do feel like I am getting pulled in other directions which is why moving to LIV Golf, playing a little less and spending time with the family was also something that attracted me towards it," he added. ×

Exclusive! Hatred for LIV Golf has been misplaced, says India's no.1 Anirban Lahiri