Golfing superstar Bubba Watson has told the PGA to pound sand and will join the Trump-endorsed LIV Golf Series instead.
Watson, a two-time Masters champion, will join other golf stars Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Charl Schwartzel, Phil Mickelson, and Sergio Garcia in leaving the PGA Tour.
Including wins at the Masters in 2012 and 2014, Watson has 12 career PGA Tour wins.
LIV announced some changes for next year this week including expanding the schedule to 14 events.
The LIV Golf Series is having an event at Trump’s Bedminster club this weekend with the 45th president playing in the pro-am today.
Watson, 43, will reportedly make his LIV debut at the tournament in Boston in September.
“They’re trying to change,” Watson said earlier about playing in Saudia Arabia.
“They started with women’s golf, started supporting the women’s golf (through a series of events on the Ladies European Tour) and then they started supporting men’s golf.
“There’s women’s tournaments already that they sponsor.
“Trying to grow the game.
“They’re trying to change industry over there, bring golf, bring tourism to Saudi Arabia with the beautiful beaches that they already have.’
“It will be interesting to go over there and play, but also see the beauty of other parts of the world that God’s created.
“I can’t wait to get over there.
“Hopefully the Tour lets us go.
“Again, the charity dollars is what’s most important, so the more money I can get in my hands, the more I can give away.
“So it’s an honor and a privilege if they let me go over there and play.’’
Two-Time Masters Champion Bubba Watson Is Joining LIV Golf https://t.co/4AzvXsFTAW via @si_golf
— Bob Harig (@BobHarig) July 27, 2022
Bubba Watson is headed to LIV Golf. 👀 pic.twitter.com/tduhpdc22d
— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) July 27, 2022
According to SI:
He is also expected to be one of the team captains in 2023, when LIV expands to 14 tournaments and locks in its 12 four-man teams, which is a big mission in LIV’s plans.
The idea is to at some point sell those franchises, allowing captains to pick their own players while also dropping them or trading them.
Earlier this year, Watson finished second by a shot to Harold Varner III at the Saudi International tournament on the Asian Tour, which is run by Golf Saudi and funded by the Public Investment Fund, which is the source behind LIV Golf
