12 August 2023 , 17:09
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Golf star Harold Varner III has claimed that it’s tougher to win a LIV Golf event than an equivalent on the PGA Tour.
Varner is one of a host of players who left the PGA Tour to sign up for the Saudi-funded breakaway league in 2022. He was joined by fellow pros including Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Cameron Smith, Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia and Bryson DeChambeau, among others.
The PGA Tour reached an agreement back in June with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) over a merger with LIV that shocked the world of golf. Since then there have been continued rumours and speculation around what the future of the sport may look like.
Varner has won just one event since joining LIV, which came in DC back in May. In total, the 32-year-old walked away with £3.2 million ($4 million) in prize money after winning the tournament.
And Varner has explained why he believes it’s more difficult to win a LIV Golf event rather than a tournament on the PGA Tour. This is despite him not winning an event on the latter over the course of his career since turning pro in 2012.
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When asked by what he thinks is the biggest misconception about LIV Golf, Varner said: “That LIV’s not serious.
“I think it’s harder to win $4 million than it is to win a PGA Tour event. When you get in contention out here, it’s like, (expletive), that’s life-changing money. And I play for money. “
Varner was also asked if he had been thinking about potentially making a return to the PGA Tour. And the American explained why he is content remaining with LIV Golf.
“There’s a couple of tournaments I want to play, but other than that, no, I like it here,” said Varner.
Harold Varner III has won one LIV Golf event since joining the league in 2022 (Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)“Why would I go? I love the team format. I don’t think I can speak for everyone but I can definitely speak for myself.”
Despite only winning one LIV Golf event, Varner is more than pleased with how his first year in the league has panned out.
“It’s been awesome,” Varner said, before adding: “I think there’s more people.
“Obviously with the merger, I think it’s easing some minds and hearts I think. It’s pretty crazy.
“So my thing has been, I still like playing golf. I want to be good at golf. So I don’t worry about too much else.”