It’s a sad day for golf” – Paul Azinger slams pro golf calling PGA Tour a ‘qualifier for LIV golf’

Former NBC lead analyst Paul Azinger has expressed disappointment on PGA Tour becoming a ‘LIV Golf qualifier’.In a recent conversation with Golfweek’s Adam Schupak, Azinger shared that he was no longer interested in calling the PGA Tour after his four-year contract with NBC ended recently.

One of the reasons for not extending the contract was that the PGA Tour didn’t have all the best players anymore.
“The best players aren’t all playing PGA Tour tournaments,” Azinger was quoted as saying via Golfweek. “That’s over. Suddenly, the LIV Tour, let’s just say it like this: the PGA Tour has fast become the qualifier for LIV and it’s a sad day for golf…. Yeah, I’ve watched a little bit and I’m not I’m not missing it that much. I’m not missing it at all.”

The 64-year-old former golfer said that although he doesn’t want to work for the PGA Tour in the future, he wasn’t ruling out calling LIV Golf.

“I would not rule that out,” he continued. ” But it ain’t gonna happen. It would be stupid for me to say, ‘oh, no, I’m ruling that out.’ I don’t rule anything out except the Tour.”

Comparing the current state of golf with tennis, Azinger added that the best players were now only going to be seen at the majors instead of being in one place.
“They’re scattered all over the place and that’s a sad day that’s similar to what happened in tennis. The best players are going to be at the four majors, just like tennis, and it’s unfolding right before our eyes. I’d rather call the Senior Tour than the PGA Tour to tell you the truth. I’m over the PGA Tour. To call the best senior players in the world, at least they’re the best,” he stated further.

Over the past two years, the PGA Tour has seen several high-profile players leaving for the LIV Golf for higher pay and a less hectic schedule.   Recently, well-known players such as Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton have made the move to the Saudi-backed circuit.   Additionally, players like Adrian Meronk, who had recently earned their PGA Tour card, have also chosen to switch to LIV. 

How many PGA Tour titles has Paul Azinger won?

Before turning to sports broadcasting, Paul Azinger had a pretty successful career on the PGA Tour. He turned pro in 1981 and went on to win 16 titles including 12 on the American Tour. He also won the 1993 PGA Championship, the only major win of his career. In the OWGR, he reached as high as World No. 4th.

Here are all the PGA Tour wins of Paul Azinger:

1987:
Phoenix Open
Panasonic Las Vegas Invitational
Canon Sammy Davis Jr.-Greater Hartford Open
1988:
Hertz Bay Hill Classic
1989:
Canon Greater Hartford Open (2)
1990:
MONY Tournament of Champions
1991:
AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am
1992:
The Tour Championship
1993:
Memorial Tournament
New England Classic
PGA Championship
2000:
Sony Open in Hawaii