Couples never hides his disdain towards LIV Golf. He was not diplomatic when speaking of the breakaway league on Pro Football talk channel of Sirius XM PGA Tour, Fred Couples Show in 2023.
To that point, LIV Golf has always portrayed itself as an upstart disruptor to the golf status quo. When the league was initially conceived in 2022 and began in 2023, the conception and the sleeping-pick format was lambasted by golf traditionalists. The Saudi-backed circuit’s own proudly state, ‘Golf but louder’ and have said they have turned things upside down in the sport.
But Fred Couples did not concur on that and did not have any hesitation in terming that money is the basic reason LIV Golf has been able to attract so many big names in golf.
“I want them to go for free. Go on CNN and every TV show and say why they’re going because it’s that good. $100M doesn’t get it, $200M doesn’t get it, $300M doesn’t get it, but for $400M it’s a great product and it’s a great show…MY A**. Tell me the next guy who says, ‘I’m going for free boys, I love this tour, I don’t like the PGA Tour anymore’. No one is gonna do that,” he said.
He further added:
“So what does that tell me? It’s all about money, which is fine but don’t sit there and say they’re changing the game. What’re they changing? The LIV Tour ain’t changing a thing.” [via Sports Illustrated]
Our tour is really what I’m worried about” – Fred Couples on the PGA Tour
Since it’s inception the in year 2022, LIV Golf has been a worthy reckoning to the PGA Tour. Both the leagues have been compared in every way possible, more so when it has to do with viewership.
Easily one of the more popular golfers, Fred Couples was once asked at the PNC Championship what he has to tell the modern players to up their entertainment factor. Ostfeld said that despite this and beyond the competition, the community had to get people to “love golf again” and added that expressing more emotion is a key.
“We have to get people to love the golf again. Everyone loves to play golf, but I think it’s got nothing to do with… LIV this or our Tour that. Our tour is really what I’m worried about, and I don’t even watch their tour. I don’t know if they’re laughing and giggling all the time, but our guys need to show a little more,” he said.
After years of intense rivalry, the PGA Tour and LIV Golf have been working on a peace deal.