Billy Horschel On Prospect Of A LIV Golf vs PGA Tour Ryder Cup-Style Match
The American seems to like the sound of a LIV Golf vs PGA Tour match, although he doesn't think it would come to fruition
Billy Horschel says he would love to play against his friends Cameron Smith and Ian Poulter in a LIV vs PGA Tour Ryder Cup-style match but concedes that it would be "lose-lose" for the PGA Tour.
Horschel, one of the most outspoken tour pros against LIV Golf, makes his Presidents Cup debut this week for Team USA but once again the chat is dominated by Greg Norman's new 54-hole series, which has meant the match has some big names missing due to their ineligibility following their suspensions from the PGA Tour.
"Yeah, I wouldn't mind playing in it, but at the same time, you've got to look at things - what would the PGA Tour benefit from that? Nothing. If we win, we're supposed to win. If we lose, it looks bad on the PGA Tour," Horschel said of a potential match versus the LIV Golf players.
"So it's really a lose-lose for the PGA Tour in that situation, and LIV's got everything to gain from it. But as a player, we're all competitive, and I have great relationships with a lot of those guys and I would love to compete with them.
"I was looking forward to playing the Presidents Cup and maybe getting paired against Cam Smith, who's a really good friend of mine. If somehow there was a little LIV-PGA Tour competition, I would love that. I would love to play against Cam Smith or one of my good friends, Ian Poulter or something like that.
"Like I said, I'm not the one who makes that decision. There's more that goes into a decision like that. I wouldn't fault the PGA Tour or anyone saying this doesn't benefit us going forward. I see that side of it, and I'm fine with that."
Horschel also gave a strong view on the prospect of LIV Golf gaining Official World Golf Ranking points, following the LIV players signing and sending a letter to the OWGR pleading to be sanctioned.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
"I've been consistent about this for four or five months now. All of those guys knew, when they left the PGA Tour, there was a good chance they may not get World Ranking Points anymore," Horschel said.
"Unfortunately, they were told that they were going to get World Ranking Points by their colleagues. That's what they feel, based off of Greg Norman and the people over there, feel like they should get World Ranking Points right away. That's not going to happen. That's not the process in place. And for Greg to continue to attack Jay Monahan, Keith Pelley, and say there's a bias in place for not awarding them World Ranking Points, just follow the rules.
"They don't meet the criteria right now based off their Tour to be awarded World Ranking Points. Everything I know, which I know very little about the World Ranking Points system in general, but I know it's a year to an 18-month process before they even get World Ranking Points. So just wait it out. Meet the criteria.
"They don't meet the, from what I've been told, first nine things, eight things on the criteria list. They don't have an average field size of 78. They don't have a cut. They don't have open qualifying. They don't award points or spots to local qualifiers. They don't have a Q-School. All these things that they don't have."
Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: Titleist TSi2
Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1
Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Ball: Srixon Z Star XV
-
Wenyi Ding Facts: 13 Things To Know About Chinese Golfer
After a stellar college career Wenyi Ding is set to join the pros, get to know him more with our 12 facts
By Paul Higham Published
-
Tyrrell Hatton's Golf Tips: 10 Steps To Help You Shoot Your Best Ever Score
Tyrrell Hatton, winner of the 2024 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, shares 10 of his expert golf tips in a bid to help amateur golfers shoot lower scores...
By Kit Alexander Published
-
LIV Golf's Ian Poulter Reveals The One Thing He Misses About Life On The PGA Tour And DP World Tour
The Majesticks co-captain admitted there was one thing he missed about life on his former tours but said the positives of his move to LIV more than made up for it
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Ian Poulter Calls For 'Compromise From All Sides' To Achieve Unity In Men's Game
The Majesticks GC co-captain explained why collaboration has to be at the forefront of golf's future if it is to thrive
By Jonny Leighfield Last updated
-
Ian Poulter ‘Gutted’ To Withdraw From Asian Tour England Event
'The Postman' was due to appear at the Asian Tour's International Series England event at Foxhills this week
By Jonny Leighfield Last updated
-
'I'd Love Nothing More Than For Luke To Wear The Majesticks Shirt' - Ian Poulter Hopes Talented Son Will Succeed Him In LIV Golf
Ian Poulter is hopeful his eldest son Luke - who currently plays golf at the University of Florida - will succeed him at Majesticks GC in the future
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
LIV Golfer 'Lending' Caddie To Tommy Fleetwood For PGA Championship As 'Very Lucky' Ian Finnis Continues Recovery From Heart Surgery
Ian Poulter's regular caddie - who has also worked for the likes of Justin Rose, Vijay Singh, and Michelle Wie West - will loop for Fleetwood at Valhalla this week
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
'Being Two Faced Is A Terrible Trait' - Ian Poulter Blasts Mystery Party On Social Media While Praising Rory McIlroy's LIV Golf U-Turn
The Ryder Cup legend shared a two-part Instagram story in which he commended Rory McIlroy's most-recent thoughts on LIV Golf while also criticizing a change of heart by a different mystery party
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
'We've Got 14 Majors Out Here Now' - Pro On The Strength Of LIV Golf
Branden Grace says LIV Golf now has 14 events just like Majors given the increased strength of the field
By Paul Higham Published
-
Poulter Says It's 'Full Steam Ahead' For LIV Golf
Ian Poulter says it's "full steam ahead" for LIV Golf while Lee Westwood says it'll only get stronger after the PGA Tour-PIF deal
By Paul Higham Published