Matt Wallace Explains Why He Turned Down LIV Golf

Wallace revealed he had been approached by LIV, but the pursuit of World Ranking points is what kept him away from the circuit

Matt Wallace watches his tee shot
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Speaking to The Telegraph, Matt Wallace revealed that he had been approached by LIV Golf in its early stages but it's the "highs and lows of golf" that keeps him going, not the monetary value.

Wallace, who recently claimed his first PGA Tour title at the Corales Puntacana Championship, is indeed good friends with Talor Gooch, the first player to secure back-to-back LIV titles and, in the process, picked up around $10 million. However, to Wallace, the two wins were simply "a cheque and a trophy."

"I saw my mate Talor Gooch has earned £19 million on LIV now or something," stated Wallace. "Great for him. But there was an article online saying that his decision must be justified and I look at it and go what’s justified about it? That he’s won £19 million? He got no world ranking points, no FedEx Cup points, nothing from it apart from a cheque and a trophy and he’s beaten a few players on there. Awesome. He’s probably playing the best golf in the world but that is kind of all he’s got from it.

"I know he likes his wine, so he’ll have bought a bunch, but for me the things that get me up in the morning are world ranking points, FedEx Cup points - and then the money. Because the first two take care of the third. That’s what gets me buzzed."

As mentioned earlier, Wallace was indeed approached in the initial stages of LIV Golf and, in fact, named his price to join. However, according to the 33-year-old, he "didn't even understand the concept", adding "(I) was told to pluck a number out of the air, so I did and it was genuinely obscene."

Wallace walks with his caddie whilst removing his golf glove

Wallace went on a five-year victory drought before his victory in the Dominican Republic

(Image credit: Getty Images)

In the interview with The Telegraph, he went on to add: "But then, when it was happening, I was slowly declining in the rankings and I’ve just never been about it. It’s not been a thing for me. I love the highs and the lows of golf. Yeah, I won in Puntacana but I’ve now missed the last three cuts.

"On that Tour, you can’t miss a cut and experience those lows. You’re just taking the easy road, which I don’t have any qualms about with some of the players. If I was in their position at that stage of my career, maybe I’d have done the same. But some of the other players that have gone, well it feels like their careers have kind of ended a little short. They could’ve done a lot more things."

Along with LIV Golf, Wallace also discussed a number of other factors, one of which surrounds the Ryder Cup, an event which he heartbreakingly missed out on in 2018, despite being one of the in form players in the World with three victories in a six month span.

Now though, following his win back in March, Wallace is arguably in the fray for the event in Italy, with the Englishman more determined than ever to secure a spot in Luke Donald's European side. "I know I could do well at the Ryder Cup. I love sport and this is the huge sporting event that I feel this close to and can be a part of," he stated. "It means so much to me, but I can’t let it be so much to me. This is my third campaign in trying to make it, and the last two haven’t worked out in my favour. So this one will be different."

Matt Cradock
Staff Writer

Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover weekend news and social media, as well as help look after Golf Monthly’s many buyers’ guides and equipment reviews.


Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round came in 2016, where he shot a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine holes. He currently plays at Witney Lakes in Oxfordshire and his favourite player is Rory McIlroy, despite nearly being struck by his second shot at the 17th during the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.


Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?

Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°

Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Rocketballz Stage 2, 15°, 19°

Hybrid: Adams Super Hybrid, 22°

Irons: Mizuno MP54, 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°

Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x