'Something I Shouldn't Have Said' - PGA Tour Pro On Saudi League Comments
Kramer Hickok says he has been surprised by the reaction to his comments on the rumoured Saudi golf league
After causing a stir with recent comments regarding the rumoured Saudi Super Golf League, PGA Tour pro Kramer Hickok says he will be avoiding the topic going forward.
Speaking on the Stripe Show podcast back in February, Hickok told host Travis Fulton that "a lot of big names" had signed up to the prospective F1-style breakaway tour, before adding: "I think there's already been 17 guys that have jumped over.
"Some of these guys are probably getting a little bit greedy. We’re starting to realise how money-hungry a lot of players on the PGA Tour."
The 29-year-old's comments were picked up and given widespread coverage as speculation ramped up around this year's Saudi International. And after posting an opening five-under 67 at The Players Championship, Hickok was asked if he was surprised by the reaction his comments garnered.
"Yeah, I was," he said. "It was a weird situation. It was probably something I shouldn't have said because it didn't concern me, and so I've tried to stay out of it recently. You know, news spreads like wildfire, especially surrounding that Tour."
Although players like Adam Scott, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter are all believed to be mulling over offers to join the mega-money venture, the SGL has been dealt several setbacks of late. So much so, in fact, that when Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau came out in support of the PGA Tour, Rory McIlroy branded the new concept as "dead in the water."
However, with the very public threat of a lifetime PGA Tour ban for anyone deciding to defect, the man rumoured to be behind the new series hit back. In an open letter to PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, LIV Golf Investments CEO Greg Norman threatened legal action before insisting that "this is just the beginning."
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In response to the two-time Open champion, Monahan said the PGA Tour was "moving on" and that he was concentrating on "legacy".
An announcement confirming the players who had agreed to join the SGL was rumoured for Players Championship week, but that has so far failed to materialise.
A lifelong golf fan, Andy graduated in 2019 with a degree in Sports Journalism and got his first role in the industry as the Instruction Editor for National Club Golfer. From there, he decided to go freelance and now covers a variety of topics for Golf Monthly.
Andy took up the game at the age of seven and even harboured ambitions of a career in the professional ranks for a spell. That didn’t pan out, but he still enjoys his weekend golf at Royal Troon and holds a scratch handicap. As a side note, he's made five holes-in-one and could quite possibly be Retief Goosen’s biggest fan.
As well as the above, some of Andy's work has featured on websites such as goal.com, dailyrecord.co.uk, and theopen.com.
What's in Andy's bag?
Driver: Callaway Mavrik Sub-Zero (9°)
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (15°)
Driving iron: Titleist U500 (17°)
Irons: Mizuno mp32 (4-PW)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM9 (50°, 54° and 58°)
Putter: Titleist Scotty Cameron Newport 2.5
Ball: TaylorMade TP5x
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