Lee Westwood 's former agent Andrew 'Chubby' Chandler has had his say on the Englishman's decision to make the move to LIV Golf, claiming his former client's days of competing at the top level are 'gone'. Westwood became one of the marquee names to make the LIV switch earlier this year.
A man who knows the former world No. 1 well is Chandler, having represented and worked with Westwood for 24 years before they parted ways back in 2017. Five years on from their split the International Sports Management CEO has discussed the possible reasoning behind the 49-year-old's controversial move.
When asked if he was surprised to see Westwood sign on the dotted line with LIV Golf, Chandler exclusively told Mirror Sport: "Not at all. And not at all for anybody over 40."
The Englishman was not the only stalwart of European golf to make the Saudi switch, with the likes of Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia and Henrik Stenson all joining the breakaway circuit earlier this year. And whilst there has been plenty of controversy surrounding LIV, Chandler does not blame Westwood and co for taking the mega-money offer, with the stars 'past' their best.
The agent went on: "For Sergio [Garcia], [Ian] Poulter it was obvious, [Henrik] Stenson, Richard Bland, all these guys there was no doubt that this was a wonderful carrot for them and to get in at the beginning. All the added riches in the world to the PGA Tour are not going to make that much difference to Poulter, Westwood, Stenson because they are past it.
"They wouldn’t like me saying it, but their days of supreme competition are probably gone. But three rounds, and slightly less pressured stuff is probably right up their street." Once legends of the European game, the likes of Westwood, Poulter, Stenson and Garcia have seen their reputation take a huge hit since joining LIV.
One of the biggest consequences that has come with the Saudi switch is a snubbing from the Ryder Cup, an event the European quartet have more than made their mark on. Stenson more than most has felt the effects, having been sacked from his role as Team Europe's captain ahead of the 2023 due his new-found LIV allegiances.
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Chandler however believes the defectors will have been more than aware of the consequences that they would face if they signed on the dotted line with Greg Norman and co. "When they took the jump I don’t think they expected anything else," he added.
"I think their days as a bog-standard European Tour player were finished and probably the LIV lawyers have said this is probably against this, that and the other. And they [the players] are the ones who came up with the opposition to it."
Another golfing star Chandler has worked closely with is world No. 1 Rory McIlroy, after representing the Northern Irishman throughout the early stages of his career. McIlroy has formed himself into one of the most significant players in golf both on and off the course.
In a year where he returned to the top of the world rankings, the four-time major winner has also played a big role in the sport's civil war, taking the side of the PGA Tour and speaking openly against LIV Golf. Prior to its formation earlier this summer McIlroy revealed he felt the idea of a Saudi-funded series was 'dead in the water', as well as being tangled in a war of words with LIV CEO Norman.
Following his criticism, Chandler believes McIlroy will have some regrets over what he has had to say on the matter. His former agent said: "I think he has always had an opinion, Rory. Whether he was 16, 18, 20, 25, 30, he has always had an opinion.
"He has an opinion that everybody wants to listen to and if you asked honestly if he had wished he hadn’t said a couple of the things he had said he probably wished he hadn’t. But that is Rory, his whole life he has never been afraid of saying something and apologising for getting it wrong."
