Lee Westwood has hit out at at a reporter after the journalist was told to ‘go f*** himself’ by an unnamed LIV golfer at last week’s Open Championship. Despite an historic week of golf at St Andrews, the LIV Golf saga continues to cause havoc within the sport.
A number of stars who made the Saudi switch - including Westwood - appeared at The Open last week, in what may have been their final major championship for some time with the potential of banning orders or no ranking points being handed to LIV golfers.
Sky Sports reporter Jamie Weir revealed on Twitter that he quizzed an unnamed LIV rebel on the prospect of not playing major golf but was given a frosty response in return.
He revealed the player in question told him to ‘go f*** himself’ and added that it was a ‘f***ing s*** question’. Fans on Twitter speculated that it could well have been Englishman Westwood and after seeing his name mentioned the 49-year-old was quick to jump on the discussion.
Quick to confirm that it was not him, he did reveal he did hear the expletive-ridden conversation in question. Seemingly forming a defence of his new breakaway circuit, Westwood appeared to accuse the reporter and Sky Sports for having an agenda against LIV Golf, having been the lead broadcaster of the PGA Tour and DP World Tour for some time.
Hitting out, Westwood replied: “It wasn’t me but I did overhear the conversation in question. Jaimie works for Sky. They cover the PGA & DPWT. Where do you think their loyalties lie and what their agenda is?
The latest chapter in the LIV Golf rollercoaster is the reported acquisition of European Ryder Cup captain Henrik Stenson to the roster. It is believed Stenson will lose his captaincy when he makes the move, with players who have defected already warned that they run the risk of losing their involvement due to their Saudi Series membership.
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Westwood - who has represented Europe 11 times - believes LIV players still have every right to play in the team event as long as they meet the entry requirements. Speaking last month he said: “I've been playing Ryder Cup golf since 1997 and the criteria has been to be a member of the European Tour [now the DP World Tour].
"I've been a member of the PGA Tour and still played four events on the European Tour, and why would the European Tour change their rules so dramatically because another tour doesn't like it or feels financially threatened? As long as you fulfil the criteria to be a European Tour member, then you should still have the opportunity to try and qualify for the Ryder Cup team."
