LIV Golf rebel Matt Jones has claimed PGA Tour players were left 'upset and jealous' after he made the move to the Saudi-funded series last summer.
Jones joined a number of players in making the controversial switch to LIV in its inaugural season. The formation of the breakaway league tore the sport in two, with the PGA Tour and LIV battling it out to be golf's leading circuit.
In response to the threat of the Saudi-funded series, PGA Tour bosses suspended the membership of any player making the contentious switch. One of those was of course Jones, who has since teamed up with Marc Leishman, Jediah Morgan and Open champion Cam Smith as part of Ripper GC.
Months on from his Saudi switch, Jones has opened up on the reaction from his former PGA Tour colleagues when it was announced he was joining LIV. Remarkably, the Aussie revealed he was next to arguably LIV's biggest critic in Rory McIlroy when the news was confirmed.
"I was on the tables in the therapy room with Rory [McIlroy] and [Billy] Horschel when my name come out during that tournament," Jones told the Sydney Morning Herald. They were fine. They understand for a lot of guys, ‘Why wouldn’t you’?"
Whilst the Australian admitted some of the Tour's big names were understanding, he did reveal that some showed a hint of jealousy. He added: "I don’t have the money and contracts those guys do. It made sense for me.
"Not one person I know was being critical, they might have been a little upset or jealous. I think there’s a lot of that. Maybe they didn’t get contacted or a chance to do it - and then they were bitter and jealous." LIV's next event will kick off on Friday, and it is a special one for Jones and his Ripper teammates.
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The Saudi-funded circuit heads to Australia for the first time, as The Grange hosts LIV Adelaide. The breakaway league has faced plenty of criticism over in the United States, but Jones believes the reception down under will be much more welcoming.
"I think the only bad-mouthing would be more on the US side and their media side," he said. I think it’s probably one of the best fields, if not the best field, Australia has ever seen. That would even be going back to the Jack [Nicklaus] and Greg days.
When you have the list of major winners and tournament winners out here, it’s pretty impressive. Everyone is pumped. I can’t explain how excited everyone is to be coming to Australia - and I’m not just saying that to blow smoke."
