Dallas’ Will Zalatoris on the players meeting with Tiger Woods, refusing to join LIV Golf

Dallas golfer Will Zalatoris joined the Hardline on Sportsradio 96.7 FM/1310 The Ticket [KTCK-AM] to speak concerning the gamers assembly involving Tiger Woods that appears to reshape the PGA Tour.

Listed here are a few of the highlights, edited for readability and brevity:

On the gamers assembly in Delaware involving Tiger Woods.

Zalatoris: “It’s actually cool to see Tiger and Rory accomplish that a lot for the sport. Particularly Tiger, you would argue that he’s some of the vital voices in all of sports activities. With every thing that’s been happening, if we didn’t act ahead of later, that offers LIV extra time to recruit guys. We knew that we would have liked to make some modifications and a few of it has been launched, whereas we’re nonetheless working towards a number of issues. The primary theme is that the highest guys must get collectively extra typically. Even when we’ve a prime occasion, proper now you’re nonetheless solely a specific amount of the highest 25 guys which can be enjoying every week. Now, should you get a bit bit a smaller schedule going January to August, and…one yr you could have the Nelson being a kind of premier tournaments, and also you get all these massive guys to return to city? That’s what makes the tour so good. Proper now, we’re type of enjoying an excessive amount of and never sufficient in opposition to one another. Now, having the ability to say ‘hey listed below are the occasions y’all are going to play, plus the 4 majors.’ That, I feel goes to be actually nice for viewership. The factor is with LIV, is that they examine to Method 1. On the PGA Tour, should you received 47 occasions, you’re not going to see Rory McIlroy in any respect 47. Now, we’re in a position to say ‘hey, these sequence are going to occur and these guys are going to be there.’ It’s the most effective product for everybody.”

When this revised schedule goes into impact is there going to be a penalty should you don’t go to occasions? Does it create a tier system for the blokes that don’t qualify and the lesser occasions which can be disregarded?

Zalatoris: “I don’t know when it comes to the dedication, I’d be shocked in the event that they stated it was eight or 9 occasions and it’s important to present as much as all of them. I’d assume that there can be some break put in there in some kind or style. I’m unsure precisely how, that’s up for these guys to determine what’s greatest. In actuality, even with these suped up occasions there’s nonetheless going to be nice methods for guys to play their manner into it. In the event you play good golf, you’re going to be enjoying with the most effective gamers on the planet. That’s the entire thing about this, we have to get the blokes who play the most effective golf in opposition to one another extra typically. In the event you look again to my scenario, my first yr on tour the place I couldn’t play within the FedEx Cup playoffs. I additionally couldn’t get into a few of the prime occasions due to the place I used to be. That may’t occur. If we will get 20 out of the highest 25 guys to be enjoying 12 instances a yr, we’re going to be promoting a product. If you consider it, it solely occurs 5 instances a yr, six should you’re fortunate. If we’re working this different product, why don’t we get extra guys to return in right here and get extra guys collectively like that.”

When rumors had been flying about you going to LIV, what was it like?

Zalatoris: “Look, it’s everybody’s resolution, it’s not my job to inform somebody easy methods to stay their life. However should you take a look at the historical past and also you take a look at what’s gone on with the PGA Tour, we’re run by the gamers. Some guys have guidelines that they don’t like, however cooler heads all the time prevail. I knew internally that just about everybody would keep and I knew what the authorized argument was for the Tour. It simply is not sensible for somebody at my age. There’s no sum of money I’d hand over for successful the a significant. That’s simply me, I’m positive different guys have a quantity of their head. However that’s the place my profession began, within the majors and why would I money in on that at 26. The fellows which can be enjoying on LIV, they’re the identical guys enjoying over and over. They’re not going to get their Official World Golf rating – I don’t suppose – and should you don’t have Official World Golf rating factors, you’re not attending to the majors. They management their sponsorships too in 2024, so their freedom off the golf course, when it comes to marketability is as much as them. They will run theirs, however some guys are enjoying for $17 million this week. If that’s not sufficient cash for you, go forward and go.”

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