Lee Westwood slams European Tour after what they’ve done to him, Tyrrell Hatton and Jon Rahm since LIV move

Add as preferred source on Google

Lee Westwood has hit out at the European Tour for how he’s been treated along with his fellow LIV Golf stars.

The Englishman was one of the high-profile names to make the move to the Saudi-backed venture in 2022, citing playing less golf coupled with a pay increase as the key reasons behind his move.

The European Tour took a firm stance on those who decided to move to LIV, hitting Westwood with a £800,000 fine.

With the figure still unpaid, the 51-year-old is unable to participate in the Senior British Open, which is part-owned by the European Tour.

A decision the Englishman is less than impressed with.

Lee Westwood speaks to Peter Finch about European Tour treatment of LIV Golf stars

• READ MORE: Golf fans all have the same complaint about LIV Golf’s transfer window

Westwood, speaking on Peter Finch’s Rough Cut Podcast, opened up about the current situation with the European Tour.

He said: “The only one I can’t play in is the Senior’s British because it’s half owned by the European tour, and the R&A won’t put their foot down and say, ‘No, this is an Open Championship, Lee and Richard Bland should be able to play’. They pander to the European tour and say if we pay are fines – mine are around £850,000 – I’m not paying that because I disagree with the way they’ve been handed out so that’s why I can’t play in the Senior Open Championship.”

Westwood added: “It’s just a number they come to for playing in LIV Golf events up against European Tour events. They’re not even consistent with it. They’ve fined Tyrrell and Jon Rahm different numbers now.”

Lee Westwood appears content with LIV Golf decision

• READ MORE: Golf fans are shocked at what Max Homa did at the Charles Schwab Challenge

Westwood, like so many of the LIV Golf rebels, seems content with his decision.

The opportunity to play less golf and earn more money was always going to be hard to turn down.

Issues surrounding LIV Golf players’ participation in specific competitions must be sorted out soon.

The breakaway league isn’t going anywhere, so a resolution is required. The European Tour, in particular, needs to understand that preventing players from participating in certain events is only going to cause more harm than good.