Talor Gooch reveals the ‘final kicker’ that convinced him to leave the PGA Tour for LIV Golf

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LIV Golf star Talor Gooch will be among the players teeing it up this week when the PGA Championship gets underway at Valhalla.

Gooch has been in and out of the news a lot in recent times after comments about The Masters and other aspects of the PGA Tour.

The 32-year-old has done exceptionally well since moving to LIV and has won three individual tournaments, while also being the individual points list and money winner last season.

• READ MORE: How the top five looked the last time the PGA was held at Valhalla

A lot has been made of Gooch’s lack of major participation despite his excellent LIV form. But the PGA have invited him over to Valhalla and he’ll be keen to prove a point.

But when it came to joining LIV in the first place, Gooch has – rather refreshingly – admitted that money was indeed one of the big factors while also detailing some politics from the PGA side influenced him.

Talor Gooch shares what the final straw was when he decided to join LIV Golf

Speaking in an interview for The Times, Gooch covered a range of subjects and explained his driving factors behind signing for LIV.

“The financial upside was undeniable. If someone writes you a blank cheque, it’s obviously going to grab your attention, but money wasn’t the be-all and end-all,” Gooch said.

“I hate the old adage of growing the game but I saw the long-term vision LIV had and I bought into the product.

“That was the final kicker. When my name came out, Davis Love III [the 2022 Presidents Cup captain] called me and said, ‘Jay [Monahan, the PGA Tour commissioner] wanted me to tell you, don’t expect to be on the team if you join’. I knew the potential ramifications, but I wasn’t going to let the threats deter me.”

Gooch will want to win at all costs

• READ MORE: How Talor Gooch reacted to being invited to the PGA Championship

Like a lot of the LIV players competing in the PGA Championship this year, there’ll be that extra motivation to prove they are still the top stars they were before making the move.

Of course, Gooch has only ever won once on the PGA Tour back in 2021.

But while he doesn’t quite hold the star power of a Brooks Koepka or a Bryson DeChambeau, his back and forth over not going to the Masters and other comments provide a big back story here.

Gooch, then, will be determined to put on a good display and at least be in contention.