Talor Gooch explains what has left him shocked when playing in majors over the last two years

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Talor Gooch has revealed what has surprised him about how he has been treated at the major championships since making the move to LIV Golf in 2022.

Talor Gooch has certainly become a divisive character in the world of golf over the last few years, with the 32-year-old one of those who made the jump to the Saudi-backed tour two years ago.

Gooch had won just once on the PGA Tour before his move, but he has been incredibly successful with LIV, winning three times in 2023 to also clinch the individual points race over the season.

Given that most of his success has come with LIV, Gooch has not exactly been a stalwart of the major championships since his move, missing The Masters earlier this year and already confirming that he has no intention to try and qualify for the US Open or The Open Championship.

He has however, been invited to the PGA Championship at Valhalla this week, prompting some surprise from some.

Talor Gooch shocked by reaction from fans at major championships

Obviously, the current situation between the PGA Tour and LIV has been pitched as something of a civil war within the sport, and those who ply their trade on the latter have been criticised by many, for various reasons.

However, Gooch has told The Times that the way he has been treated when he has played in majors over the last couple of years has almost caught him off-guard given the reaction he often receives online.

“Most of the backlash and hate came on social media and built up in time as the strategy from the PGA Tour was to try to make LIV look like the bad guys in this whole thing,” he said.

“I feel like I’m the perfect case study in what the definition of a keyboard warrior is because at the majors I’ve played in the last two years, all the people have been almost shockingly kind in person.”

Stance towards LIV star does appear to be softening

The general stance towards who did defect does appear to be softening. Ultimately, most golf fans seem to now accept that those involved in LIV will have a role to play in deciding the sport’s future, and many are weary of the split in the game.

Like him or not, it will be very interesting to see how Gooch – who has never finished in a top 10 in a major – fares against the world’s best at Valhalla this week.