Mexico City /
At the end of June the news was confirmed that carlos ortiz would join LIFE Golf Tourthe controversial new Saudi-backed professional golf tour.
Just days after it emerged that, like many other elite golfers, Ortiz had signed a millionaire contract, appeared in Pumpkin Ridge Golf ClubPortland, con uncertainty y low expectations. LIV He had only held one event in London and there was still little information on the format that only takes place for 48 golfers, who make up 12 teams.
“I arrived very skeptical at the first tournament, wanting to see what I had really gotten myself into. Normally they sell you something and when you see it it’s different, but the truth is I was very calm; they just want to make a different product. I know that they are taking it very really; they have met the payments and the equipment part is incredible”, mentioned the 31-year-old from Guadalajara.
The decision to sign with LIV, and take the risk of never competing on the PGA Tour again, it was not complicated for Carlos Ortiz. During his participation in the RBC Canadian Open (PGA Tour) he received a call from the Spanish Sergio Garcia, 20-time world champion and Masters champion in 2017. The European invited to Carlos to the tour already be part of your team at Fireballsalong with the Tamaulipas Abraham Ancer and the young Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra.
“The talks started in January, but I didn’t really take action; I said: ‘if they don’t look for me, I won’t do anything’. During the first LIV tournament, the one in London, he spoke to me Sergio García and he told me that he would like me to play for his team. I told him about the things I needed to go play and a day later they made me an offer”, commented Ortiz, a proud father of three daughters.
After the first two events, in Portland and Bedminster, where he finished second and fourth respectively, as well as third place for the Fireballs in both, today doubts have been dispelled for the tricolor golfer.
What Ortiz stands out from LIV Golf
“I would highlight everything (of this tour), play at the same time (shotgun start, instead of defined tee times), we play much faster y all those things that people like to see: not so slow, not so boring, music in some places in the field, music in practice. They treat the caddies as people and not like on the other tour, where they are left in the dumps, with practically no food,” the golfer from Guadalajara also mentioned.
Prior to joining LIV, Ortiz had played 20 events in the 2022 Season on the PGA Tour, racking up just over $1 million in earnings; with only two tournaments disputed in LIVCarlos exceeds 5 million dollars in prizes.
There is no doubt that LIV has achieved its goal: to be a tour extremely competitivewhich gives golfers the chance of win more. However, there is still a lot of skepticism in the world of golf; above all, because the Saudi project does not award world ranking points yet, being then an exhibition tour. In short, golfers who participate in the Saudi tour do not receive points and therefore have no way of qualifying for the best events in the world, the four majors.
