Still present in the continental team in January during the Hero Cup, the Belgian Thomas Pieters has, according to The Telegraph, decided to join LIV Golf. It’s a real blow for the European Ryder Cup team led by captain Luke Donald!
Unless there is a favorable decision in the dispute between the DP World Tour to players who have joined the LIFE Golf – a verdict that everyone in professional golf is eagerly awaiting and which should decide the future of the “rebels” within the European Tour – we should not see again Thomas Pieters elsewhere than on the LIV Golf. According The Telegraphthe Belgian, aged 31, would have responded favorably to the sirens of the dissident Tour generously supported with millions of dollars by the Public investment fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia.
34th player in the world, the Flemish had all his chances of being retained by Luke Donaldthe captain of the European team of Ryder Cup, for the long-awaited meeting at the end of September in Rome. It is therefore yet another blow for the Englishman who had nevertheless “selected” him in the continental team at the beginning of January for the Hero Cup !
Sad to miss my favorite tournament of the year. Because well as #34 in world, I just couldn’t get in @PGATOUR. ????????♂️ #GenesisInvitational
— Thomas Pieters (@Thomas_Pieters) February 15, 2023
Courted for several months by the Australian-led breakaway League Greg NormanPieters had recently indicated to European Tour officials that he would not join Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia, Graeme McDowell or Henrik Stenson, all potential future European Ryder Cup captains. You have to believe that the leaders of LIV Golf were very persuasive!
Now a father, the native of Antwerp has thus given in to petrodollars, already ensuring him a “golden retirement”, he who had admitted not being an inveterate supporter of the alliance between the DP World Tour and THE PGA Tour.
A US circuit which did not give him any gift. The organizers of Genesis Invitational, who is playing until Sunday in Los Angeles, did not grant him an invitation even though his status as the 34th player in the world could legitimately assure him of it. A final “error” which has surely finished convincing the Belgian, six times victorious on the DP World Tour and still present in January on both Rolex Series in Abu Dhabi and Dubaito take the step…
Photo : Luke Walker / GETTY IMAGES EUROPE / Getty Images via AFP
