"Ostracized" LIV Golf pro asked what will happen if breakaway tour fails
LIV Golf player Anirban Lahiri has reflected on his time with the breakaway tour and predicts whether the tour will be a success in a few years' time.
LIV Golf player Anirban Lahiri conceded some of the criticisms of the breakaway tour are "valid" but believes the format could be as popular as T20 cricket in a few years' time.
With all due respect to Lahiri, he is the type of player that only the staunchest of golf fans might have heard of.
The former PGA Tour pro was firmly thrust in the limelight in March 2022 when he contended at The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.
That event, you might recall, was won by his future LIV compatriot in Cameron Smith.
Lahiri had never tasted victory on the PGA Tour before he made the switch to LIV, citing "loneliness" as a key reason for his defection.
Now the tour's "beta test" season is firmly in the books and Lahiri has reflected on what life has been like with the rival league.
Chief of Lahiri's concerns is the "hypocrisy" from the "biased media".
In fairness to Lahiri, he was dropped by Hero MotoCorp owing to his association with the Saudi-financed tour.
Hero is the title sponsor of Tiger Woods' PGA Tour event in the Bahamas. Make of that what you will.
But back to Lahiri, who told Sportstar:
He continued:
Lahiri's comments come as there is more than a bit of disruption behind the scenes at LIV Golf.
Atul Khosla - hailed as a "guru" in his field - has resigned from his role as chief operating officer after allegedly having a furious confrontation with Yasir Al Rumayyan, the governor of the Saudi wealth fund that is bankrolling LIV.
LIV are still without a TV deal which is seen as absolutely crucial going forward. They are also yet to announce new signees for the 2023 LIV Golf League.
Related: Bubba Watson reveals his LIV hesitancy
Still, Lahiri believes that in a few years' time LIV could be as successful and popular as T20 cricket.
He added:
Ben joined the GolfMagic team in September 2021, initially as a content executive.
These days, he assumes the position of content manager.
