Padraig Harrington says LIV Golf players MUST be able to play in the majors
Three-time major champion Padraig Harrington doesn't want weaker fields at the major championships but says LIV Golf doesn't represent golf's best interests.
Three-time major champion Padraig Harrington believes the major championships should allow LIV Golf players to participate in order to produce the strongest fields.
Speaking to Rick Broadbent of The Times, Harrington wants to play against the best players in the world at major events, which would include the likes of Cameron Smith and Joaquin Niemann who have moved to LIV.
The 2021 European Ryder Cup captain acknowledged that the players' desire to join the Saudi-backed series is money-driven. Many of the world's most recognisable players have been offered nine-figure fees to compete.
Harrington isn't playing at the BMW PGA Championship this week, but 18 LIV players are as they have been allowed to return to the DP World Tour in order to gain world ranking points.
There is distinct doubt over the future of LIV players and major championships. Augusta National, the PGA of America, the USGA and The R&A are yet to alter their criteria or administer sanctions.
"Nobody is paying me to support LIV and the PGA is my bread and butter. This is the first time I've done an interview where I didn't want to," Harrington said.
"I've been procrastinating about it, putting it off. Why? Because an opinion now can be taken as dissent. It's an awkward time. It's so volatile.
"I strongly believe the majors should stay above everything. I would not want to turn up at a major and not play against the best players in the world. They need to say, 'We're above all this'.
"If LIV had world ranking points and these players were turning up (at Wentworth) I'd be protesting myself. But they need to protect their position and this is the only way."
On Tuesday at Wentworth, Billy Horschel accused the likes of Talor Gooch, Abraham Ancer and Jason Kokrak (now withdrawn) of playing in the DP World Tour's flagship event when they previously wouldn't be interested in the event at all.
These players are serving suspensions from the PGA Tour and are looking to subsidise their schedules. Jon Rahm didn't name any names but echoed Horschel's view that those who "don't care" about the tournament shouldn't participate.
