Viktor Hovland is not happy with his '23 schedule: "I'm being FORCED to play!"
Viktor Hovland didn't sound too happy with what his 2023 playing schedule could look like after the PGA Tour announced changes as a result of LIV Golf.
Self-confessed "terrible planner" Viktor Hovland doesn't appear too happy with how the LIV Golf-induced changes to the PGA Tour and DP World Tour will affect his playing schedule.
Speaking ahead of the Hero World Challenge, the Norwegian conceded that it's going to be "tough" to fulfil his obligations to play in all of the elevated events during a Ryder Cup year as well as pegging it up in Europe.
Despite being on board with making the PGA Tour a "better product", Hovland suggested he doesn't want to be "basically forced" into playing up to 25 events a year.
Related: Nine players who changed their mind about LIV
His comments came after Jon Rahm leapt to the defence of his friend Phil Mickelson and claimed professional golfers should be "thankful" of the league which is commissioned by Greg Norman.
Hovland also refused to be drawn into answering whether or not LIV players should be eligible to participate.
Jose Maria Olazabal was strong on this topic when he spoke exclusively to GolfMagic earlier in the week.
Hovland said of the changes:
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Both Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy reportedly hosted another emergency LIV Golf meeting before the first round in Albany.
Players are remaining tight-lipped over what exactly was discussed.
Another PGA Tour superstar - Justin Thomas - has predicted there'll be no sign of any peace talks soon, but he believes that what McIlroy and Woods are doing is going to make the established, American circuit stronger in the long-term.
Hovland continued:
Hovland is playing alongside Collin Morikawa in the first round of the Hero World Challenge.
This is the first time Morikawa will be playing professional golf as a married man.
Here are the tee times for R1 of the Hero World Challenge:
All times ET
11 a.m. - Cameron Young, Tom Kim
11.11 a.m. - Billy Horschel, Sungjae Im
11:22 a.m. - Kevin Kisner, Sam Burns
11:33 a.m. - Matt Fitzpatrick, Tommy Fleetwood
11:44 a.m. - Corey Conners, Shane Lowry
11:55 a.m. - Max Homa, Tony Finau
12:06 p.m. - Sepp Straka, Justin Thomas
12:17 p.m. - Xander Schauffele, Jon Rahm
12.28 p.m. - Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth
12.39 p.m. - Collin Morikawa, Viktor Hovland
Next page: Sergio Garcia defends Greg Norman with biting one-liner
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