Departing PGA CEO Seth Waugh rips into LIV Golf : 'It's a failed economic experiment...'

Departing PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh has blasted LIV Golf as a "failed economic experiment" following a Q&A with Golfweek. 

Waugh is no longer the PGA of America CEO and his successor Derek Sprague officially assumed the role this week. 

In a wide-ranging exclusive with Golfweek, the former PGA of America boss held nothing back in his assessment of the Saudi-bankrolled LIV Golf League.

Waugh invited seven LIV Golf players into the US PGA Championship at Valhalla in May 2024. 

That was because he wanted to see as many of the world's best players all competing in the second major of the season. 

But now he has departed his role as PGA of America CEO after six years and moved into an advisory role in 2025, Waugh considers the LIV Golf League is not economically sustainable and not a superior product as it enters its fourth season next month. 

That's even despite LIV Golf acquiring the likes of Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith, Tyrrell Hatton, Dustin Johnson and Sergio Garcia away from the PGA Tour. 

Waugh then went further by adding both LIV Golf and the PGA Tour desperately need a deal with one another in order to get the professional game back together once again. 

"LIV is a failed economic experiment," Waugh told Golfweek.

"Disruption needs one of two things, hopefully both: you need a better product or you need better pricing.

"No way you can say they're a superior product and they have no pricing because there's no economics. It's not sustainable. I don’t care how much money you have, burning it doesn’t feel very good. And I don't see any way out for them. I don't see light at the end of the tunnel where it's gonna transform that league. 

"So they need a deal and then the [PGA] Tour needs one as well. SSG, the new owners, need one. There's no question fandom is shrinking and sponsors are getting edgy because they're being asked to pay more for something that's less. 

"It's not a crisis, but every week that goes by is like a dull ache. Both sides need a deal and I think now you have a new administration that’s gonna be much more deal-friendly than the last. 

"And a president who likes the game and wouldn't mind being the guy that fixed golf. That would be something he'd like to say he did."

Waugh also lifted the lid on the U.S. Ryder Cup pay row during his sit down interview with Golfweek.

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