LIV Golf stand-in unintentionally needles rival league as he eyes up permanent spot

Three-time DP World Tour winner John Catlin has targeted a permanent spot in the LIV Golf League, saying: "Playing that calibre of field for that kind of money is something we all want."

The American was handed one of the alternate spots in Bryson DeChambeau's Crushers after Charles Howell III got injured.

Catlin has impressed with his performances thus far, finishing in a tie for 24th in Houston and posting a top-10 in Nashville. 

The 33-year-old, who has won three times on the European-based circuit, is expected to tee it up once again with LIV Golf next week in Spain at Valderrama. 

Before that, he'll play in this week's International Series event in Morocco on the Asian Tour. 

The order of merit winner will guarantee a spot for the 2025 LIV Golf season. 

Former US Amateur champion Andy Ogletree was the beneficiary of a LIV spot via this route last year and is now part of Phil Mickelson's HyFlyers. 

Catlin is currently sits second in the rankings behind Carlos Ortiz, but he knows what he wants to achieve. 

"It [The International Series] is definitely priority one for me now," he said. "Having experienced the LIV Golf events, they are really cool.

"We are very well looked after and playing that calibre of field for that kind of money is something we all want. 

"That is priority one and I am looking for what will unfold over the next eight events."

It was 'disgusting'

Speaking of LIV, their commissioner Greg Norman has hit the headlines again after he criticised the treatment of players who opted for a new life. 

Norman launched his blistering attack on LIV's critics in an interview with Bloomberg Latitude. 

"I compliment the boys who came over, the first movers," Norman said. "They came on with massive amounts of headwind.

"The vitriol and hatred was just disgusting, to be quite honest with you, considering what these guys have done for the game of golf, how they have carried the game of golf, and the institutions they represented.

"It was disgusting."

Read more about that here. 

LIV Golf Andalucia will be played over 12-14 July. 

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