Departing golf chief fires warning to PGA Tour and LIV days before departure

Departing R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers has implored the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to 'sort itself out' days before departing his role. 

Former investment banker Slumbers, 64, will leave the governing body for good on 13 December after nine years at the helm. 

The landscape of the sport has changed significantly during his tenure, not least the warring PGA and breakaway LIV Golf League. 

During his final news conference at The Open Championship in July, Slumbers warned that simply increasing prize money in the men's game is not sustainable. 

And he has reiterated his position in an interview with BBC Sport. 

"We do need the professional game to sort itself out in that regard and support what is a great momentum for our sport generally," he said. 

He added: "I don't fully understand all the nuances of all the business models that are out there in professional golf, but I've got a pretty good understanding of it. And I don't believe it is sustainable, whether that's today or tomorrow.

"It needs to be addressed and I think that the regular consumer of our game is turned off by it being led by a financial driver."

"We've got to go back to leading with values and history of the game.

"And if we can get those together the professional game will reconnect and will connect very well because there are some fantastic players out there playing brilliant golf and people do want to see it."

"And we're seeing that in terms of audience figures in a number of events."

Open will head back to Muirfield

Slumbers also told The Scotsman that The Open will head back to Muirfield. 

The major was staged there last 11 years ago when Phil Mickelson triumphed. 

Slumbers said golf's oldest major could head to Muirfield in 2027 or 2028. 

The Open will head to Royal Portrush in 2025 and Royal Birkdale in 2026. 

It's clear there are logistical problems with Muirfield, though. 

Open chiefs are desperate to at least 250,000 spectators through the gates. 

"We would have a significant financial hit if we only got 140,000 people. 

"We would need to be up around the 250,000 mark and we are pretty confident we can get to that level, but we will never know until we do it.

"There are a number of changes that need to happen to the golf facilities at Muirfield to stage a modern Open. 

"The game was very different in 2013. The practice facilities, for instance. We had a huge 80-100 foot net and they were still popping it over the top of it and landing balls on number eight and, of course, we can't have that."

Slumbers also confirmed The Open will head to Royal Lytham again, although he conceded there is 'work to do' in that regard. 

"But it is definitely part of our plans," he said. 

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