Former U.S. Ryder Cup captain: "The PGA Tour is now a LIV Golf qualifier"

Former U.S. Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger has delivered a damning verdict on the state of men's professional golf. 

Azinger, 65, was axed from his position as lead golf analyst for NBC in November, and in a recent interview discussing the matter with Golfweek, he pulled no punches when giving his opinion on the situation the PGA Tour has found itself in.

Despite still being regarded as the noisy neighbour, LIV has made some huge singings in recent months, stealing away one of the PGA Tour's biggest stars in Jon Rahm and additional big names, including Adrian Meronk and Tyrrell Hatton. 

Questioned on how he believed this had affected the PGA Tour, Azinger said:

While his days as a PGA Tour commentator are behind him, Azinger refused to rule out a potential appearance in the LIV commentary box.

"I would not rule that out," he said. "But it ain't gonna happen. It would be stupid for me to say, 'oh, no, I'm ruling that out.' I don't rule anything out except the Tour."

He added: "I'd rather call the senior tour than the PGA Tour to tell you the truth. I'm over the PGA Tour. To call the best senior players in the world, at least they're the best."

Azinger also took aim at PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, delivering a scathing review of how he handled the PIF merger announcement.

In May of last year, Monahan delivered a report on the state of the Tour to Jack Nicklaus' Captains Council, a leadership group of which Azinger is a member. 

In the meeting, Monahan failed to mention a potential merger with the PIF, instead choosing to appear on TV alongside Yasir Al-Rumayann, the head of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, only days later to announce the deal.

Speaking about the decision, Azinger said:

NBC has yet to replace Azinger as lead golf analyst, with Luke Donald, Paul McGinley, Kevin Kisner, and Brandel Chamblee all having made appearances in the position.

Related: 

• Report: Former Ryder Cup captain lined up to replace Paul Azinger at NBC

When asked who he believed should fill his seat, Azinger gave a somewhat surprising answer.

He added: "Charles Barkley should be the analyst. He understands what it's like for an athlete to try to pull it off at the end when his whole life is committed to something and he's got his chance and the world's watching.

"Barkley knows what that feels like. But Barkley probably is going to be more expensive, so that's not what they're shooting for … that's the reality. Everything is about making it less expensive. It's a shame."

While Azinger's disdain for the PGA Tour is clear, he did reveal that he will miss calling the US Open.

"That's the biggest win that an American can have, certainly any player, it makes their career," he explained. 

"The stress, pressure, preparation, all that goes in to four night's sleep, getting ready to play that tournament, and being able to have control of your game, it's the hardest tournament, so I'm gonna miss that the most."

Read next:

• Tour pro on Thomas Detry's six-putt shocker: "I don't know why he's playing"
• Tiger Woods struggles at star-studded 'fifth major' of the year
• Joaquin Niemann secures second major invite following red-hot form