News
‘Sport and politics shouldn’t mix’ – Lee Westwood defends Saudi League request
Speaking ahead of his start at the British Masters at the Belfry, Lee Westwood confirmed what we’ve been speculating for the past few months.
He has indeed requested for a release to play in the LIV Golf Invitational Series.
- Related: ‘Hypocrisy at its finest’ – Lee Westwood clashes with journalists over LPGA Saudi treatment
In his pre-tournament press conference, the former world number one defended his decision.
“People always have a problem with change and are sceptical. Change and competition are good in any walk of life.”
He also added that he believes the politics of the situation should not be an issue.
“I don’t think sport and politics should mix. The European Tour has been happy to play events in Saudi Arabia. The PGA Tour released players for that. It’s like Wimbledon banning Russian players. For what it’s worth I don’t agree with that, either.”
Westwood spoke to Sky Sports later, and expanded on the reasoning for his decision.
“It’s an opportunity to play in a big tournament and some of the best players in the world, in England, you know? I love playing in England in front of the home fans. So, you know, anytime there’s an opportunity like that, you know, I feel like I should take it.”
Westwood then reiterated what LIV Golf CEO, Greg Norman has been preaching all along.
“I’m an independent contractor that, you know, I work for myself. It’s my job and I have to do what’s right for me.”
One of the main concern from fans in regards to the LIV Golf Series is that the money being used to fund the tournaments is from the corrupt Saudi Government, to which Westwood pointed out the hypocrisy of Saudi hosting events in the past with little blowback.
“We’ve played European tour events in Saudi Arabia. I’ve had releases from the PGA Tour saying that I can go play in Saudi Arabia. So it’s it’s been no problem to them in previous years. The Formula 1 race there, Newcastle’s owned partly by people from Saudi Arabia, there’s been fights there, you know, boxing fights. I think there’s been snooker and darts here as well.”
The 49-year-old also sounded hopeful that the humans rights issues taking place in Saudi Arabia are being addressed.
“I think Saudi Arabia are obviously… they know they’ve got issues. I think you know lots of countries around the world have got issues and I think they’re trying to improve, they’re trying to do it through sport, which a lot of places, you know, a lot of countries do. I think they’re doing it a lot quicker than some countries are trying to do it and you know, that maybe worries people or scares people.”
?? "Formula One race there, Newcastle are owned by people from there, there's been boxing fights there, snooker and darts there…"
Lee Westwood speaks to Sky Sports after confirming he has asked for a release to play in the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series opener ? pic.twitter.com/o900Z90BKf
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 4, 2022
With the second major of 2026 now behind us, the PGA Tour arrives in Texas for the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
GolfWRX Tour Photographer, Greg Moore, is on site at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, and he’s already captured several WITBs and a look at some new colorways of just-spotted L.A.B. Golf VZN.1i putters.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General Albums
- 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #1
- 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #2
- 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #3
WITB Albums
- Brennan Little (Gary Woodland’s caddy) – WITB – 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Adam Svensson – WITB – 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Martin Laird – WITB – 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Lee Hodges – WITB – 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Aaron Wise – WITB – 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Dylan Wu – WITB – 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- AJ Ewart – WITB – 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Pullout Albums
- New Graphite Design Tour AD shafts – 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- L.A.B. Golf VZN.1i putters (new colors) – 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
Aaron Rai upset the odds to win his first major championship on Sunday at Aronimink, firing a final round of 5-under par to see off his competitors and claim the winner’s check for $3,690,000.
Jon Rahm and Alex Smalley were the best of the chasing pack, with both men sharing runner-up spot which was good enough for each to receive a check for $1,804,000.
With a total prize purse of $20.5 million up for grabs, here’s a look at how much each player won at the 2026 PGA Championship.
Players who missed the PGA Championship cut each received $4,300 each.
1: Aaron Rai, $3,690,000
T2 : Jon Rahm, $1,804,000
T2 : Alex Smalley, $1,804,000
T4: Justin Thomas, $843,866
T4: Ludvig Aberg, $843,866
T4: Matti Schmid, $843,866
T7: Cameron Smith, $637,050
T7: Rory McIlroy, $637,050
T7: Xander Schauffele, $637,050
T10: Kurt Kitayama, $496,707
T10: Chris Gotterup, $496,707
T10: Justin Rose, $496,707
T10: Patrick Reed, $496,707
T14: Matt Fitzpatrick, $364,762
T14: Scottie Scheffler, $364,762
T14: Max Greyserman, $364,762
T14: Ben Griffin, $364,762
T18: Maverick McNealy, $229,128
T18: Jordan Spieth, $229,128
T18: Stephan Jaeger, $229,128
T18: Padraigh Harrington, $229,128
T18: David Puig, $229,128
T18: Harris English, $229,128
T18: Min Woo Lee, $229,128
T18: Joaquin Niemann, $229,128
T26: Nick Taylor, $125,523
T26: Alex Noren, $125,523
T26: Cameron Young, $125,523
T26: Andrew Novak, $125,523
T-26: Daniel Hiller, $125,523
T26: Tom Hoge, $125,523
T26: Sam Burns, $125,523
T26: Hideki Matsuyama, $125,523
T26: Bud Cauley, $125,523
T35: Christiaan Bezuidenhout, $78,805
T35: Patrick Cantlay, $78,805
T35: Ryo Hisatsune, $78,805
T35: Daniel Berger, $78,805
T35: Ryan Fox, $78,805
T35: Haotong Li, $78,805
T35: Aldrich Potgieter, $78,805
T35: Si Woo Kim, $78,805
T35: Martin Kaymer, $78,805
T44: Chris Kirk, $53,743
T44: Matt Wallace, $53,743
T44: Shane Lowry, $53,743
T44: Jhonattan Vegas, $53,743
T44: Denny McCarthy, $53,743
T44: Chandler Blachet, $53,743
T44: Taylor Pendrith, $53,743
T44: Dustin Johnson, $53,743
T44: Nicolai Hojgaard, $53,743
T44: Michael Kim, $53,743
T44: Kristoffer Reitan, $53,743
T55: Collin Morikawa, $34,186
T55: Corey Conners, $34,186
T55: Andrew Putnam, $34,186
T55: Brooks Koepka, $34,186
T55: Mikael Lindberg, $34,186
T60: Sami Valimaki, $29,218
T60: Sahith Theegala, $29,218
T60: Rico Hoey, $29,218
T60: Rickie Fowler, $29,218
T60: Brian Harman, $29,218
T65: Casey Jarvis, $26,900
T65: Jason Day, $26,900
T65: Rasmus Hojgaard, $26,900
T65: Keith Mitchell, $26,900
T65: Sam Stevens, $26,900
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Driver: Titleist GT3 (9 degrees) Buy here. Shaft: Aldila Rogue Silver 130 M.S.I. 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi35 (15 degrees)...
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Bleed Out
May 10, 2022 at 10:52 pm
Maybe the Saudis can use the bone saw on that Shipshmuck loser.
Nit Lion
May 10, 2022 at 8:22 pm
9/11/2001
Nit Lion
May 10, 2022 at 8:20 pm
On 9/11/2011 the USA suffered a terrorist attack that has changed the world. 15 of 19 terrorist hijackers were Saudis. In the immediate aftermath of the attacks when all air travel was shut down Saudi Royals were granted exemptions and allowed to leave in droves in their Saudi Royal planes.
The USA entered into 20 years wars in Afghanistan and Iraq in response to the 9/11 attacks. Somebody financed those attacks and when you stop and think about it, it is damn near impossible to not conclude Saudi Royal money financed those attacks.
The problem with the Saudi Golf Tour is that the money used to pay for these golf events comes from the same bank accounts that paid for 9/11. That should be enough for people to tell the Saudi Royals to go eat sand.
Professor
May 6, 2022 at 8:17 pm
Mr. Westwood, I’d have more respect for your position if you just came right out and said you’re doing it for the money. But to say that sports and politics don’t mix is naive. With that kind of thinking there would still be apartheid in South Africa.
Bob Jones
May 6, 2022 at 2:34 pm
But mixing sports and murder is O.K., right Lee?
jgpl001
May 6, 2022 at 4:28 am
Didn’t the Saudi’s allow women unaccompanied to drive fairly recently?, now there is equality and human rights, what more do people want….
Bill
May 5, 2022 at 10:33 am
It’s about the MONEY!
Don’t try to hide behind SPORT. When you enter the professional field it is business. One that has allowed you to acquire a net worth of $40 million.
Some have integrity. You are very happy to take the money.
I could see it if you needed the money.
Money..reputation..money..reputation?
It was your choice.
John Karl
May 5, 2022 at 8:12 am
No one has a problem with Biden begging the Saudis to pump more oil. But you cannot play golf there?
Hopp
May 5, 2022 at 8:30 am
Whataboutism, more disinformation from foreign nation state.
Jerry
May 5, 2022 at 11:49 am
Stick your opinion right next to brains, watching brainwash tv.
George Vandolder
May 4, 2022 at 10:49 pm
The PGA tour and all the manufacturers have no problems doing business with China. Where is the out cry about human rights about this? Also, the USA has over 600 military bases in 120 countries around the World. We have bombed and killed millions of foreign civilians. As Britney Spears once said “I’m not that innocent.”
Hopp
May 5, 2022 at 8:32 am
What foreign nation state do you work for. Typical posts trying to deflect from the issue.
George Vandolder
May 5, 2022 at 8:49 am
Not an argument Hopp!
Rich
May 4, 2022 at 1:50 pm
Clownworld: When sports and bone saws mix.
Rob O'Neill
May 4, 2022 at 12:47 pm
Saudi t-rists and those who lick their marbles shouldn’t exist, Lee.
The bone saw cometh.