Paul Casey explains heart-rending hidden motive for LIV Golf transfer

Paul Casey has revealed that he selected to affix LIV Golf partly on account of fears over the well being of his caddie, Johnny McLaren, who had a mind tumour eliminated final April. Casey has beforehand criticised Saudi Arabia however joined LIV in 2022, changing into one among a number of prime golfers to make the change over from the PGA Tour.

Explaining his resolution, Casey mentioned there have been ‘breaking factors’ with circumstances on the outdated tour, similar to being caught in a lodge room in Japan for 10 days through the Covid pandemic. He additionally revealed that McLaren’s well being was a think about his pondering, with the hectic schedule of the PGA Tour placing an excessive amount of of a pressure on his caddy and greatest good friend.

“This is something I have not talked about but people know it on LIV and the DP World Tour, PGA Tour as well,” mentioned Casey on the Are You Not Entertained? podcast.

“You know my dear caddie, Johnny McLaren? Johnny ‘Long Socks’ McLaren as he’s affectionately known. Anybody who wonders what that means just has to look up a picture of Johnny and they’ll see a 50-year-old guy wearing his Jordan 1s and his big long socks lolloping around the golf course.

“Johnny and I’ve been greatest mates and a crew for the final eight years. Well, Johnny had a mind tumour eliminated final April, so if you’re by no means fairly certain what’s going on in peoples’ lives, there’s rather a lot. That is one thing Johnny and I spoke about and that’s another excuse why we went to LIV as a result of we could not preserve doing what we have been doing.”

Casey additionally instructed that strict Covid protocols on the PGA Tour helped to form his resolution to affix LIV regardless of beforehand refusing to play in Saudi Arabia.

“We have been throwing out false positives on our method to Japan the place you have been going to get locked in your lodge room for 10 days,” he added. “We each hit a breaking level and mentioned we won’t do that anymore. Knowing Johnny’s well being points on the time and what we have been coping with, that is slightly bit extra perception into why I’m doing what I’m doing.”

Casey went on to insist that PGA Tour boss Jay Monahan should have acted quicker to resolve the organisation’s bitter divide with LIV. It was announced last June that a deal could be struck with LIV’s backers in Saudi Arabia but Casey believes the delay meant the likes of Lee Westwood, Henrik Stenson and Ian Poulter were ‘thrown under the bus’.

“We take the blame for this, as gamers, however I’m undecided the blame rests squarely on our shoulders,” said Casey. “For the longest time we have simply wished to play golf. That’s it.”