Viktor Hovland has slammed LIV Golf and the PGA Tour for permitting skilled golf to descend right into a "sad" and "comical" state. The world quantity 4 and reigning FedEx Cup champion has been left disheartened by the rising obsession with cash in elite golf.

The Norwegian has lengthy been a target for Saudi Arabia-backed LIV, however he stays on the PGA Tour regardless of being an outspoken critic of commissioner Jay Monahan and the organisation.

LIV poached a number of star gamers from the PGA Tour when it launched in 2022, with Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka among the many males to make the leap in return for profitable contracts. And the breakaway tour has solely strengthened its place in current months, with two-time main champion Jon Rahm and world quantity 17 Tyrrell Hatton among the many league's newest additions.

The PGA Tour has responded to LIV's rising affect by elevating a few of its famend tournaments to "signature events", with smaller fields and £15.8million ($20m) purses – in keeping with what LIV gives at its tournaments. However, Hovland believes the discourse from the sport's bosses is being dominated by cash fairly than status.

The 26-year-old believes cash turning into extra vital than the kudos of profitable a storied occasion just like the Memorial Tournament or The Arnold Palmer Invitational is a "soulless" pursuit.

Speaking to Claude Harmon III on the Son Of A Butch podcast, Hovland stated: “Obviously, LIV is bringing in a lot of money to the sport and there’s a lot of competition which I think is good. But it seems to have been a response from the PGA Tour’s side – it’s just more talk about the money and I think that’s a little bit sad.

“Now money is important, and everyone needs to get paid accordingly and in a fair way, but I don’t think that needs to be the driving force behind this or the story every single week. Not to dog on a tournament here or there, you could put the purse of the John Deere (Classic) to $6 million for first place, but I’d much rather win a Memorial or a tournament like that.

“You’re going to have those memories of winning that event, seeing your name on that trophy – that’s pretty cool. Obviously, the pay cheque is pretty nice as well, but if that’s what you’re remembering by the end of the week, that feels a little bit soulless in my opinion.”

Merger talks between LIV's backers – the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund – and the PGA Tour have dragged on since a framework settlement was introduced in June. Hovland has been angered by the shortage of transparency within the course of from each side. The six-time PGA Tour winner is determined for an answer to be discovered shortly so the world's greatest gamers are on the course collectively extra typically as quickly as potential.

“I like to ask questions because I don’t know a whole lot myself, so if I ask more questions, I get more information, then I can make a better decision and that’s the frustrating part from my standpoint is that us as players, things haven’t been very transparent for us,” he added. "So it’s exhausting for us once you’re asking me a query and I wish to be truthful and provide you with a straight reply. I simply don’t know. I don’t know what the trail ahead is, to be sincere, it’s been a little bit unhappy, however I attempt not to consider it an excessive amount of.

“It’s a little comical to see what’s going on in the game of golf, but I hope there’s a resolution in the future because at the end of the day, I just want to compete at the best golf courses, the best tournaments and against the best players. However that’s going to happen, I don’t know, but that’s what I’d like to see.”