'I Chose My Legacy Over LIV' - Wyndham Clark Confirms Recent LIV Golf Talks And Commits To The PGA Tour 'At Least For This Season'
The 2023 US Open champion outlined his reasons for staying on the PGA Tour - thanking Tiger Woods and the other board members for their work in shaping the future of the circuit
2023 US Open champion Wyndham Clark confirmed he had been in discussions with LIV Golf during the winter about moving to the 54-hole league but ultimately decided his legacy as a player on the PGA Tour was more important.
Ahead of its third season in operation, CEO Greg Norman revealed LIV would be attempting to further strengthen its increasingly-talented field with a handful more of the PGA Tour's top names. But, previously linked with a potential move to LIV around the time of the League's inception, Justin Thomas felt it hadn't "gotten anywhere close" to the level of signings first projected.
The Saudi-funded circuit succeeded with the likes of Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, and Adrian Meronk between December 2023 and January 2024, but it failed to bring Clark and a handful of others over before the opening event in Mexico.
As it turned out, Clark's decision to stay put was a good one as he claimed a second outright PGA Tour title at the shortened Pebble Beach Pro-Am ahead of Ryder Cup rival, Ludvig Aberg at the same time as Joaquin Niemann's individual success at LIV Golf Mayakoba.
Before the final round was postponed, Clark explained his reasons for turning down LIV over the winter. Asked if there was any truth to the rumors he had sat down with the PIF-backed League, Clark said: "Yeah, there’s definitely some truth. I definitely met with LIV and went through those discussions. I wanted to see what they could bring to the table.
"I ultimately declined going to LIV because I felt like I still have a lot of things left in the tank on the PGA Tour and I wanted to chase records, I wanted to chase world ranking. My dream is to try to be one of the top players in the world, if not the top player.
"I just grew up always imagining winning PGA Tour events. So, ultimately, I chose my legacy over LIV, and that’s really what it came down to. You know, I don’t know what the future holds with my career and what the PGA Tour and LIV is going to do, but at least for this season I am 100% set on the PGA Tour, and I want to try to get to as high in the world as I possibly can."
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
Clark's revelation - and choice over where to play his golf - arrives days after the PGA Tour confirmed it had welcomed a $3 billion investment from Strategic Sports Group, a deal which may also lead to further backing from the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund in the long run.
With a potentially brighter future ahead for those who remained on America's long-standing tour, Clark went on to thank the key players on the PGA Tour board - which includes Tiger Woods - for their input into shaping a new look circuit for US-based pro golfers.
Speaking about the process he went through before opting to stick with the PGA Tour, Clark said: "I did my due diligence. I felt like if I was going to make a life-changing decision, I wanted to make sure I did all the right things and call the right people, get the right information, understand what both tours are doing, what I should do, et cetera.
"I honestly have to give a huge hats off to Adam Scott, Patrick Cantlay and Jordan Spieth because they have put so much effort -- and Tiger Woods, sorry, and Tiger Woods, please put that in there. They put so much effort in making sure that the PGA Tour is going to make the right moves to continue to try to be the best tour. And they also really gave me some great advice and some counsel.
"I didn’t want them to sway me in a certain way, but I definitely wanted their counsel and I just wanted to honor them and the amount of time and work and effort they have put into this agreement now with SSG and where the Tour is going.
"I sought a lot of counsel. I asked guys on both sides. I feel like that’s the right thing to do. Ultimately, it came down to talking with close people in my camp and my team of what we should do, and we decided to stay on the PGA Tour."
Jonny Leighfield is our Staff News Writer who joined Golf Monthly just in time for the 2023 Solheim Cup and Ryder Cup. He graduated from the University of Brighton with a degree in Sport Journalism in 2017 and spent almost five years as the sole sports reporter at his local newspaper. During his time with Golf Monthly, Jonny has interviewed several stars of the game, including Robert MacIntyre, Ian Poulter, and Lee Westwood. An improving golfer himself, Jonny enjoys learning as much about the game as he can and is hoping to reach his Handicap goal of 18 at some stage. He attended both the 150th and 151st Open Championships and dreams of attending The Masters one day.
-
Start Flushing Your Fairway Woods With 3 Super Simple Tips From PGA Pro Peter Finch
Flushing your fairway woods can take your game to the next level, but many amateurs struggle. Peter Finch has three simple tips to utilise these useful clubs
By Peter Finch Published
-
Bubba Watson Makes Hole-In-One To Move In To Contention At Asian Tour Event
Playing the BNI Indonesian Masters for the first time, the two-time Major winner moved firmly into contention on Saturday thanks to an ace at the par 3 11th
By Matt Cradock Published
-
'My Identity Is Secure Forever' - Scottie Scheffler's Mindset Provides The Fuel To Secure A Second Green Jacket
Scheffler's second Masters win came with his first child due in a matter of weeks. His mindset off the course is clearly helping him do great things on it.
By Dan Parker Published
-
The Internet's Best Reactions To Tiger Woods Appearing To Shake Hands With A Tree
The perfect camera angle, the perfect meme. Here's the internet's best reactions to Tiger's unusual handshake
By Dan Parker Published
-
Why The Masters Gnome Has Proven To Be The Most Exclusive Purchase Of 2024
Selling out within an hour of the gift shop opening, the Masters garden gnome is a cult figure cult status
By Dan Parker Published
-
7 Takeaways From Tiger Woods' Masters Press Conference
Here are the 7 key points we gathered from Tiger's press conference ahead of the 2024 Masters
By Dan Parker Published
-
WATCH: Wyndham Clark Chunks Tee Shot Into Water On 17th While Sharing The Lead At Players Championship
The World No.5 made a hash of his tee shot on the 17th during the third round of The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass
By Mike Hall Published
-
10 Big Names To Miss The Players Championship Cut
The Players Championship has reached the halfway point, but some of the biggest names in the game won't be taking any further part at TPC Sawgrass
By Mike Hall Published
-
When ‘America’s Worst Avid Golfer’ Made A 66 On TPC Sawgrass 17th Hole
Angelo Spagnolo shot 66 on the 17th during a Golf Digest contest to find "America's Worst Avid Golfer" in 1985
By Mike Hall Published
-
It Just Became Much Less Stressful To Secure A Tee Time On The Old Course At St Andrews - Here's Why
The freshly-introduced digital system will replace the old method of queuing up in person in the hope of earning a tee time on the Old Course
By Jonny Leighfield Published