LIV Golf players, led by Dustin Johnson, finding success at The Open amid backlash for breaking away
ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — The criticism leveled at the LIV Golf players by their peers and the sport's stakeholders has galvanized them at the 150th Open, according to Talor Gooch.
Gooch carded a 3-under 69 on Friday to sit 7 under after the first two rounds at St. Andrews. With Dustin Johnson at the top end of the leaderboard at 9 under and Sergio Garcia shooting a 6-under 66 in the second round, players from the breakaway LIV series are firmly in the mix for the Claret Jug entering the weekend.
Their play comes on the back of criticism leveled in LIV Golf's direction from the R&A and other golfers. Rory McIlroy said it would be «better for the game» if a LIV player did not win this year's Open, while Tiger Woods said those who had joined LIV had «turned their back» on the sport.
Gooch has heard some of the criticism, and when asked whether this had motivated the LIV golfers to perform at St. Andrews, he answered: «Yeah, for sure.