LONDON: Lee Westwood has hit out at the European Tour for being “fully in bed” with the US PGA Tour circuit, adding that it was now like a “feeder” for American golf.
Westwood and fellow Ryder Cup stars Ian Poulter and Sergio Garcia resigned Wednesday from the European Tour and so will be ineligible to represent the continent in the latest edition of the biennial contest against the US in Rome later this year.
The trio have all joined the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit. Last month, the European Tour won its legal battle with LIV players after they appealed against punishments the tour wanted to impose on those who took part in the inaugural LIV event last year.
Former world No. 1 Westwood, 2017 Masters champion Garcia and Poulter have 53 European Tour victories between them. Twelve players, including Westwood, Poulter and Richard Bland, appealed against the sanctions imposed last year.