Viktor Hovland quells LIV rumors, rips PGA Tour leadership - ESPN

Viktor Hovland said he completely understands why Jon Rahm signed with the LIV Golf League, but the world's No. 4-ranked player doesn't plan to be the next marquee player to bolt to the Saudi-backed league.

In an appearance on the «Fore» podcast in Norway, Hovland said he doubts he would move to LIV Golf, mostly because of the league's no-cut format. However, he acknowledged the enormous sum of money Rahm signed for — reported to be more than $550 million including contract and signing bonuses — while taking aim at the «arrogance» of the PGA Tour's leadership.

«It would be a bit too silly to criticize the players for leaving. After all, you only hear one angle in the media, and there are quite a few different parts happening at the same time here,» Hovland said in Norwegian as translated by Eurosport Norway, per Golfweek. «I totally understand why he left. That's a lot, a lot of money.»

Hovland's star status has taken off in 2023, highlighted by winning the FedEx Cup title in August and the $18 million bonus that came with it. He also won the Memorial and the second leg of the playoffs at the BMW Championship, and he tied for second at both the PGA Championship and the DP World Tour Championship.

It has been an immensely rewarding year for Hovland on the course, but his earnings would be dwarfed by a potential offer from LIV Golf. Hovland, 26, asserted that the format still does not appeal to him.

«I don't think their product is that great. I'm not such a fan of, for example, playing without a cut,» Hovland said. «You need the competition with 150 players and a cut. If you don't play well enough, you're out. There is something about it that makes your game a little sharper. If I had gone to LIV, I don't think I would