Three days ago, the annual PGA of Scotland lunch was held at The Glasgow Hilton. The guest of honor for the evening was Sam Torrance. Torrance is undoubtedly one of the most titled and celebrated Scottish players ever, and the silence in which the audience of over people listened to the story of the most salient moments of his career is a clear testimony.
But, after the stories of the heroic seasons of the Ryder Cup (eight participations as a player, Captain in 2002 and three times vice-captain), the questions of the moderator of the evening moved to the main topic of the moment.
Sam Torrance, statements
“We all love golf and hate to see it in turmoil,” said Torrance referring to LIV Golf’s arrival on the world stage. But it’s not so much the judicial events that worry the Scotsman.
Although he did not make a direct reference, his words to describe the current situation start from the experience of Team Europe who successfully defended the Cup at Gleneagles in 2014, where Torrance was one of Paul McGinley’s assistants.
“There is so much resentment between great friends,” he continued, referring to six players, namely Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson, Ian James Poulter, Martin Kaymer and Graeme McDowell. They were all part of the team that triumphed in Scotland, but have now been completely cut off from anything to do with Team Europe, due to their choice to join the ‘rebel’ circuit.
Regarding the figure of Greg Norman, he said: “He Had a Fault with the PGA Tour” “When he had, well in advance, the idea of a world tour, the launch of the World Golf Championship in 1999 (from which he was excluded) left resentment in him” “The Saudis can’t complain about what they’ve achieved, and I’m not entitled to say that anyone else should be driving the LIV Golf” “But a solution needs to be found” “Personally, I don’t think the LIV Golf will be successful, the way things are going” “It’s getting worse, Greg has had the Tour in his sights for a long time” “It is difficult to find a place for LIV Golf, because the PGA Tour has no intention of giving it space, and there is no remedy for this”
