Thomas Pieters can’t help but giggle when he mentions RangeGoats GC, his new team.
The No. The No. 34 player in the world was best signed for the re-vamped LIV Golf League ahead its second season. He joined Barstool Sports’ Fore Play podcast for discussion about his reasons for joining LIV as well as his thoughts on the PGA Tour.
According to the Belgian, his life hasn’t changed much since he joined the Greg Norman-led, Saudi Arabia-backed circuit. He still travels to golf tournaments and gets on a plane.
Pieters stated that there is a lot of talk but it’s a personal opinion and it’s only golf. He also noted that he called Keith Pelley, chief executive of DP World Tour, to inform him about his decision. “I made the decision and I’m moving on.”
LIV Golf has been long criticized for being another way for Saudi Arabia to sportwash its controversial human right record. Pieters was asked if he had issues with LIV’s support by the Public Investment Fund.
From today’s episode: pic.twitter.com/b6skV7rwBs
— ForePlay (@ForePlayPod March 23, 2023
Pieters said, “I know that my money comes from an American company,” referring to LIV Golf Investments, where PIF holds a majority share. Yasir Al Rumayyan, currently the governor of the PIF and works directly under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman who has been in control of the fund since 2015.
Pieters said that he believes the PIF is present in around 150 boards. This means that anything you touch every day is funded by Saudi money. Pieters said, “Obviously, the terrible things that have occurred are horrible. I came here to play golf. It’s not something I would like to do. Although I knew the question would be asked, I didn’t know how to answer it.
One year later, the players are still unable to answer the biggest question about their new employer.
He later said, “I feel like golfers are getting too opinionated about all things, and I just want to play golf.” “I’m not stupid, maybe I’ll come off as dumb, but I just want happiness, that’s all.”
Pieters didn’t like the PGA Tour. Pieters loved college at Illinois where he won 2012’s individual national title. But he was lonely on the Tour.
As a child, you longed to play on the PGA Tour and win golf tournaments. I spent a year on PGA Tour. He said that he didn’t like the PGA Tour. “I felt very lonely and homesick. I was very homesick. Then LIV came along at the perfect time.
“Everyone who played on it last year said it was very thrilling, new and that it really spoke to them. It’s not hard to believe that it’s financially great. As a father of two daughters and a girlfriend, it’s also something amazing to have such a good schedule.
Pieters said he loved the PGA Tour, and he enjoyed playing in events such as the Arnold Palmer Invitational or Players Championship. But, when the round ended, he felt lonely. This was something he had never experienced in Europe on the DP World Tour.
He said, “Last week (RangeGoat teammates Harold Varner III & Talor Gooch), I went out to dinner a few nights. For me that’s usual.” It’s funny because Harold said that he had never done this on the PGA Tour. That’s a bit sad.
Pieters spoke candidly about his professional golf journey and his future, giving a different perspective than his colleagues in professional golf.
“I have been on the road for 10 years and I am still trying to realize my dreams. Pieters said that he is not Rory McIlroy or Tiger Woods and will not be in history books. “I have made a remarkable living from golf, which is incredible for my wife and our kids. It’s not something I worry about. It’s just a sport. It’s not just golf. Happiness is more than playing golf.
While you can disagree with his views on the PIF’s involvement in pro-golf, it’s hard to argue against that.
