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Lee Westwood expressed no remorse over the wealth he accumulated from LIV Golf despite the circuit's collapse, though the 53-year-old acknowledged there was excessive spending that ultimately prevented the rebel league from surviving.
Westwood was among LIV Golf's founding members, having participated since its inaugural event at Centurion in June 2022. With most of his career behind him, he is now weighing whether to return to the DP World Tour along with senior golf, and determining how much time he can dedicate following a prosperous career in the sport.
When LIV Golf emerged in 2022, it created massive upheaval across the PGA Tour. According to Rory McIlroy, league officials were publicly declaring at the Masters their intentions to dismantle the European golf circuit.
Westwood had long maintained that the PGA Tour's monopoly and consolidation of wealth and influence have harmed the sport of golf, which paved the way for his decision to join the European circuit.
"I think the problem golf has is it's too US-centric. The tournaments seem to be all the same week in, week out. There's not enough variation to stimulate your average golf fan, particularly the younger generation," said Westwood.
"TV money in America is bigger than anywhere else in the world, and they want it on their time zone. They don't get [TV viewing] numbers if they play tournaments elsewhere. It's just unfortunate. And a shame for the golf fans in Asia, Australia, South Africa, places like that, who don't get to see the world's best up close."
Numerous players faced criticism for selecting the breakaway tour over cementing their legacies on the American circuit, but Westwood harbors no regrets whatsoever.
"A massive financial package was put in front of me - I would have been stupid," he said, speaking on The Chipping Forecast, of turning it down. "[But] that wasn't solely the reason that I signed up with LIV.
"I have no problem saying part of it was financial. I've made a fortune over the last four and a half years."
LIV Golf is currently undergoing liquidation after several of their leading stars, including Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, Ian Poulter, and others announced their exit. BC Partners tried to intervene for the 2027 season, but withdrew when insufficient players committed.
"I think it was the running of it more than anything," Westwood told The Chipping Forecast when questioned about why LIV had collapsed. "I think the way the business was structured, there was too much waste, really. I think there is a business there."
The 53-year-old acknowledged that he doesn't need to compete in any more golf to maintain a comfortable lifestyle, and for the time being, he is stepping away from professional play.
"I've seen everybody's statement and I just don't get it," he said before BC Partners withdrew funding. "I won't be making a statement. It's nobody's business, but mine, where I go and play golf," he said. "And I don't feel like I've got to put a press release out [for] where I go and work.
"I currently am unemployed. I haven't signed up to anything anywhere. There was nothing presented to me that was agreeable for LIV 2.0."