[PHOTO: Ben Jared]
Paul Azinger is no longer paid to give his opinions on the PGA Tour, but that didn’t stop the former broadcaster and player from offering a pretty gloomy take on the current state of professional golf.
Azinger addressed a number of topics in an interview with Golfweek‘s Adam Schupak last weekend. And he did not hold back, particularly when discussing the ongoing battle between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.
“The best players aren’t all playing PGA Tour tournaments. That’s over,” Azinger said. “Suddenly, the LIV Tour, let’s just say it like this: the PGA Tour has fast become the qualifier for LIV and it’s a sad day for golf.”
Azinger certainly isn’t alone in expressing dismay over the fractured state of pro golf, and certainly, the PGA Tour has lost some ground – and plenty of star players – to LIV. But “fast becoming a qualifier for LIV” is a particularly damning take.
“Yeah, I’ve watched a little bit and I’m not missing it that much,” Azinger added. “I’m not missing it at all.”
Azinger also broke his silence about NBC moving on from him with its golf coverage at the end of last year, saying the network had “no plan going forward except to make the broadcast less expensive”. NBC has tried out a few people in the booth this year, including Paul McGinley and Kevin Kisner, but still hasn’t found a full-time replacement to sit next to play-by-play man Dan Hicks.
Azinger says Charles Barkley, who has been involved in Capital One’s The Match, should be hired, but that “it’s a shame” NBC would never pay enough for that to happen. As for Azinger, 64, he’s not looking for a job, but wouldn’t rule out working for LIV if Greg Norman came calling.
However, he said he’s done calling PGA Tour events. At least, under the current leadership of commissioner Jay Monahan.
“I’d rather call the senior tour than the PGA Tour, to tell you the truth,” Azinger told Schupak before delivering another dagger to the tour he won on 12 times during his playing career. “I’m over the PGA Tour. To call the best senior players in the world, at least they’re the best.”
