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SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Retief Goosen, one of the five men coming into this week who have claimed a U.S. Open title at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, is busy these days trying to beat the best players aged 50 and older.
Goosen, 57, won in April on the PGA Tour Champions (commonly referred to as the Champions Tour). And as the professional golf world continues to shift amid uncertainty surrounding LIV Golf, the two-time U.S. Open winner wants to see his former PGA Tour colleagues join the senior circuit.
“We would love to see those guys back,” Goosen said when asked by Front Office Sports Thursday at a small roundtable discussion in a viewing suite perched just above Shinnecock’s 17th hole hosted by Rolex, the luxury watch brand for which the golfer has worked for 25 years.
Goosen—a World Golf Hall of Famer and winner of the 2004 U.S. Open at Shinnecock and the 2001 edition in Tulsa, Oklahoma—gave his thoughts on the future of professional golf, including LIV, Phil Mickelson, and Tiger Woods. Some of the quotes below have been lightly edited for brevity and clarity.
On LIV players over 50 (like Lee Westwood or Ian Poulter) competing on the Champions Tour:
We would like to see some of those guys. The few events Phil Mickelson played early on—he played five events, and he won four of them—we had more crowds at those events than they have at LPGA events. Our TV coverage was higher, too. So, we would love to see those guys back, and somehow get back, because the Champions Tour is all about the legends. You’re supposed to play on the Champions Tour if you’ve been a legend on the PGA Tour.
On Tiger Woods, who turned 50 in December, joining the Champions Tour:
We would like to see Tiger out there. He’s the main man we want to see and play. I hope he recovers soon. At least start playing a couple of Champions Tour events just to get into the rhythm of playing a game, and not think “Okay, my first event is going to be a U.S. Open.”
On the future of the Champions Tour:
At the moment there is, I think, zero interest in trying to improve the Champions Tour from the PGA Tour side. The PGA Tour just does its own thing. I think once we get some of these legend guys playing on the Champions Tour, they will probably start showing a little bit more interest in “let’s take this tour to another level.”
On the idea of lowering the minimum age for the Champions Tour to 45:
There was that talk. We felt that the vision was 50. These guys are all athletes now. Adam Scott’s playing his 100th consecutive major, and he’s 45, isn’t he? So, we don’t want him out there yet kicking our backside.
On the success of LIV’s debut South Africa event in March:
The atmosphere was great. It sold out every day—30,000, 40,000 people. It was great for golf, especially being played right in Johannesburg; a lot of people could come in. The venue went down very well. And unfortunately, that event won’t happen again, but it was a great boost for South African golf.
On whether South Africa golf officials could strike a deal with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour like Golf Australia has done to boost the Australian Open:
I would hope so. Who knows what’s going to happen with all these LIV guys when it finishes. What are the penalties going to be? When can they play? When can’t they play? We would love to see them down in South Africa and come and play the South African Open.
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