Lee Westwood is still without a contract. The 53-year-old English star told The Chipping Forecast podcast that he is currently “unemployed” as the golf world waits for the next big move. He has not signed a deal for the revamped LIV 2.0 tour set to launch in 2027. BBC Sport reports that Westwood said the terms offered to him did not suit his needs. The league is trying to raise $300 million from BC Partners Credit to keep the project alive, but the former world No 1 remains on the sidelines.
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund pulled its support last month, and the league filed for bankruptcy protection. Westwood joined LIV in 2022 when the money was flowing freely. He states now that LIV 2.0 has offered him no “anything agreeable” regarding the planned relaunch. Per Sky Sports, the details of the new format still need work before he will consider signing again.
The Captaincy He Walked Away From
Westwood’s path to this spot started with a choice about the Ryder Cup. He was a top pick to captain Team Europe for the 2023 event in Rome. He spoke with DP World Tour chief Guy Kinnings about the role after Whistling Straits. “It was put to me whether I’d like to be Ryder Cup captain, and I had started discussions with LIV,” Westwood said. He asked if he could still captain the team if he went to the Saudi-backed league. While Kinnings did not refuse, he indicated that the likelihood of such an outcome remained extremely low.
Westwood chose the league over the trophy. He told Yahoo Sports that he had no regrets about that choice. “But we make calls in life, you make a choice, and I have no regrets over the choice I made there.” He felt the captaincy wasn’t the be-all and end-all for him. He wanted to be in control of his own game rather than rely on others. That mindset led him to join LIV Golf in 2022, even as it cost him his spot as a future captain.
A Long Road Back to the Tour
Returning to the DP World Tour is not simple for Westwood. He gave up his membership when he joined LIV. If he wants to play again, he faces a 10-tournament suspension. BBC Sport reports that his return to competition cannot happen before the May tournament in Turkey. His membership is reinstated on November 12. Jon Rahm also left the series recently, citing changes to the team format he did not like. Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter have also left LIV in recent weeks.
Westwood believes the new series could succeed if costs are cut and enough players are recruited. He noted that good things can come from other people’s decisions. “Good things come out of other people’s decisions,” he told Yahoo Sports. He watched Luke Donald take over as captain and lead Team Europe to success.
