Lee Westwood has been hit by a wealth of criticism since joining the LIV Golf League two years ago – from fans of the sport to fellow pro players like Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods. Here, The Mirror breaks them down

The 51-year-old Englishman was one of the first players to breakaway to the controversial Saudi-backed league back in the summer of 2022, and for his choices, he was hit with wave after wave of criticism both by fellow players and fans of the sport. Recently speaking about the backlash endured on the Fairway to Heaven podcast, Westwood admitted: “After 30 years of being a professional sportsman I’ve learned not to give a s*** what anybody thinks.”

Westwood had favoured the European Tour for most of his career, not having his head turned by the star calibre of the PGA Tour before his move to LIV. He added: “I’ve been a member of the European tour for nearly 30 years and I’ve won in the U.S. twice, didn’t take up membership there, you know, stayed on the European Tour.”

He added: “I enjoyed playing in Europe and that’s where I felt like I belonged. Covid came along, a lot of people went and started up in the States because of world ranking points and various things. But I stayed in Europe and played European tour events, to support them and you know add to those fields I suppose. So I clearly have a very different idea about loyalty than people who have said stupid things.”

Westwood then hit out at critics, saying: “I think a lot of those people are now starting to understand that they were being brainwashed by certain people with just purely financial motivations on their mind. They were making up these stories and trying to give people these ideas about us players that were going to LIV just to really forge their case with the public, and convince the public that we were bad and they were good.”

Always outspoken and standing up for his decisions, Westwood has had a number of spats with players and fans of golf over the years about the LIV league. Here, The Mirror breaks them down…

Brutal McIlroy swipe

Speaking ahead of the Ryder Cup last year, McIlroy said: “It’s certainly a little strange not having them around but I think this week of all weeks it’s going to hit home with them they are not here. They are going to miss being here more than we’re missing them. This week is a realisation that the decision that they made has led to not being a part of this week and that’s tough.

“The landscape in golf is ever-changing and more dynamic and we’ll see what happens and whether they will be part of it in the future. I always thought leading up to this week is when it’s going to hit home that they are not going to be here.” His words were directed towards Westwood, Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter – as well as Henrik Stenson who was axed as Team Europe’s captain for joining the LIV Golf set-up.

McIlroy has been openly critical about LIV Golf ( Image: Getty Images)

When asked online whether he thought Stenson should have been allowed to return as captain, McIlroy responded: “The best thing to happen to the 2023 Euro Ryder Cup team was Henrik going to LIV!” but the words didn’t sit right with Westwood or Poulter. Poulter sarcastically clapped back: “Guys, calm down . . . this is a parody fake account . . . Rory McIlroy wouldn’t say this it’s fake I promise you. He is a class act and wouldn’t say that about a team-mate.” Meanwhile, Westwood wrote: “Nice to see the season of goodwill in full swing! Merry Christmas!!! I remember my 1st beer!”

Westwood bites back

Westwood was quick to hit back at criticisms of his decision to join the LIV series from the likes of McIlroy and Woods by insisting that the PGA had copied it through its TGL ‘high-tech golf league’. He told Eurosport: “I laugh at what the PGA Tour players have come up with. It’s just a copy of what LIV is doing.

“There are a lot of hypocrites out there. They all say LIV is ‘not competitive’. They all point at the no-cut aspect of LIV and the ‘short fields’. Now, funnily enough, they are proposing 20 events that look a lot like LIV. Hopefully, at some point they will all choke on their words. And hopefully, they will be held to account as we were in the early days.”

Tiger Woods also said his piece ( Image: Getty Images)

Meanwhile, responding to Tiger Woods’ comments that LIV stars had “turned their back on what allowed them to get to this position”, Westwood explained: “The LIV players will talk the LIV tour up, the PGA players that aren’t on the LIV tour will talk the PGA Tour up and put down the LIV tour. I don’t pay too much attention to people’s opinions. Tiger is entitled to his opinion.”

Westwood savages PGA Tour player

McIlroy isn’t the only player that Westwood has had verbal altercations with either. Eddie Pepperell hit out at him on social media last August, when the Englishman responded to the OWGR rankings – which he wasn’t included in – with a cry-laughing emoji. However, Pepperell wasn’t amused by the sentiment, responding by hitting out at Westwood’s decision to play in the LIV Golf league for massive amounts of money.

The 33-year-old wrote: “I’ll tell you what’s a joke Lee; you earning 3X the average annual UK salary in one week for shooting +20 over 3 rounds,” with Westwood responding: “PIP? Miss that one did you? Monday simulator games? Miss that one too?” taking aim at the PGA’s Player Impact Program – a bonus pool which rewarded the tour’s best players in 2021.

Eddie Pepperell had some choice words for Westwood ( Image: Getty Images)Don’t Miss

Pepperell fired back: “It’s all laughable. From you earning £100k last week for playing like a turnip to the TGL/PIP. Pro golf has degraded itself to being just about the money. Maybe it always has been and I’m naive, but it isn’t doing much to improve the sport and genuinely ‘grow the game’.”

The back and forth ensued, but Westwood wasn’t backing down, later typing back: “You know who’s responsible for all of this! Me and @IanJamesPoulter asked all the questions at the Players meeting at Wentworth and you sat right in front of me bowing your head like a nodding donkey while KP was spouting his political head/master s****.”

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Back in 2022, Westwood also had a public spat with former Sunderland footballer, Gordon Armstrong, who sensationally compared his decision to join LIV Golf to match-fixing in the beautiful game. In response, Westwood vented: “You’ve likened playing for another league to someone who commits a criminal offence of throwing football matches?

“What an amazing grasp of reality! I’m sure your employers will be thrilled to hear this logic.” Armstrong originally replied: “You took loads more money when you really don’t need it, which I never said was criminal, like Jon Rahm said you guys could never spend all your money, what I said was it has completely spoilt your reputation as a legend of European Golf,” but later deleted the tweet.

However, he later returned to apologise for his comments, adding: “Apologies the bit about other footballers went too far,” with Westwood accepting his apology.