Tiger Woods' former coach has his say after Will Zalatoris rejects £97m LIV deal
Following Will Zalatoris ' latest injury blow, Hank Haney, Tiger Woods' former coach, has hinted that the PGA Tour star might have been wise to accept a £97million offer from LIV Golf. Zalatoris, born in Dallas, saw his hopes for the 2023 Ryder Cup dashed due to injury.
A recurring back issue, which led to season-ending surgery two years ago, has once again flared up, ruling him out of starring at Bethpage Black in September. On Monday, the 28-year-old announced he would be sidelined until at least autumn after undergoing surgery for a herniated disk.
This extends his time away from the PGA Tour, following Fred Couples' revelations that the American had declined a jaw-dropping offer to join the breakaway LIV circuit two years ago.
With Zalatoris out of action and his chances to earn substantial PGA prize money on hold, Haney, who mentored Woods from 2004 to 2010, suggested via social media that the Texan might have been better off accepting the lucrative offer from the Saudi-backed tour.
In the same year that players like Jon Rahm switched to LIV, it was reported that Zalatoris rejected a near £100m proposal. Former Masters champion Couples, who shares an agent with Zalatoris, was asked about the offer that surfaced two years ago and commended him for sticking to his principles.
"Money is zero object [for LIV]," golf legend Couples remarked in 2023, as he admired Zalatoris' commitment to stay on the PGA Tour, adding: "I give Will a lot of credit; he wants [to keep playing on] the PGA Tour."
But not long after his decision, Zalatoris had to step away due to back problems that started troubling him in 2022, sparking debate whether refusing the lucrative LIV offer was wise, given his ability to earn even while sidelined.
Zalatoris has now faced further challenges with the injury re-emerging, leading to his announcement of undergoing surgery at the Texas Back Institute on Friday, reports the Mirror US.
"I'm happy to say that I woke up feeling good and excited about my long-term back health," read a statement from Zalatoris. "Time to focus on my recovery and get back after it. Thank you to my team, friends, and family for being there for me throughout this journey. Looking forward to seeing everyone in the fall."
Amidst his ongoing health issues, a concerned fan took to the social media platform X, expressing sympathy and suggesting that rejecting LIV may not have been the best idea.
"Feel bad for Will," they began. "Guy was talked out of a massive deal with LIV that would have set him and his future family up for a few generations. Remember, anyone who talks someone out of that kind of money doesn't give a s*** about that person."
Coach Haney reposted this, and such an act suggests he might share the sentiment, implying that Zalatoris could have erred by passing up the millions from LIV.
At the time of the LIV offer, Zalatoris had already made a name for himself as one of the PGA Tour's top players, making an immediate impact despite only joining the circuit during the 2020-21 season.
He impressively finished second at the Masters in 2021 and also claimed the runner-up spot at both the PGA Championship and US Open in 2022. This recent setback will rob him of any chance at a first major title this year.
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