Rocco Mediate blast LIV star for Masters comments, calling them embarrassing.
Rocco Mediate found Talor Gooch’s remarks on the strength of the Masters field as unpleasant as an unwelcome fart at a wedding.
During his SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio Show on Tuesday, the six-time PGA Tour winner who currently competes in the PGA Tour Champions criticized Gooch for suggesting that Rory McIlroy’s achievement of winning a Masters championship to attain career grand slam status would be tarnished by an asterisk.
Mediate questioned Gooch’s statement about putting an asterisk on Rory’s Masters win, asking why that should be the case. He pointed out that all past champions are playing and wondered if it was simply because he isn’t among them or what his record may suggest to justify such a remark.
Although ranked as a top-35 player by the Official World Golf Ranking prior to his departure from the PGA Tour and transition to LIV Golf in 2022, Gooch’s ranking has dropped significantly since then; he now sits at No. 449 and does not meet qualifications for any major championship competition slated for 2024 – despite having participated in three last year. Despite winning three titles during the league’s ’23 season with LIV, these victories have granted him no additional points within OWGR due to their lack of accreditation status with said organization.
Talor Gooch argues that if Rory McIlroy wins the Masters, it would require an asterisk.
According to Gooch, speaking to Australian Golf Digest recently, Rory McIlroy’s grand slam achievement would be marred by an asterisk if some of the top players were absent. He believes that it’s crucial for major tournaments to find a way of securing participation from all renowned golfers as this benefits everyone concerned.
Although the OWGR’s recognition of the breakaway league was uncertain, many LIV golfers still joined. Despite not receiving points from the league, numerous top players including Jon Rahm, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau,Cameron Smith,Tyrrell Hatton and Patrick Reed will be present at Augusta in April as past champions or major winners who have qualified through other criteria.
Augusta National granted a special invitation to LIV’s Joaquin Niemann earlier this month due to his leadership of international players not yet qualified. Niemann earned this recognition by winning the season opener at Mayakoba for LIV.
Mediate was displeased that Gooch, with only one PGA Tour win at the 2021 RSM Classic, had the nerve to vocalize his dissatisfaction about not being included in the field.
The announcement from the Masters that revealed what it left out was surprising.
“The fact that he was considered the top LIV player last year is truly shameful. It’s a fact,” expressed the 2008 U.S Open runner-up. “So, he won only one tournament on PGA Tour? Who cares about that! When was it even? He needs to zip his lips and focus on making money instead of stirring up unpleasantness for others such as Rory. Can you imagine how ridiculous this all sounds?”
It is unclear as to why Gooch specifically chose McIlroy or if Australian Golf Digest posed a question about him.
An exemption for the top 12 players in LIV’s standings, similar to PGA Tour’s 30 Qualifiers for Tour Championship, was recommended by Gooch.
Mediate suggested that Gooch’s league should intervene.
He said, “LIV ought to depart and utter ‘Dude, be quiet. We’ll handle this’.” He also stated confidently that they will manage the situation.
