LIV Golf star hits out at 'lonely and miserable' PGA Tour after $10m switch

Adrian Meronk, a star of LIV Golf, has shed light on his decision to leave the PGA Tour and join the breakaway organisation. The 31-year-old Polish golfer joined LIV Golf in February for their third campaign and finished 17th in the standings in his debut season.

His move to the Saudi-backed league followed his unexpected omission from the 2023 Ryder Cup. Prior to the tournament, Meronk had won two European Tour events, including the Italian Open at Marco Simone, where Team Europe triumphed in the Ryder Cup just months later.

He also clinched his third European Tour event of the season at the Andalucia Masters. Meronk revealed that he sought advice from several players who played in America and was not impressed by their feedback.

"If I'd played in America, I would have had to base myself there and I would have been so lonely and so miserable, I think," Meronk told Gulf News about his reasons to leave the PGA.

"I even talked to Nicolas Colsaerts when he started playing the PGA Tour, he felt so lonely, he didn't really enjoy it. I was a little bit scared of that, to be honest. I wanted to play out there, but hearing things like that played a part in my decision."

"Joining LIV Golf meant I could stay in Dubai, which is a place that I like, and play fewer tournaments, as I was exhausted last year after playing 27 times. I think it was a great decision for me. It's given me so much life and enjoyment."

Meronk didn't hold back in his critique of the PGA Tour, describing it as a self-centered environment: "It's like a rat race on the PGA Tour – everybody is looking out for themselves, and nobody talks to you," he remarked.

Despite not making a splash in the majors thus far, Meronk has his sights set on earning a spot in Luke Donald's team for the showdown at Bethpage Black in New York come next September.

With ambitions to join the ranks of LIV Golf players such as Tyrrell Hatton and Jon Rahm, Meronk also noted that Sergio Garcia might be eyeing one last hurrah at the prestigious event. He disclosed that discussions about the Ryder Cup have already taken place, albeit indirectly.

"I think my manager may have spoken to him [Donald] at Wentworth, but I've not personally spoken to him about anything," Meronk said. "Sergio, Rahm, Hatton – there's a lot of players on LIV who want to be involved, so he probably knows I am up for it if I am playing well. I believe if I play well, I can make it."