SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Retief Goosen, one of the five men coming into this week who have claimed a U.S. Open title at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, is busy these days trying to beat the best players aged 50 and older.
Goosen, 57, won in April on the PGA Tour Champions (commonly referred to as the Champions Tour). And as the professional golf world continues to shift amid uncertainty surrounding LIV Golf, the two-time U.S. Open winner wants to see his former PGA Tour colleagues join the senior circuit.
“We would love to see those guys back,” Goosen said when asked by Front Office Sports Thursday at a small roundtable discussion in a viewing suite perched just above Shinnecock’s 17th hole hosted by Rolex, the luxury watch brand for which the golfer has worked for 25 years.
Goosen—a World Golf Hall of Famer and winner of the 2004 U.S. Open at Shinnecock and the 2001 edition in Tulsa, Oklahoma—gave his thoughts on the future of professional golf, including LIV, Phil Mickelson, and Tiger Woods. Some of the quotes below have been lightly edited for brevity and clarity.
On LIV players over 50 (like Lee Westwood or Ian Poulter) competing on the Champions Tour:
