LIV Golf star Adrian Meronk has opened up about his decision to depart the PGA Tour to join the breakaway circuit. The 31-year-old Polish star joined LIV in February for their third season and secured a respectable 17th place in the standings.
His transition to the Saudi-backed league came on the heels of his surprising exclusion from the 2023 Ryder Cup. Before the prestigious tournament, Meronk had clinched victories in two European Tour events, including the Italian Open at Marco Simone, where Team Europe later celebrated their Ryder Cup victory.
He also bagged his third European Tour event of the season at the Andalucia Masters. Meronk disclosed that he sought advice from several players who had experience playing in America and was left unimpressed 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, explaining his reasons for leaving the PGA Tour.
“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 launched a scathing assessment of the PGA Tour, adding: “It’s like a rat race on the PGA Tour everybody is looking out for themselves, and nobody talks to you.”
Though yet to shine in the majors, Meronk is eyeing a place in Luke Donald’s line-up for the epic Ryder Cup tussle at Bethpage Black in New York next September.
With his eyes firmly on joining LIV players in the line-up, which includes the likes of Tyrrell Hatton and Jon Rahm, Meronk hinted at Sergio Garcia potentially aiming for one final hurrah at the iconic event. He revealed that while direct talks about the Ryder Cup hadn’t occurred with Donald, there were informal discussions going on.
“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.”
