LIV Golf’s Jason Kokrak claims his exit from the PGA Tour was ‘blown out of proportion,’ says he didn’t hit anyone with his car
LIV golfer Jason Kokrak recently stated that his PGA Tour exit incident was blown out of proportion when he was shown doing a mic drop sign before leaving the Tour. He also revealed that he chose to join the Saudi-backed circuit due to the shorter schedule.
Jason Kokrak, a three-time winner on the PGA Tour, joined LIV Golf two years ago. He plays for Smash GC on the LIV Golf circuit, where he has yet to win an event.
Kokrak was recently a guest on LIV Golf's Fairway to Heaven podcast, where he shed light on his decision to leave the PGA Tour and addressed some rumors. One such rumor was about his much talked-about walkout at the Travelers Championship 2022, his last PGA Tour event.
"William McGirt did stick up for me there and said hey the guys were waiting they were right there Jay's in the bunker in the middle of the Fairway," he said. "Like I couldn't really drop it within the two Club lengths where I was supposed to. Because it was so stuck on a hill. So I was like let's just go up there."
"I held the flag on the green for all the guys were putting out, signed our cards went in there I said and I'll see you guys later it wasn't meant to be like the mic drop middle finger up at the PGA Tour all the memes and all the stuff it got blown out of proportion"
Jason Kokrak added that he didn't flip anyone on his way out and he just signed his card and went on his way that day.
"It was just one of those things I didn't think anything of it at the time. But then after the fact when the story started coming out I was like well I could see why they thought that. But no none of that was intended that was not my intention at all," he added.
"I thought I was getting pretty close but never really got there" - Jason Kokrak names limited schedule and team factor as the reason behind the LIV Golf switch
Speaking about his decision to join LIV Golf, Jason Kokrak said the 14-event schedule played a major role in his choice as he wanted to spend more time with his family. He also mentioned the team aspect as another factor behind his decision.
"I had spent a lot of years on the PGA tour before and I think I wanted to be a part of some of the team events," he continued. "And I just never got to that spot. I thought I was getting pretty close but never really got there."
"The team aspect of this appealed to me coming out of college and then but being an individual it's not I wouldn't call it a lonely road by any means on the PGA tour. But it's a super individual game."
He added that he enjoyed getting to know his teammates and players more practice rounds together.
Jason Kokrak and other LIV golfers will next compete at the LIV Golf Chicago, which will be played from September 13 to 15. As of now, he is 22nd in the standings with three top-10 finishes this season.