"As a professional you have to take opportunities when they arise": Thomas Pieters opens up about his decision to join LIV Golf

Belgian pro Thomas Pieters was initiated into LIV Golf on 18 February, leaving fans and critics worldwide surprised by his eleventh hour defection from the PGA Tour. Currently at No. 35, Pieters serves as a commendable addition to the contentious series that's been known to strive to add ground-breaking names to boost the credentials of its line-up.

The golfer was offered his position as a replacement for American pro Hudson Swafford, who had to miss out on the second season of the LIV series due to a hip injury. Although the decision was made hardly a week away from the tournament's commencement, the 31-year-old told Telegraph that he had made the decision last summer. He has joined Bubba Watson's RangeGoats GC side.

Pieters irked upon being overlooked for the Genesis Invitational

Hero Dubai Desert Classic - Day Four (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

Pieters took to Twitter to vent his frustration at not being invited to play the Genesis Invitational three days before he joined LIV Golf, leading to speculation online that his frustration with the PGA led him to leave the tour.

When enquired about his tweet by Golf Digest's Evin Priest, Pieters said that that he did not harbor any grudges in particular. He said:

"Honestly, I know how it must have looked, but it had nothing to do with it," said the golfer.

The 31-year-old said that he was simply discussing the tournament with his friends. He said:

"I was talking to my friends, and they were saying 'Hey, we can't wait to watch that pairing with Tiger and Rory and JT,' and I just became a bit angry that I wasn't playing as World No. 34. [The tweet] was just bad timing, I guess."

Pieters has reportedly signed a $10 million contract with LIV Golf, consequentially yielding his chance to play in the Ryder Cup. The decision also led to ambivalent responses online from fans and critics. He told Golf Digest:

"Hudson got injured, and I had a call saying do you want the spot. You don't wish ill on anyone, and I hope Hudson recovers soon. As a professional you have to take opportunities when they arise. It has been a whirlwind since then, really, sorting everything out and getting everything ready over the weekend."

While speaking to the Telegraph, Pieters said that he was ultimately motivated to join LIV Golf due to their work culture, which would give him a lighter schedule and allow him to spend more time with his family, which suited him better. He said:

“Of course, with the two young children it is all attractive,” he admitted. “I’ve struggled playing 26 events a year, to be honest. As a father it suits me to have a lighter schedule. I have never wanted to play full-time on the PGA Tour because I don’t think you can do that and live where I want."