Thomas Detry's decision to join LIV Golf is facing sharp scrutiny after Smylie Kaufman suggested it could be the biggest mistake made by any golfer who has switched tours. The argument centers on the position Detry had built for himself on the PGA Tour before making the move.
Kaufman's point appears to be less about LIV Golf as a whole and more about Detry's timing. In his view, Detry had put himself in a strong enough spot on the PGA Tour that leaving now stands out as a far riskier call than it might have been for other players.
That is part of why the move has drawn so much attention. Detry has been described as one of the most significant names LIV Golf has managed to add, and a signing of that size naturally brings debate over what a player gains versus what he leaves behind.
The reaction also highlights how every LIV Golf switch is still judged against a golfer's standing in the traditional system. For Detry, the conversation is focused not only on his future with LIV, but on whether he gave up a particularly valuable position on the PGA Tour.
