Jon Rahm chuckled before he answered. He knew he would be asked the question, and he was just asked some version of it in the media center a bit earlier. He also knew, for the most part, exactly what he wanted to say.

That topic — the 18 LIV Golf players in the field at this week’s BMW PGA Championship — has been a controversial one the past few days. The BMW PGA is the DP World Tour’s flagship event but, unlike the PGA Tour, LIV golfers are still on the DP World Tour. (The DP World Tour suspended them, but a U.K. arbiter granted a stay of execution.)

That means this week’s field has some players entered who have not normally teed it up at the Wentworth Club in England. For some LIV players, it’s an important start — World Ranking points are up for grabs (they aren’t available in LIV events yet), and those points go a long way in securing invites to majors.

The main issue here is that those players, even if they have qualified through priority rankings, are kicking other DP World Tour members out. Some even received LIV contracts, so other pros see it as a double-dip.

“In my understanding, there is a double standard when it comes to the relationship LIV has with the [DP World Tour] and the PGA Tour,” said Rahm, when speaking to Sky Sports on Tuesday. “The PGA Tour can survive without some of the biggest stars because there’s so many new ones coming in. The [DP World Tour], some of those bigger names you still may need.

“I don’t necessarily disagree too much with that,” Rahm continued. “What I do disagree with is some of the names that have never expressed any support toward the [DP World Tour], any interest, or the event, whatsoever, and to be giving those players an opportunity and take it from players who have dedicated themselves to the [DP World Tour], I think it’s wrong.”

The issue is personal for Rahm. The first player out, he said, was Alfredo Garcia-Heredia, a fellow Spaniard and close friend of his. He’s played 20 events on the DP World Tour this year but didn’t get in the field.

The interviewer brought up the names Talor Gooch and Abraham Ancer as LIV players who have been criticized for entering the tournament and pushing others out. Gooch has never played in a DP World Tour event; Ancer has played in a few but never a BMW PGA.

“I’m not going to name anybody, but the only reason they are here is for World Ranking points, hoping they can finish in the top 50 to then play certain majors,” Rahm said. “It’s clear as day. And if they are saying otherwise they are not fooling anybody, at least not me.”

Rahm said he has no issues with LIV players like Sergio Garcia, Graeme McDowell, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter playing Wentworth, because those pros spent years on the DP World Tour and earned their spot. He even included Patrick Reed, who has long played European events, saying Reed’s shown interest over the years and “earned” his right to be there.

“But some players, even though they qualified, however they qualified, they are taking a spot from some players that deserve it way more than they do,” Rahm said.

🗣️ “I think it’s wrong.”

Jon Rahm has questioned why some LIV golfers have been granted spots at the BMW PGA Championship. pic.twitter.com/55bheuMruq

— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) September 6, 2022

Billy Horschel was even more blunt.

The defending BMW PGA champion fielded questions from the media for 20 minutes on Tuesday, and those listening got their money’s worth. Horschel pulled no punches when the dialogue turned to the LIV golfers’ presence in the field this week at Wentworth.

“Even though Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter have been stalwarts for the European Tour, I don’t think those guys really should be here,” Horschel said. “I honestly don’t think that the American guys who haven’t supported the PGA Tour should be here. Abraham Ancer, Talor Gooch, Jason Kokrak — you’ve never played this tournament, you’ve never supported the DP World Tour. Why are you here?”

Horschel speculated that the only reason the LIV golfers are on hand is to garner world-ranking points. As it stands currently, LIV golf events do not award any points for the Official World Golf Ranking — which, for many, is their only avenue into major championships.

“You are here for one reason only,” Horschel said. “That’s to try to get World Ranking points because you don’t have them [on LIV].”

The PGA Tour immediately suspended any player teeing up in a LIV Golf event, while others resigned their memberships. The DP World Tour also levied suspensions and fines against LIV golfers, but an arbitration judge paused those sanctions, with a final judgment expected early next year.

Horschel continued his tirade by calling out the LIV golfers for their hypocrisy — specifically as it pertains to the “limited schedule” that playing the start-up tour affords.

“It’s pretty hypocritical to come over here and play outside LIV when your big thing was to spend more time with family and want to play less golf,” he said. “So that’s my stance on it. I can see where other guys may differ and have a different opinion.”

This isn’t the first time Horschel has been critical of those playing on the up-start golf tour. At the Scottish Open this summer, he also blasted the LIV golfers in the field for their hypocrisy. Last month, Horschel said LIV golfers had been “brainwashed.”

“If we were on the PGA Tour, I would be hard-lined as I’ve always been,” he said.

Article originally appeared on: Golf.com