LIV Golf is a blessing. It’s an entertaining recreation and gamers can play anyplace they need. It was a vital problem for the PGA Tour which had a monopoly on the sport and was run by a dictator.
LIV Golf is nothing greater than a good of laundered gamers and those that won’t ever make it within the spherical, all seeking to generate income and not wish to compete in opposition to the most effective. To not point out its use by Saudi Arabia as a type of “sportswashing” of its horrific human rights historical past.
We’re three occasions on this new enterprise headed by Greg Norman and one factor we all know: LIV Golf is as polarizing as something we have seen within the sport.
Both love or hate. There isn’t any center. Not in contrast to the course this nation has taken previously decade. We’ve got turn out to be American: proper and left. Crimson and blue. Conspiracy theorists and realists.
Who’s subsequent to leap?:Hypothesis facilities on Cameron Smith, three former Masters champions who’ve jumped into LIV Golf; What about Ricky Fowler?
Unique Q&A:Greg Norman’s imaginative and prescient for LIV Golf and PGA Tour gamers creates a ‘firestorm of controversy’ and extra
LIV took the chance to leap into the political divide. Simply check out her newest occasion, which came about on the Donald Trump Membership in Bedminster, NJ, and turned the week right into a small Republican conference with Trump main the circus and making the entire week revolve round him.
Seems to be like LIV is right here to remain – Saudi Arabia’s Public Funding Fund is not going to go bankrupt. They’ve 5 occasions left this 12 months, culminating with a $50 million portfolio at Trump’s Doral property in October.
Norman instructed The Palm Seaside Put up that the sphere of 48 – which shall be divided into 12 groups – was set for subsequent 12 months, when LIV rebranded itself because the LIV Golf League. LIV’s plan is to promote the groups whereas working every as a separate enterprise.
And extra splits to come back. Rumors are nonetheless swirling about Open Champion Cameron Smith in addition to Hideki Matsuyama and Adam Scott. Some can be a part of earlier than the following LIV occasion that shall be performed exterior Boston this Labor Day weekend.
Here’s a pattern of the response The Put up obtained from its protection of The Startup League (the messages have been edited for content material):
LIV doesn’t deserve protection
Samuel Ray Henry does not suppose LIV is worthy of the house within the sports activities pages and thinks the league shall be over quickly. Marvel about The Put up overlaying the LIV occasion exterior of Portland, Oregon, at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Membership.
“Undecided why you set LIV golf on the entrance web page of your sports activities web page,” he wrote. “I have never seen something or no person within the article on Pumpkin Patch. Most loyal golf fans do not care a lot about LIV golf. They’ve offered good conventional golf competitors for a ‘soiled revenue.’ They do not care what occurs subsequent to themselves or the PGA Tour.
“I can see no good cause for knowledgeable golfer to deviate from this league or any journalist writing about them or their tournaments. I see LIV fading out fully in a few years.”
Henry agrees with the choice by Martin Slumbers, CEO of R&A Golf in St Andrews, to take away Norman from the occasions main as much as the Open. And Slippers’ view is that LIV “isn’t in the most effective long-term pursuits of the game as an entire and is totally pushed by cash. We imagine it undermines the merit-based tradition and spirit of open competitors that makes golf so particular.”
Kevin Biddle desires to ask Norman more durable questions like, “What enterprise mannequin lets you spend greater than half a billion {dollars} to get workers? The place is the return on funding? And what are his concepts for dwelling with the tour?”
Mike Baker want to ask Norman: “After watching the open recreation and watching golfers drive a 6 or 7 par 4, do you suppose the LIV golf spherical will lastly go up and begin limiting the golf ball? The PGA Tour clearly does not have the spine to try this” .
John McCauley of Jupiter predicted the lawsuit introduced by gamers not allowed on the PGA Tour. Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau are amongst 11 LIV golfers who’ve sued to problem the suspension of their PGA Tour.
“When you get the Division of Justice concerned, that does not bode nicely,” he wrote. “However even when the courts say these gamers can’t be barred from PGA tournaments, it’s seemingly that these gamers is not going to be welcomed by those that stay with the PGA and shall be handled as outcasts.”
Robert Shea isn’t concerned about studying something about LIV. As a substitute, he desires extra protection of the Honda Traditional, which takes place in February on the PGA Nationwide in Palm Seaside Gardens.
“The story ought to help the native PGA championship and never seize the soulless soiled cash,” he wrote.
Followers will profit from LIV
In the meantime, Napoli’s Sam Chester disagrees with the time period “money snatch” to explain gamers who defected to Liv.
“They don’t seem to be spherical workers and unbiased contractors have made their alternative. In case you have been supplied the place of press director for LIV for $4,000,000 per 12 months plus all bills paid, you’d most likely settle for that very quickly. Would that be a ‘seize cash out of your aspect? …Golf is a recreation, a sport, not a matter of life or loss of life. There’s loads of bucks for everybody and hundreds of thousands of golf fans, like me, can solely profit from elevated competitors. “
Peter Degen believes that “PGA and LPGA will evaporate. Cash will rule and gamers can have Saudi cash.” He believes that the emergence of LIV is linked with “the disintegration of the US as an excellent chief of the world.”
Mike Boyd isn’t joyful that gamers like Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy have spoken out in opposition to LIV Golf. Thomas mentioned that any lawsuit by LIV gamers in opposition to the PGA Tour is an assault in opposition to each participant presently taking part within the Tour.
“Why cannot gamers play in a number of rounds? Does anybody surprise when JT will drop out of the event or when Rory will take a month off from the tour?” Boyd Books. “I imply if the PGA and the gamers are going to get their packing containers out, let’s maintain these gamers accountable and demand that they play all of the PGA occasions and if that’s too arduous possibly the PGA ought to have fewer occasions! Oh yeah that will by no means occur as a result of it could price them some huge cash!!!”
Frederick Moore agrees with Trump, who’s urging Tour gamers to defect and anticipating an upcoming merger between the LIV and PGA Tour.
“Trump immediately when he mentioned there could be an eventual merger. LIV lately added Howell, Kokrak and broadcaster D., it’s only a matter of time earlier than the merger.”
Gary Weiss believes that each golfer has the correct to play anyplace he desires, however he should settle for the implications.
“I’ve no ailing will for these struggling professionals who, in any other case, are unable to make a dwelling in any of the ‘conventional’ rounds,” he wrote. “And for individuals who are already millionaires and know they’re not aggressive, theirs too. The appropriate to promote their souls to the satan for some big ‘look price’ and hope they’ll beat some ‘wannabe’ and get a verify for $4,000,000 or two.
“However, in flip, they need to all be stripped of their PGA/USGA/DP memberships. Quit any gathered pensions…they are going to have chosen their lot in life, and plenty of, if not all, of them will do nicely. I want them nothing however heartache. Coronary heart because of their choices, I hope the checks bounce…though it is unlikely.”
Tom D’Angelo is a journalist for the Palm Seaside Put up. You may attain him at tdangelo@pbpost.com.