LIV Golf is a blessing. It’s an entertaining recreation and gamers can play wherever they need. It was a mandatory problem to the PGA Tour, which monopolized the sport and was run by a dictator.
LIV Golf is nothing greater than a good of laundered gamers and people who won’t ever make it within the spherical, all trying to generate profits and now not wish to compete in opposition to the very best. 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 is no such thing as a center. Not in contrast to the route this nation has taken previously decade. Now we have change into 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 passed off 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.
Appears to be like 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 informed The Palm Seashore Put up that the sphere of 48 – which might be divided into 12 groups – is ready 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 return. Rumors are nonetheless swirling about Open Champion Cameron Smith in addition to Hideki Matsuyama and Adam Scott. Some can be part of earlier than the following LIV occasion that might be performed outdoors Boston this Labor Day weekend.
Here’s a pattern of the response The Put up acquired 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 assume LIV is worthy of the house within the sports activities pages and thinks the league might be over quickly. Surprise about The Put up protecting the LIV occasion outdoors of Portland, Oregon, at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Membership.
“Unsure why you place LIV golf on the entrance web page of your sports activities web page,” he wrote. “I have not 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 bought 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 purpose for an expert 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 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 “will not be in the very best long-term pursuits of the game as an entire and is completely pushed by cash. We imagine it undermines the merit-based tradition and spirit of open competitors that makes golf so particular.”
Kevin Biddle needs 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 assume 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 properly,” he wrote. “However even when the courts say these gamers can’t be barred from PGA tournaments, it’s probably that these gamers won’t be welcomed by those that stay with the PGA and might be handled as outcasts.”
Robert Shea will not be excited about studying something about LIV. As a substitute, he needs extra protection of the Honda Traditional, which takes place in February on the PGA Nationwide in Palm Seashore 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 impartial contractors have made their selection. In the event you have been provided the place of press director for LIV for $4,000,000 per 12 months plus all bills paid, you’ll in all probability 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 may be quite a lot of bucks for everybody and thousands and 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 could have Saudi cash.” He believes that the emergence of LIV is linked to “the disintegration of the US as an impressive chief of the world.”
Mike Boyd will not be completely happy 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 collaborating within the Tour.
“Why cannot gamers play in a number of rounds? Does anybody marvel when JT will drop out of the match 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 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 may 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 straight away when he mentioned there can be an eventual merger. LIV not too long ago added Howell, Kokrak and broadcaster D., it is just a matter of time earlier than the merger.”
Gary Weiss believes that each golfer has the precise to play wherever he needs, however he should settle for the results.
He wrote, “I’ve no sick will for these struggling professionals who, in any other case, are unable to make a dwelling in any of the ‘conventional’ rounds.” And for many who are already millionaires and know they’re now not aggressive, theirs too. The correct to promote their souls to the satan for some big ‘look charge’ and hope they’ll beat some ‘wannabe’ and get a examine for $4,000,000 or two.
“However, in flip, they need to all be stripped of their PGA/USGA/DP memberships. Surrender any amassed pensions…they are going to have chosen their lot in life, and plenty of, if not all, of them will do properly. 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 Seashore Put up. You’ll be able to attain him at tdangelo@pbpost.com.