LIV Golf is a blessing. It’s an entertaining recreation and gamers can play anyplace they need. was essential The Challenger on the PGA Tour Who monopolized the sport and 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 trying to generate income and not need to compete towards 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 venture Headed by Greg Norman And one factor we do 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 prior to now decade. We’ve got turn 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.
Seems 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 yr, 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 will likely be divided into 12 groups – is about for subsequent yr, 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 will likely be performed outdoors 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 would not assume LIV is worthy of the area within the sports activities pages and thinks the league will likely be over quickly. Surprise about The Put up masking the LIV occasion outdoors of Portland, Oregon, at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Membership.
“Undecided 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 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 purpose 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 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 very best long-term pursuits of the game as a complete 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 harder questions like, “What enterprise mannequin means that you can spend greater than half a billion {dollars} to get workers? The place is the return on funding? And what are his concepts for residing with the tour?”
Mike Baker wish 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 would not have the spine to do 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 effectively,” 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 will likely be handled as outcasts.”
Robert Shea isn’t involved in studying something about LIV. As an alternative, 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 aren’t spherical workers and unbiased contractors have made their selection. For those who had been provided the place of press director for LIV for $4,000,000 per yr plus all bills paid, you’ll most likely settle for that very quickly. Would that be a ‘seize cash out of your facet? … Golf is a recreation, a sport, not a matter of life or demise. There’s 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 can have Saudi cash.” He believes that the emergence of LIV is linked to “the disintegration of the US as an excellent chief of the world.”
Mike Boyd isn’t blissful that gamers like Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy have spoken out towards LIV Golf. Thomas stated that any lawsuit by LIV gamers towards the PGA Tour is an assault towards each participant at present taking part 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 bins out, let’s maintain these gamers accountable and demand that they play all of the PGA occasions and if that’s too exhausting perhaps 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 straight away when he stated there can be an eventual merger. LIV just 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 suitable to play anyplace 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 residing in any of the ‘conventional’ rounds.” And for individuals who are already millionaires and know they’re not aggressive, theirs too. The best to promote their souls to the satan for some large ‘look price’ and hope they’ll beat some ‘wannabe’ and get a test for $4,000,000 or two.
“However, in flip, they need to all be stripped of their PGA/USGA/DP memberships. Hand over any gathered pensions…they may have chosen their lot in life, and plenty of, if not all, of them will do effectively. I want them nothing however heartache. Coronary heart because of their selections, I hope the checks bounce…though it is unlikely.”
Tom D’Angelo journalist at Palm Seashore Put up. You’ll be able to attain him at tdangelo@pbpost.com.