PGA vs. LIV
Photo by Matt Aylward
Many PGA golfers took, what I refer to as the “Saudi blood money” and joined the LIV golf tour that the Saudi PIF (Public Investment Fund) supports. They left the PGA tour and there has been a lot of feuding back and forth, a war of words that has engulfed fans and players alike. There are four tournaments a year that the PGA tour calls “Majors” and a handful of LIV golfers are invited each year to play. These are the only times that competing tour players play together. There has been talk about the two Tours reuniting but negotiations seem to have stalled.
Everyone is very divided about this, fans and players alike. On one hand many PGA players either resent the LIV golfers while others just want to get the pending reunification done. As if to say, can we just play golf again? Unfortunately, as reconciliation might be on the horizon, the dissent is also growing. I watch in amazement as the world of professional golf turns itself into this microenvironment that mirrors the dissention that we see in the world today. We have taken what we see here is the United States and manifest it across so many parts of our society that it continues to surprise me. Hate, anger and distrust rule our lives. This attitude that we saw Donald Trump push to the forefront of our everyday lives crosses almost every line. I guess this should not catch me unawares, but I am when I see a new example of this hate I always seem to ask myself, is this new or has it always been there? Especially in what many would think are placid waters.
Golf has always been considered a well-mannered sport. There is little to no physical contact and fans remain silent as players make their shots. But true to sports, fans are passionate and true golf lovers enjoy the myriad of rules and nuances that dictate how the game is properly played. Mant stare at their television screens hoping to see a minute rules violation to report to authorities. Hoping for a “that was me” moment to talk about over a beer after a round with their buddies.
I recently read about an Interaction one fan had with a former pro turned commentator on twitter about which putter a player was using at a tournament. The argument is irrelevant to my article. But what it opened my eyes to was just how crazy things have gotten. Golf fans have drawn lines in the sand too and are standing their ground supporting each tour like they were Hatfield’s or McCoy’s.
LIV golf fans feel that anyone who does not wholeheartedly support LIV golfers are referred to as a member of the “Corrupt Golf Media” (CGA). If you work for any media outlet that follows the PGA tour, you are CGA by default. Seeing a correlation yet? These fans look for the even the smallest perceived slight to the LIV tour or a LIV golfer to pounce. PGA fans bark right back and the fighting begins. I am sure we will start seeing “Make Golf Great Again” hats on television soon.
My personal opinion is that we should let all golfers who took the Saudi blood money rot in obscurity on the LIV tour. Of course, the LIV golfers want to come back. The golfers got a big pay day but the LIV tour is not the same as the PGA tour. The golfers took the money and now they want to eat the cake too. I got my 100 million for leaving but now I want to come back but keep my money.
No one exemplifies this more than golfer Bryson Dechambeau. His argument is that viewership is down 15% this year. By bringing back the departed golfers it would help bring those viewers back. They say for the good of the tour, I want to come back and build it up again. I say no. It is my fervent hope that the LIV golfers never return. The PGA does not need them. Yes, there needs to be a better marketing plan to plant the seeds for future stars but that can easily be done. There are plenty of excellent golfers on the PGA tour. They need to focus on these golfers and create the stars of the future. Identify who will lead the tour and start the hype now. Let the respective tours move on separately. There will be some down years but the PGA Tour and sponsors need to be patient and the tour will blossom again. It is my fervent hope that the PGA can withstand this onslaught from a richer foe. I cannot say for certain that they are in the right but I do know that the Saudis are evil. The LIV golfers know they made a mistake. I am sure they dream of returning to the tour. If they have to return then let them at least donate all of that “Saudi blood money” to charity. I am sure that not a single golfer would ever consider such a thing.
