LIV GOLF – A MOVING MEDIA FEAST

By NEVILLE IDOUR

There is no letup. Each day there is more for the media to feast on. The Liv Golf Series is providing a never ending volume of announcements, debates, criticism and controversy.

The first event is done and dusted and unfortunately the golf itself has been almost anonymous. Ok Charles Schwartzel won in a South African dominated leaderboard and takes away $4 million for his efforts. The star group did not sparkle. Dustin Johnson’s 8th finish on even par and especially Phil Mickelson’s +10 for 34th did not inspire. Others to struggle were Kevin Na +10, Bernd Wiesberger +14 and Sergio Garcia +6……and there were just three rounds.

IV Golf Invitational - London - Day Three
ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - JUNE 11: Charl Schwartzel (2nd L)of Stinger GC holds his trophy alongside Majed Al Sorour (L) CEO of Saudi Golf Federation, his excellency Yasir Al Rumayyan (2nd R) and Greg Norman (R),CEO and commissioner of LIV Golf, during day three of LIV Golf Invitational - London at The Centurion Club on June 11, 2022 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Chris Trotman/LIV Golf/Getty Images)

Probably of more interest were the peripheral goings on. Bryson De Chambeau and Patrick Reed are now confirmed for the second event. We await Rickie Fowler’s entry. Pat Perez has also signed for $10 million according to a story on Instagram from his wife. Who will they bump off the original 48?

The money on offer is staggering. Mickelson won $95 million in 30 years on the PGA Tour and was offered $200 million to play the LIV Tour. Dustin Johnson has won $75million on the PGA Tour and was offered up to $150 million. Apparently Poulter and Westwood were in the 20 to 30 $million bracket.

Justin Thomas has expressed concerns saying the PGA Tour is the best tour and hopes others don’t go to LIV. He said they are throwing so much money around it is hard to turn down. 86 year old Gary Player has probably talked the most common sense and we won’t go in to detail here as we will take an in depth look at all of the ramifications and possible solutions for the July issue of Golfer Pacific.

Player has no issue with many of the players taking this opportunity, who are not big money earners. He says they are wise to take the money. He simply wants to see the fighting stop and The PGA Tour and LIV Golf settle things in an amicable way. There is room for both.

The interesting thing in all of this is the noticeable silence of the DP World Tour. PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan has been very vocal whereas DP’s Keith Pelley has been silent since declining player release requests. After declining Saudi Investment the European Tour joined with the PGA Tour who took a share in their tour. This led to Jay Monahan joining their board and co sanctioned events such as the upcoming Scottish Open.

This has left the DP World Tour in a bind as many of their Ryder Cup stalwarts have joined LIV Golf. All have either resigned or are suspended from the PGA Tour. Poulter is apparently going to appeal his suspension. While the PGA Tour would probably want them banned they want to keep their European memberships for obvious reasons.

Exciting times as the likes of Garcia, Westwood, Poulter, McDowell, Wiesberger and others await Keith Pelley’s next announcement. It would be great for the DP World Tour if those banned from the PGA Tour are still eligible. Watch this space.