LIV GOLF- WHERE TO NOW?

                                                                            By NEVILLE IDOUR

Where to now for LIV Golf? Despite the recent banning of players by the two big boys of world golf the PGA Tour and DP World Tour plus the hefty 100,000 pound fines by the DP Tour it appears LIV Golf isn’t going anywhere. Neither has it stopped the player drain with more just announced. Also not surprisingly LIV Golf is paying the 17 players fines.

Matthew Wolff, Carlos Ortiz and the World 2nd ranked amateur Eugenio Chacarra have made the move. Wolff and Chacarra are young with very promising careers in prospect. The latest two players to be linked are Henrik Stenson and Tommy Fleetwood. Stenson’s management team is thought to have been in talks with LIV while Fleetwood’s wife and manager Clare Craig was at the Centurion Club. A move by Ryder Cup Captain Stenson would be huge and the end of his captaincy.

Every day that passes seems to drive the wedge even further into the widening gap between them and us. Clearly the impasse is the most serious issue to face golf, certainly for as long as I can remember. Yet when you think what is it all about, one is left wondering where does the truth lie. We are talking about a variety of options for Professional golfers to play and ply their trade.

From the first emergence of LIV, Jay Monahan CEO and the PGA Tour has labelled it as the arch enemy and from day one, acrimony, initially from both sides has been an ongoing scenario. Phil Mickelson and Greg Norman early on inflamed matters with statements they probably now wish they had moderated.

As time has gone on LIV has gone about its business despite all the threats and has attracted many more players than thought possible. They now have nine of the last 21 major winners, four former World No.1s and almost half of their field for the Portland event in the USA are top 100 ranked players. Definitely more than a trifling annoyance.

We have heard much from administrators and players about history, legacy, integrity and obscene money and no one will deny all have an important part to play. The game of golf has been built on history, legacy and integrity and for a long time no obscene money. Just run through the names who are etched in history and the minds of golf fans. Too many to name but we know them.

LIV golf has simply made a play to offer a different version of the game which will appeal to many, as it has. But as a long term version that could build a history like traditional golf I cannot see that happening. Personally, in its current format it has as much appeal as 20/20 and one day cricket….seen and immediately forgotten. Cricket has made room for the shorter versions and it has been financially beneficial for the players. LIV golf could easily fill a similar role with a short season of eight to ten events.

Greg Norman has for many years tried to convince the PGA Tour to instigate a world golf tour that plays around the world and not almost solely in the USA. With the latest changes announced by the PGA Tour it seems Norman has achieved that aim but not in the manner he intended. Also, some are saying Mickelson’s comments have also been proven by the sudden avalanche of money the PGA Tour has somehow found to match LIV prizemoney for many events. So accusing LIV of obscene money is a little hollow as the PGA Tour is now in the same boat. Another point Norman made was that several PGA Tour sponsors are heavily involved with $Billions in Saudi. Where is the moral high ground?

I would not be surprised if the DP World Tour are having nervous thoughts about being under the PGA wing despite it being called a partnership. The fear is many of their players will now focus on playing the PGA Tour as the DP World tour events mainly offer peanuts (Euro 1.5 to 2 million) compared to mostly US$10 to $25 million events now on the PGA Tour. Where will it end unless common sense enters the scene.

So let’s wind the clock back to when the LIV Golf series was first mooted. What might the situation be now had Jay Monahan and Keith Pelley the two CEO’s got together and thought let’s talk to these people and see how we can work together for the best outcome for all the players and our tours. With all the money they have available let us not compete with them but accommodate them so that their big money becomes a welcome bonus for players. Similar to the bonus money cricketers earn in the 20/20 slog fest series around the world. Communication, communication, communication.

Currently the LIV eight event series is pretty much monthly until the last three events, not overly intrusive. Given what the PGA Tour changes for 2023 have revealed, a LIV Golf series of eight events could have been accommodated at the end of the FEDEX Cup which will finish in August. It could have had entry restrictions of say 10 of the top 50 ranked players, 15 from 51 to 100, and 25 from below that. Strong fields but not taking too many away from the important fall events when fringe players are battling to keep their cards in the top 125 or from any DP World Tour end of season events.

Of course this would have saved the PGA Tour mega millions not having to try and outdo LIV Golf with it’s own “series” after the FEDEX Cup. Copying LIV Golf is a divisive move and simply confirms the criticisms that the PGA Tour wants to control and own golf and its members. It is all very sad for the image of golf. Knee jerk reactions rarely work and it is time some of the PGA Tour players such as Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas who have been outspoken about their fellow players who have made the move used the off button. They don’t know what lies ahead and their words could come back to bite them if golf is unified again and they share the tee with the very players they have criticised.

Ironically legends of the game such as Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player have not bad mouthed LIV Golf or players joining them. Player in fact said good on them if that is what they want to do, and to earn a better income than will ever do as an average PGA or DP Tour player. Jack Nicklaus was offered huge money to be CEO but simply said no because he was one of the instigators of the PGA Tour and felt he had to continue to support it.

The time has certainly come for the various parties to swallow their unbridled pride and get together and sort out the mess. On that note we will leave the last words to a very common sense and respected Martin Kaymer. Interviewed on Sky Sports he said “I find it very difficult to believe that they can’t find a solution together. I fail to see why LIV Golf is seen as damaging as it is just another option to play golf. We are not going to resign from other tours. We want to play other events and Tours.”

“The main thing is that nobody is against each other yet that is the way it seems. Some say LIV is against the PGA and European Tours but I have never heard that from anyone at LIV. I am worried about the Ryder Cup as there are a lot of emotions involved for players, the tour and sponsors.”

“There is no reason why you should be against each other, because there is no tour who owns golf. We should all be working together for the big picture. I made my choice and I can live with anything that comes my way. I’m happy to support any tour because I believe in all tours. If I am not allowed to play any tournaments then that’s what it is.”

“And this is the bottom line, you need to speak.” Hear, hear, Martin Kaymer.