I wonder how this impacts their sponsorshipsDJ resigned from the PGA Tour. So did Sergio, Charl Schwartzel, Louie O, and Branden Grace.
View: https://twitter.com/kvanvalkenburg/status/1534117517924474882?s=21&t=Egf5ZXCFHS1x3zQ-XzddAw
I wonder how this impacts their sponsorshipsDJ resigned from the PGA Tour. So did Sergio, Charl Schwartzel, Louie O, and Branden Grace.
View: https://twitter.com/kvanvalkenburg/status/1534117517924474882?s=21&t=Egf5ZXCFHS1x3zQ-XzddAw
Not surprising if true, but I haven't seen this anywhere.Tiger pulled out of the US Open
I thought this was a joke, but the LIV brought in Ari Fleischer to act as their spokesperson for this press conference. Hilarious.Second LIV Press conference (Na, Gooch, Piatt) ends in kerfuffle when the AP reporter tries to ask a question, but is cut off by LIV spokesman. Players file out slowly, awkwardly as LIV officials argue loudly with reporter about how he's not being "polite."
View: https://twitter.com/KVanValkenburg/status/1534150486642900992
I’m guessing his 9/11 tweet storm is going to be an in memoriam to the hijackers this year.I thought this was a joke, but the LIV brought in Ari Fleischer to act as their spokesperson for this press conference. Hilarious.
Yes. I was unclear. I was including appearance fees in my comment (even though I didn't mention them!)Absence of competition for some, guaranteed appearance fees for most. DJ will have to win a bunch of tournaments before his winnings surpass the $125M he gets just for showing up.
Bummer, I was hoping to see him as I received an invitation to attend on Thursday.Tiger pulled out of the US Open
No word right now, but I guess I'd be curious how this would affect someone like Rob landing a cushy club-pro job at a high end spot after he decides to call it a day. Will the PGA Tour go so far as to tell those lesser guys that if they decide to jump, they can no longer put themselves out as PGA Professionals in any way in the future. I'll probably see his brother next week, so I'll see if there is anything in the works.I'm not planning to watch this unless Rob signs up. @Deathofthebambino ?
The PGA Tour and PGA of America are two totally different organizations.Will the PGA Tour go so far as to tell those lesser guys that if they decide to jump, they can no longer put themselves out as PGA Professionals in any way in the future.
Well, then there you go. Had no idea. So to answer the question, then yes, I would imagine Rob would consider it, but given the size of the fields, I'm not sure Norman and Co. need to drop that far down the world rankings to fill the field they want. If they start trotting out 120 player fields, with these same purses, even the Saudi's might be like, WTF? Then they'll cut Norman into little pieces, and place each one inside the cup of each hole during the tournaments.The PGA Tour and PGA of America are two totally different organizations.
That's about what it would take to make me watch.Then they'll cut Norman into little pieces, and place each one inside the cup of each hole during the tournaments.
Odd that the players are in alphabetical order by first name.
I thought they'd be listed by descending order of their appearance feesOdd that the players are in alphabetical order by first name.
They have enough readily-recognized names and pro journeymen on the list to make for a very credible start. Other names, big and not-so-big, will certainly follow. But I'd argue that the most important name on that roster is David Puig. If the cream of the crop in D1 decides it's the way to go and they (a) think they can earn spots in or (b) don't care about the majors, the PGA has a real problem.Playing in the SoSH fantasy golf for the past 10 years, I felt like I had a pretty good handle on random golfers in the world. I only recognized 19 names out of the 48, that does not seem good.
That was my read. Beyond this year is a big question mark. Make the LIV folks play in the qualifiers if they want on.Interesting comment from the USGA as they were careful to mention only 2022. Wonder if their "published field criteria" will be changed for 2023
I don't know if I necessarily buy this argument. The "best young golfers" on the PGA Tour might not be those who were the best collegiate golfers, but they'll still be the "best young golfers" on the PGA Tour and will gain more of a following -- at least for now -- than those playing a limited season on a tour without easy access to follow through media outlets.But I'd argue that the most important name on that roster is David Puig. If the cream of the crop in D1 decides it's the way to go and they (a) think they can earn spots in or (b) don't care about the majors, the PGA has a real problem.
I didn't read it that way. It is an "open" championship. You or I could qualify to play if we played well enough in a qualifier. To disqualify someone from playing simply because they play in some other tour would be contrary to the format. Additionally, I would it would seem to be most ripe for legal action if they allows members of some tours or groups to compete but not others.Interesting comment from the USGA as they were careful to mention only 2022. Wonder if their "published field criteria" will be changed for 2023
Correct, but they could remove their exemptions and force them to go through qualifying.I didn't read it that way. It is an "open" championship. You or I could qualify to play if we played well enough in a qualifier. To disqualify someone from playing simply because they play in some other tour would be contrary to the format. Additionally, I would it would seem to be most ripe for legal action if they allows members of some tours or groups to compete but not others.
That's fair, and I certainly overstated the issue, although I think the impact of a guy like Puig going to the LIV is asymmetrical on LIV v. PGAT. All the LIV has to do is establish itself as a viable alternative to the PGAT is bleed out enough talent over time to (a) make the question of "which tour is getting the better guys" hazy, and (b) let the money do the talking. The D1 guys would then at least see it as a legit option after college. Saudis can bankroll a loss leader forever, and at some point you're having a conversation about whether the young guys will opt for tradition v. a world tour with a fuckton of cash to boot, and the sponsorhip dollars might decide that LIV or hedging their bets is the way to go.I don't know if I necessarily buy this argument. The "best young golfers" on the PGA Tour might not be those who were the best collegiate golfers, but they'll still be the "best young golfers" on the PGA Tour and will gain more of a following -- at least for now -- than those playing a limited season on a tour without easy access to follow through media outlets.
Someone in the same category as a Puig would have to do something special on the LIVTour to create a curiosity factor. If they just end up being filler for LIV fields they'll make their money, but I don't see it influencing a majority of the top collegians.
I think this is right, and I suspect the US and British open will both honor their current exemptions until expiration, and continue with their open qualifying format, regardless of what tour anyone plays on. The Masters and the PGA are the 2 in the best position to exclude LIV players if they choose to. The PGA will almost certainly go that route, IMO. The Masters is the wildcard. The event has become the most anticipated and prestigious major by a considerable margin, and I can see exclusion from it giving players significant pause about switching to the LIV, if Augusta ever did adopt a hard line.I didn't read it that way. It is an "open" championship. You or I could qualify to play if we played well enough in a qualifier. To disqualify someone from playing simply because they play in some other tour would be contrary to the format. Additionally, I would it would seem to be most ripe for legal action if they allows members of some tours or groups to compete but not others.
I doubt that a group of golfers who have already decided that easier money is the answer will give much of a shit about the Masters.I think this is right, and I suspect the US and British open will both honor their current exemptions until expiration, and continue with their open qualifying format, regardless of what tour anyone plays on. The Masters and the PGA are the 2 in the best position to exclude LIV players if they choose to. The PGA will almost certainly go that route, IMO. The Masters is the wildcard. The event has become the most anticipated and prestigious major by a considerable margin, and I can see exclusion from it giving players significant pause about switching to the LIV, if Augusta ever did adopt a hard line.
That would be too bad. But if more and more people join the LIV, and the Masters keeps those folks out, then the Masters field will be seriously diluted. Which would suck.I doubt that a group of golfers who have already decided that easier money is the answer will give much of a shit about the Masters.
Because of the limited size of the field and the fact that former champs take up a chunk of the spots, the Masters is already one of the weakest fields in all of golf. Which doesn’t seem to bother anyone, because that’s not what makes it special.That would be too bad. But if more and more people join the LIV, and the Masters keeps those folks out, then the Masters field will be seriously diluted. Which would suck.
Very interesting situation here for sure. I don't care too much about the smaller events, and in reality the LIV will actually open more spots for other golfers to make the PGA tour, but still...in the bigger events I want to see the best players play.
Now Bryson might join. With the amount of money they're throwing around, it wouldn't shock me if more guys left the PGA tour for LIV.Because of the limited size of the field and the fact that former champs take up a chunk of the spots, the Masters is already one of the weakest fields in all of golf. Which doesn’t seem to bother anyone, because that’s not what makes it special.
The only elite player in LIV is DJ. And he’s eligible for the Masters as a former champ. There isn’t going to be a case where the field is “seriously diluted.”
No tears on my part if Bryson is excluded. But I don’t think he would be since he’s exempt for a few more years based on his US Open win.Now Bryson might join. With the amount of money they're throwing around, it wouldn't shock me if more guys left the PGA tour for LIV.
Maybe so, but I do think winning a green jacket comes with both historical cache, and endorsement opportunities, that matter to a lot of these guys. By giving them pause, I’m thinking primarily of young star players who’ve never won one, and who might not have a pocket full of exemptions yet. Not necessarily guys like DJ, Phil, Sergio, etc. who either already have, or are on the verge of aging out of being serious, regular contenders in the majors. And who, in a couple of cases, have lifetime exemptions anyway.I doubt that a group of golfers who have already decided that easier money is the answer will give much of a shit about the Masters.
All depends on whether the Masters kicks those guys out of their tournament. I mean a Masters without DJ, Oosthuizen, Phil, Na, Sergio, Westwood, Poulter, and potentially Fowler and Bryson....those are some fairly big names too not have in the field. I mean, there's still plenty of talent available for Augusta if they boot these guys, but it wouldn't take that many more defectors before the Masters field looks significantly different.No tears on my part if Bryson is excluded. But I don’t think he would be since he’s exempt for a few more years based on his US Open win.
I really don’t think the LIV will have much of an impact on the Masters.
2 of those guys didn’t even play in this year’s Masters.All depends on whether the Masters kicks those guys out of their tournament. I mean a Masters without DJ, Oosthuizen, Phil, Na, Sergio, Westwood, Poulter, and potentially Fowler and Bryson....those are some fairly big names too not have in the field.
Yeah, this is where I'm at. I realize I'm probably more die hard than most but if this turns the Travelers Championship into the John Deere, that sucks.This all sucks for fans of the professional game. Two watered down tours, with one playing more like exhibition events, is bad for all of us. The majors should be fine for now, but some of us care about more than four events per year.
At the end of the day, I’m going to guess that Phil Mickelson will look like a prophet.This all sucks for fans of the professional game. Two watered down tours, with one playing more like exhibition events, is bad for all of us. The majors should be fine for now, but some of us care about more than four events per year.
I wouldn't count on it. More money is already a done as part of the new TV deal. Purses and bonuses will continue to rise. Things like the number of required events are unlikely to change due to the new TV deal. There will be changes, but they will not be to let these guys back in when they decide they don't want to play every single event with Patrick Reed and Bryson. The rest of the TOUR players are NOT happy with these guys leaving and are not likely to forgive them anytime soon.At the end of the day, I’m going to guess that Phil Mickelson will look like a prophet.
(Excuse me, I just fainted after writing that.)
What I mean is that the Saudis aren’t going to continue to throw hundreds of millions at players forever unless the tour has a path to viability. And LIV will never be viable without the top players. (DJ, Bryson and Reed are a start, but not close to what they need.)
Phil’s early comments about using it as leverage against the PGA Tour will prove prophetic because it shows that they aren’t really committed to the LIV. They are looking for a negotiated peace that gives then more $$$ and less restriction on things like number of mandatory events in return for abandoning LIV after two or three seasons. Which is probably what happens.
I feel like that depends entirely on how badly (if at all) the LIV Tour hurts the PGA Tour.I wouldn't count on it. More money is already a done as part of the new TV deal. Purses and bonuses will continue to rise. Things like the number of required events are unlikely to change due to the new TV deal. There will be changes, but they will not be to let these guys back in when they decide they don't want to play every single event with Patrick Reed and Bryson. The rest of the TOUR players are NOT happy with these guys leaving and are not likely to forgive them anytime soon.