LIV Golf

I have attached a list of the current golfers who have jumped ship for Greg Norman's new Saudi golf league. With a couple of exceptions it is mainly has-beens and never -weres but it still leaves a dent. I have read that Ricky Fowler may be the next to vamoose. Apparently this is completely funded by the Saudi Royal family, a nation who practically wrote the book on human rights transgressions. But they offer an ungodly amount of money so these guys are more than willing to look past ritual beheadings, the stoning of women, the throwing of gays off of building roofs and the current pump prices in the USA in pursuit of easy money.

I am rooting hard for its failure.

Dustin Johnson headlines field of players set to participate in first LIV Golf Series Invitational event - CBSSports.com

 

It looks that unlike other sports organizations, this tour doesn't need TV money to succeed. As of now none of the major networks are carrying it here. Of course they all have a piece of the PGA tour telecasts. With no televising here, there's no exposure for sponsors. So the battle lines are drawn between tradition and big bucks.

 

DeChambeau and Patrick Reed have joined the LIV. Fowler in negotiations.

 

I suspect some of the defectors are avoiding the woke leaning PGA and it's sponsors.
Not saying their choice is better since as was outlined above there are questionable items from that sponsor as well.

 

"Questionable" is an understatement! The defectors didn't mind taking the sponsors money before this. I guess time will tell if the LIV tour will be a better deal or not but I don't think being woke will have anything to do with it. If they are getting guaranteed money then hopefully they can hold onto it and not gamble it away or whatever.

 

I am very surprised that Bryson has joined LIV

 

10s of millions of dollars lump sum without having to win is a big incentive I guess. I'm sure they are hoping they can get back on the PGA tour also.

 

PGA Tour has suspended all the players who are in the LIV tournament in London this weeked. Of course a number of them have already, they will be dropped from the FEDEX Cup standings and barred from all PGA events on all their sponsored tours. I assume this is a long term suspension although they don't say it. Greg Norman has said the LIV Tour will support them in lawsuits to regain their right to play, so I guess that is what it will take.
Players Suspended by PGA Tour
The PGA Tour has suspended 17 current and former members who are participating in the inaugural LIV Golf event.

Sergio Garcia*
Talor Gooch
Branden Grace*
Dustin Johnson*
Matt Jones
Martin Kaymer*
Graeme McDowell*
Phil Mickelson
Kevin Na*
Andy Ogletree
Louis Oosthuizen*
Turk Pettit*
Ian Poulter
Charl Schwartzel*
Hudson Swafford
Peter Uihlein
Lee Westwood*
* Informed the PGA Tour that they had resigned their membership

 

The future of golf hangs in the balance. The optics of this LIV venture are not good. A bunch of multi-millionaires bolting a time honored organization for a high stakes watered down version of a game show. One of the last sports where personal sportsmanship & honor still count. A sport where the average fan can still watch for "free". And they split for even more money in the middle of an exploding economic mess that has already had a profound effect on their fans. And the icing on the cake is that they are taking money from one of the worst human rights nations in the world. No one should have an ounce of empathy for these greedy bastards.

'I Have Deep Empathy for Them': Phil Mickelson Responds to Criticism from 9/11 Families over Saudi-Backed Golf League (breitbart.com)

 

I wonder if she gets a complimentary LIV Golf hat?

Saudi Arabia Sentences Shia Woman to 34 Years in Prison for Retweets (breitbart.com)

And here is an interesting twist I can get behind.....

New bill would prohibit LIV Golf tournaments in NJ - NJBIZ

 

So is the real target of the NJ bill the foreign backed LIV or the host club?

 

I can't say for sure, Gipper. But Trump National is not the only championship caliber tract in New Jersey nor is it the best. On the other hand, a lot of Garden Staters went down with the Towers and the Saudis are regarded with disdain here.

 

PGA Tour has sweetened the deal for the Players.

 

I view this stunt as LIV gasping for air. LIV Subpoenas Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy as Golf War Widens (breitbart.com)