LIV Golf

[Blue in Munich]

Really ? I don’t see Rory joining ever, it would be an incredible U turn and given his previous comments a massive climb down.

Agree his tone has moderated slightly, but you are spinning big time here.

With regard to LIV being here to stay, they have probably 18 months to start gaining a substantial income stream coz the Saudis will want to see some return on their investment, if they decide to pull the funding then LIV is definitely not here to stay.

And this post is different from the multitude of others how?

 

[cleveland52]

That was a fair assessment from Rory based on what players were saying publicly, or amongst themselves, at the time. But many were being duplicitous, and that led to the subsequent bitterness from Rory and others, when the pledges to the pgat were shown to be false.Saying to each other they were staying, while simultaneously negotiating their Saudi deal. It wasnt moving to LIV in itself that led to the bad feeling that now exists between some players. It was the lying to each other.[/QUOTE]

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This is a real assessment as to what was going on at the time. Current recruits continue to lie right up to going to LIV golf. Plus bringing lawsuits against the pgatour which is the players themselves.

 

[Deleted member 21445]

I'd imagine Rory is now seeing the reality that LIV is here to stay, and questioning why he should be in a position where he or his fellow pros have to miss out on it?

There is no way Rory is saying they should talk so he can play on Liv ?

He just wants to play against all the best players in the big PGAT events..

 

[Mel Smooth]

Really ? I don’t see Rory joining ever, it would be an incredible U turn and given his previous comments a massive climb down.

Agree his tone has moderated slightly, but you are spinning big time here.

With regard to LIV being here to stay, they have probably 18 months to start gaining a substantial income stream coz the Saudis will want to see some return on their investment, if they decide to pull the funding then LIV is definitely not here to stay.

It's on record the Saudis are funding it until 2025, if Rory is telling the world the split needs to be healed, then that will mean that the 'us versus them' situation will be no more.
If golf evolves into something that means the top players want to have the right to play in multiple tours, why would Rory put himself in a position where he can't do that?

 

[Ian_George]

I'd imagine Rory is now seeing the reality that LIV is here to stay, and questioning why he should be in a position where he or his fellow pros have to miss out on it?

You have a vivid imagine then! Unlike other tours, LIV's entire existence depends on (massive) funding by a single sponsor! That's an excellent reason for it to be called The Saudi Golf League! Here's an article from a couple of weeks ago! https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereks...iv-golf-spreading-propaganda/?sh=38d38f8934ae Co-exist (until 2025) yes; here to stay; only at the whim of the Saudis! A completely different situation than, say, Newcastle FC's!

You should change your handle to 'Mel Spin'!

 

[Backsticks]

I'd imagine Rory is now seeing the reality that LIV is here to stay, and questioning why he should be in a position where he or his fellow pros have to miss out on it?

Because he, and others feel they were set up, and the rug pulled from under those who did say they were committed to the pgat, and meant it, by those who didnt mean it. This led the likes of McIlroy to state their position under the impression that the top PGAT players were solid and holding together as a group. Then some jumped. And not everyone is happy to be calling people mother (editted) one day, and signing to work for them the next. Once players were not being honest with each other, there was going to be a split, rancour, and a situation more difficult to put back together than had they dealt with it properly before the defections started.

 

[BubbaP]

Over the years I've enjoyed Rory's candid approach to interviews, but IMO he's been a difficult listen at times in 2022. He has twice previously been quoted encouraging compromise etc., to then return to stirring the pot & digs shortly after. Perhaps conflicted. He has his players advisory role, wouldn't be surprised if TM have encouraged a more conciliatory approach, plus many others pulling him in various directions.
He may have also been surprised by the volume of negative comments he has picked up Stateside (obviously positive ones also) - in moving beyond player and into more 'golf politics'

 

[Blue in Munich]

We know Rory has a huge influence on the PGA Tour, we saw that with the Delaware meeting and the PGAT immediately made changes with elevated events and founf an extra 200 million dollars.

His stance has really changed recently and its been in multiple interviews now.
I also think he knows (inside knowledge) of more PGAT players that are looking like they may go.

"Rory says PGAT & Liv have to find a compromise"
https://www.golfmonthly.com/news/pga-tour-and-liv-will-have-to-find-a-compromise-rory-mcilroy

I think he may need to send LIV a dictionary because I'm not sure compromise is a word Greg is familiar with.

 

[Deleted member 21445]

I think he may need to send LIV a dictionary because I'm not sure compromise is a word Greg is familiar with.

True ???

It's hard to see how a compromise can happen now we are so far down the line..

 

[cleveland52]

True ???

It's hard to see how a compromise can happen now we are so far down the line..

Compromise??? Tell me again why the PGATOUR need LIV Golf.....LOL! No compromise needed.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

So LIV finishes with their viewing figures tanking , crowds non existent and no one really caring

So they spent billions to achieve what ?‍

 

[Deleted member 21445]

So they spent billions to achieve what ?‍

A 2nd year to try to grow bigger and better...

 

[Ian_George]

Compromise??? Tell me again why the PGATOUR need LIV Golf.....LOL! No compromise needed.

Which is why LIV needs the 'obscene' rewards (for players) and visibility (controversy) that has been provided by OWGR or Major participation issues and the likes of Mel Spin and other fanboys!

 

[Deleted member 21445]

Compromise??? Tell me again why the PGATOUR need LIV Golf.....LOL! No compromise needed.

It's Rory who is asking for the compromise.. ??

 

[Deleted member 15344]

A 2nd year to try to grow bigger and better...

What’s going to change to make that happen when it looks like the level of interest for it dropped as it went on ?

 

[cleveland52]

So LIV finishes with their viewing figures tanking , crowds non existent and no one really caring

So they spent billions to achieve what ?‍

I'm just guessing here, but I suspect that someone (GN) convinced them that they could find 12 billionaires to buy teams and here we are. They figured that if they took all the bad boys and trashed the pgatour all of their fans would leave and follow circus golf.

The jury is still out. The question is......Are golf fans truly that gullible?

 

[Ian_George]

What’s going to change to make that happen when it looks like the level of interest for it dropped as it went on ?

14 'Tournaments' instead of 8 as per this year. A couple of months old, so probably progressed a bit. https://www.si.com/golf/news/liv-golf-2023-sched.
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Here's an contra-LIV-spin interpretation of a couple of the points.

LIV: “We've got a lot of interest, high-level interest, from people working in government that would love to have us in other states"
Actual: "The postman recognised us and told us to '(bleep) off and die'!'"
LIV: "LIV officials were in Australia two weeks ago visiting venues all over the country, and only one course on their list of finalists declined, according to LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman."
Actual: "We tried some target venues but the one that would actually speak to us told us to (bleep) off!"

Interesting to note Valderrama scheduled for the week before The Open. That would exclude those playing from playing in the Scottish Open to qualify for The Open. Maybe he doesn't expect LIV players to be allowed to play DPWT events or maybe not The Open!

 

[BubbaP]

On your last point, don't forget the Scottish Open is now a PGAT event also - likely a good thing (for golf) to not add further legal stuff IMO.

 

[LincolnShep]

The role of the Official World Golf Ranking company has never been more front and centre. Prior to LIV, they were just some people at Wentworth who did a load of maths to decide who was best. We knew there were doing it but we didn't really think about how they did it.

Now we have to think about what their purpose is. Should the OWGR continuously review and develop their system to reflect golf, however it is being played; or should they set the terms for how it must be played if you want to be ranked? Personally, I'd prefer it if they were impartial and ranked all pro golfers, regardless of tour. However, given that they are 100% owned and funded by USGA, R&A, ANGC, PGAT and DPWT, I don't think that's very likely.

Maybe it's time for a rival ranking organisation, with commercial sponsorship, that's independent of any of the tours.

 

[Deleted member 1418]

Maybe it's time for a rival ranking organisation, with commercial sponsorship, that's independent of any of the tours.

Perhaps this rival ranking organisation could be based in the Middle East......!

They could have a tag line of 'Golf but Rankers'.........