pendodave
Tour Rookie
Lol.
Taylormade Tour on Instagram have included DJ in their most recent club making vid....
He had disappeared before the "merger"
Doesn't exactly strengthen the anti-trust case...
LIV Golf
- Thread starter MarkT
- Start date
Doesn't exactly strengthen the anti-trust case...
Swango1980
Well-known member
To be fair, I'm not sure any player has hinted they are sacrificing themselves simply to stay loyal to the PGAT, except for sacrificing the financial aspect of it. I don't even think anyone believe they are sacrificing themselves to stay on the PGAT.
They are staying on the PGAT as they think that is the best thing to do for them, in terms of their careers, legacy, etc. I protects them in terms of qualifying with majors, and they don't need to take a risk in no longer earning ranking points. It also helps them reputationally, as undoubtedly there are many people that do throw the blood money accusations around.
D-S
Well-known member
I agree so why the need/demand/clamour for compensation? They haven’t lost anything.
wjemather
Well-known member
Greed, envy, regret, vengeance (assuming they want those who joined LIV to pay for it), etc.
Mostly greed.
My gut feel, based on nothing really is that '24 will run the same as '23, but likely without Greg at the helm. There is too much to sort out in too little time for it not to. It wouldn't surprise me if some of the LIV players were invited back to certain PGAT events as some reintegration over the course of the season.
All then sorted for '25, when LIV will be rebranded and some element of team golf global series pushed into the autumn to run alongside a 'qualification' series for those seeking their card next year, with the PGAT schedule largely unchanged from Feb and wrapping up after the playoffs.
RichA
Well-known member
They're all greedy.
If any of them possess any self-awareness they might wonder whether they're really worth 7, 8 and 9 figure sums if the sponsors are walking away and the only way it can be bankrolled is by a dictator who owns a money well.
Swango1980
Well-known member
Because, as I said, there is one thing they did miss out on. The financial rewards of agreeing to play LIV. They turned down those opportunities, as they felt the pros outweighed the cons. The PGAT quite clearly demonstrated what the cons would be. Then, suddenly, that was thrown out the window and the PGAT seemed to have done the very thing they told the players not to.
So, there are a group of players that benefited from huge financial gains, then suddenly looks like they will experience none of the cons to that. It is fairly easy to see why some PGAT players will feel annoyed that they missed out on huge sums of money, when it turns out they could have still competed on the tour they preferred anyway.
You can call it greed. Very easy to use such accusations on social media, and try and pretend that we are all morally superior human beings. Yet, if significant amounts of money came our way we'd snap it up ourselves. And, regret it if we didn't, if our decision was made being misled about the downsides of it. The fact that a lot of the professionals have a lot of money already doesn't really matter, as it is all relative. Very rich people continue to try and make more money. We probably all have significantly more money that most of the people in the world. Those people could call us greedy, not seeing what else we need given we already live much more comfortably in comparison to them.
Also, perhaps some of those PGAT players are not yet made for life, and are still fighting to keep their card, stay on tour and build a future from golf. Not sure if any of them turned down LIV, and are genuinely devastated as it truly could have made a huge difference to their lives?
D
Deleted member 21445
Guest
Anyone else got a strong feeling the DOJ are going to kibosh this merger ??
Bdill93
Undisputed King of FOMO
Mel Smooth
Hacker
If they do the PGAT has some serious work to do to save face
They'd have some serious work to do to save the PGAT...
jim8flog
Journeyman Pro
I presume you read or heard this
PGA Tour’s Deal With LIV’s Saudi Backers to Be Investigated by the Justice Department
The probe introduces uncertainty to the agreement between warring bodies that stunned the golf industry, which was already facing scrutiny under federal antitrust law
and
US Justice Department to investigate PGA Tour-LIV Golf pact, Wall Street Journal reports
The U.S. Justice Department will review the PGA Tour's plan to merge with Saudi-backed LIV Golf to determine if it violates antitrust law, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.
www.reuters.com
I heard on the TV today they reckon it will take a year to conclude their investigation.
D
Deleted member 21445
Guest
Jay's days are numbered ?
Probably echos most of the PGA Tour players.
Probably echos most of the PGA Tour players.
BubbaP
Occasional Player of Golf
Think there is a bit missing from the above, full transcript here.
Probably echoing what a fair few in the US have been thinking.
Again, interesting times...
Tom Watson's open letter to PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan
The eight-time major champion shares his reservations about a pending deal with Saudi Arabia's PIF.
www.golfdigest.com
Probably echoing what a fair few in the US have been thinking.
Again, interesting times...
Mel Smooth
Hacker
Don't be at all surprised if there's something from the the PGAT putting some positive spin on the deal in the next day or two...
BubbaP
Occasional Player of Golf
Thought young Puig Currius did pretty well at the US Open, having gone through qualifying
Mel Smooth
Hacker
He's done well since getting the opportunity to turn pro and join LIV - while he's down the rankings at the moment on the series, I suspect he'll be kept on next year.
Spain is producing some decent quality golfers at the moment to be fair.
D
Deleted member 15344
Guest
He is the exact sort of player that if LIV did stop wouldnt be able to jump across to either of the main tours - prob end up on the Asian Tour
D
Deleted member 21445
Guest
From the very few reports coming out it appears the rushed merger decision was because the PGAT was going to run out of money and couldn't sustain the increased designated events purses for the foreseeable future.
So before that became desperate they went now and that's the position of strength they are talking about.
Lots of press about looking after the loyal PGAT players and that will have to be a part of getting this merger through but I think it's fair to presume that Al Rumayyan will also want to look after his loyal players who put all their trust in him when leaving the PGAT.
As I've always said the MONEY always has the power and this is no different.
As Brandel Chamblee said the PGAT can't afford for this merger not to happen now.. The PGAT has lost the trust of its players loyalty and given a green light that's its OK to take the money.
If the merger doesn't happen Liv will continue and start to recruit players a lot more easily.
I think the below will happen, just my opinion folks and what makes sense to me.
-Top PGAT players who stayed loyal will be offered a compensation payment.
-Liv Style events will continue within the new schedule for Al Rumayyan to keep his players happy, probably rebranded.
- Liv Style events will be in USA and around the world like Oz.
- PGA Tour events that survive will be the iconic events held in the USA
-Liv Golfers will be able to become members of the PGA Tour but will only get some kind of limited status precluding them from the Fed Ex playoffs (keep PGAT players happier), this could be sponsors invites that will keep sponsors on board and able to bring the top Liv Golfers to their events.
-Top PGAT players will be offered equity in teams for the Liv style events
-All events under the new umbrella will be given OWGR points very quickly.
- All events will be shown on major TV networks around the world.
So before that became desperate they went now and that's the position of strength they are talking about.
Lots of press about looking after the loyal PGAT players and that will have to be a part of getting this merger through but I think it's fair to presume that Al Rumayyan will also want to look after his loyal players who put all their trust in him when leaving the PGAT.
As I've always said the MONEY always has the power and this is no different.
As Brandel Chamblee said the PGAT can't afford for this merger not to happen now.. The PGAT has lost the trust of its players loyalty and given a green light that's its OK to take the money.
If the merger doesn't happen Liv will continue and start to recruit players a lot more easily.
I think the below will happen, just my opinion folks and what makes sense to me.
-Top PGAT players who stayed loyal will be offered a compensation payment.
-Liv Style events will continue within the new schedule for Al Rumayyan to keep his players happy, probably rebranded.
- Liv Style events will be in USA and around the world like Oz.
- PGA Tour events that survive will be the iconic events held in the USA
-Liv Golfers will be able to become members of the PGA Tour but will only get some kind of limited status precluding them from the Fed Ex playoffs (keep PGAT players happier), this could be sponsors invites that will keep sponsors on board and able to bring the top Liv Golfers to their events.
-Top PGAT players will be offered equity in teams for the Liv style events
-All events under the new umbrella will be given OWGR points very quickly.
- All events will be shown on major TV networks around the world.
Mel Smooth
Hacker
Yep, I don’t think you’ll be that far away with that analysis.
When both parties spoke about sharing assets, and unifying the game worldwide, they were talking about the PGAT’s TV deals, players, access to sponsors and long-standing credibility. Conversely, the Saudis have LIV, some of the best players in the world, agreements with some superb courses internationally, internstional commercial interests, and a very very big pot of money.
The PGAT as it was simply doesn’t tick enough boxes for it to remain unchanged going forwards, if the PIF agreement goes through.
D
Deleted member 15344
Guest
A simple question
Over the last 18 months it’s shown that the LIV events don’t attract the crowds ( bar Australia ) , don’t attract the media deals or sponsors
So why would PIF continue to fund the LIV style events when they don’t work and also put in lots of money to the current PGAT events
Would it not make more sense to bin all the LIV events off and put the money into the current PGAT/ET events which between them play all over the world - they would prob bring in a big final series based in the Middle East for the OOM for the combined tours ?
Why would it make sense to remove PGA events ? They are very well supported both on site and in the media
If this all goes through then there is no need for LIV events - they serve no purpose beyond getting a handful of golfers richer ? Saudi wanted to get a foot in the door in golf - they tried it themselves with GN ideas , and it’s not worked beyond forcing PGAT going to them
Next season the LIV could easily stop and we go back to the two main tours with increased funding and more co sanction events to get the top players playing more often in places like Australia
LIV had a purpose for Saudi and it’s provided that.
