LIV Golf

[Deleted member 21445]

Many say that Adelaide is/was the jewel in Livs crown because of the success that event was.

Without doubt for me its this end of season team championship that is it's best event.

Matchplay golf is just great to watch.
Brooks v Phil
Cam v Kaymer
Sergio v Stenson

Throw in some 4somes as well.
Ancer/Ortiz v Westy/Poults

Graphics easier to understand where everyone is at..
It's the only time the whole team thing feels important within the schedule.

Problem is its just once a year..

 

[BubbaP]

Genuine question to any LIV fans. Do you think any LIV golfers have actually improved since signing up, bar Gooch? Forget everything else, let's just focus on golf.

It looks to me the majority have lost motivation, are enjoying a part time doss and laughing all the way to the bank with a lot of moaning thrown in. While that's great for their finances, it's actually sad for the game as a whole.

Assuming you don't mind others replying, think it's actually quite a tricky question. Golfers by the nature of the game, ebb & flow with form.
Was Rory better in 2022 than 2014? Is he better in 2023 (so far) than 2022? Can likely make various cases depending on what you focus on.
Probably the majority are similar to prior to joining. Unsurprisingly is easier to make a case for improvement for the younger guys like Puig & Chacarra. Vincent also, made the most of qualifying. Munoz & Periera maybe.
Certainly Westwood has had a bit of a stinky 2023 after playing pretty well last year. Johnson obviously hasn't made an effort to play outside of liv & majors, can't say if he's living it up or managing injuries.
Not really surprising some of the older guys struggle with consistent form, should liv actually continue it is something they'd need to solve, refreshing the participants. Bland and Howell III seem to be bucking that trend.

 

[Backsticks]

For the guys at the tail end of their careers, or already having it behind them, like Lefty, Westie, and the Postman, form doesnt really apply. Its just a one way street of decline. There is no prospect of form improving. And there are too many like that on LIV. With its already small field, the seniors/legends cohort leaves little room for serious high level golfers.
With the 5 top rank guys, how many more does LIV really have : maybe 15-20 who are relevant in todays golf? A 15-20 man tournament isnt a tournament. Its just a waste.

 

[Deleted member 21445]

This Ripper V Cleeks match in sudden death ..

Smith beats Kaymer on 19th when 3up with 3 to play,.
MK was so clutch down the last 3.

Matt Jones hole out from the bunker on the 18th to keep his team in it was ridiculous.

 

[Backsticks]

Kaymer. There's another. Didnt know that was where he ended up. He was very young for a promising career to tank so badly. Strange case. Would LIV have done better, rather than hiring a sort of rent-a-crowd to fill out the 48 quota, if they had limited it to the 10 golfer you could regard as being PGAT/DP level golfer with some future, to maintain standards rather than diluting it with the washed up ? It might have given them a better foundation to build from.

 

[BubbaP]

This Ripper V Cleeks match in sudden death ..

Smith beats Kaymer on 19th when 3up with 3 to play,.
MK was so clutch down the last 3.

Matt Jones hole out from the bunker on the 18th to keep his team in it was ridiculous.

Was going to give that a 'like' but you popped a "clutch" in there and I couldn't bring myself to
Wiesberger and Jones made some great shots towards the end of that match, a reminder they were ranked in the 60s in early 2022.
Thought Steele seemed to do a good job in guiding Piot around also.

 

[4LEX]

Straight off the top of my head Richard Bland, and Bryson have both improved since joining. Brooks has won a major and come close in another - that's without looking up any form tables - which are out there if we want to go through every player.

There are some that have fallen short of where we'd expect them to be - Westwood is the obvious one. Mickelson's form is often poor on LIV, as I've said before - he probably takes on too much responsibility for airing his views - much the same as Rory on the other side of the fence who also isn't winning as often as he would probably like, despite the exodus of some serious competition on his chosen tour.

Bland is an interesting case and he's done well. He was a late bloomer and someone who I've met a few times at The Wisley where he was putting in more work than anyone I've seen in golf. I reckon the low value sign up and the ability to win crazy money each week has kept him motivated. I could argue he was perhaps already at the same level and carried it on but I'll give you that one. I think Brooks simply got over his injury and started playing well again, although not better than his peak on the PGA Tour. He seems to have dropped off a bit after his major win. Disagree on Bryson, although he had lost form way before he joined LIV.

I think LIV made a huge mistake with the big money upfront, they should've paid nothing for the sign ups and had first prizes of £20m etc. It would've made the events much more interesting and competitive IMO.

I think Phil loves the drama and attention from his outbursts!

 

[Dando]

Kaymer. There's another. Didnt know that was where he ended up. He was very young for a promising career to tank so badly. Strange case. Would LIV have done better, rather than hiring a sort of rent-a-crowd to fill out the 48 quota, if they had limited it to the 10 golfer you could regard as being PGAT/DP level golfer with some future, to maintain standards rather than diluting it with the washed up ? It might have given them a better foundation to build from.

Kaymer made the decision to change his stock shot shape and it really backfired.

 

[Swango1980]

Everyone knows a golfer that, in the pressure of a competition they crumble and never score well. But, in a friendly off the yellow tees they score 40+ points and take everyone's money in the swindle.

In the professional game, this golfer is Richard Bland

 

[BubbaP]

Everyone knows a golfer that, in the pressure of a competition they crumble and never score well. But, in a friendly off the yellow tees they score 40+ points and take everyone's money in the swindle.

In the professional game, this golfer is Richard Bland

TBF I enjoyed watching him for a while when at The Open - those yellow tees seemed pretty far back to me

 

[Deleted member 1147]

Kaymer made the decision to change his stock shot shape and it really backfired.

I always wondered how much damage it did him in the Middle East when DJ came from 9 back to beat him.
Must affect a player

 

[Deleted member 21445]

Was going to give that a 'like' but you popped a "clutch" in there and I couldn't bring myself to
Wiesberger and Jones made some great shots towards the end of that match, a reminder they were ranked in the 60s in early 2022.
Thought Steele seemed to do a good job in guiding Piot around also.

Yeah bang on and the young lad Piot stepped up when he had to.

Got their work cut out against the Aces tonight though, Cant see Phil getting anything out of DJ so that heaps the pressure on the other members of the team.

Think the cleeks who have been the butt of many jokes due to the terrible name and play could be dangerous against Brysons Crushers.
They podium-ed in the last event in Jeddah, Blandy really is playing great golf, Kaymer is back playing well after his wrist surgery while Gmac and Weisberger know how to play foursomes.

 

[Mel Smooth]

Yeah bang on and the young lad Piot stepped up when he had to.

Got their work cut out against the Aces tonight though, Cant see Phil getting anything out of DJ so that heaps the pressure on the other members of the team.

Think the cleeks who have been the butt of many jokes due to the terrible name and play could be dangerous against Brysons Crushers.
They podium-ed in the last event in Jeddah, Blandy really is playing great golf, Kaymer is back playing well after his wrist surgery while Gmac and Weisberger know how to play foursomes.

Be interesting to see if Weisberger can kick on next year now he's saved his spot on LIV last weekend - and Blandy should be team captain next year - might give Gmac the kick up the backside he needs.

 

[Backsticks]

Be interesting to see if Weisberger can kick on next year now he's saved his spot on LIV last weekend - and Blandy should be team captain next year - might give Gmac the kick up the backside he needs.

44 year olds only decline. Kicks up the backside is just abuse of the elderly.

Given LIV has so many golfers whose loss of form is age related normal decline, it is probably fair to say that this years LIV field is weaker than last years, and if they run it next year it will be weaker again.
LIV, by its design, has an inbuilt field quality deterioration mechanism.

 

[AussieKB]

44 year olds only decline. Kicks up the backside is just abuse of the elderly.

Given LIV has so many golfers whose loss of form is age related normal decline, it is probably fair to say that this years LIV field is weaker than last years, and if they run it next year it will be weaker again.
LIV, by its design, has an inbuilt field quality deterioration mechanism.

 

[SteveW86]

It’s just 1 round, but Blandy being tore a new one by Casey in their match atm.

 

[Deleted member 21445]

It’s just 1 round, but Blandy being tore a new one by Casey in their match atm.

Just heard Casey tell BDC he was 9 under

 

[Deleted member 21445]

Really wish they kept this Matchplay format right thru till the end and find the winner.

Losing semi's could play off for 3rd / 4th.

It's got a much better dynamic for me.

 

[Mel Smooth]

Phil doing Phil things..

They’d literally just said in the comms, “he’ll have to just punch one out to safety here” - then Mickelson pulls the driver out of the bag…

https://x.com/hyflyers_gc/status/1715790172825002242?s=46&t=ohmLQATVbQEjZ3yd-oBmxA

 

[Mel Smooth]

Really wish they kept this Matchplay format right thru till the end and find the winner.

Losing semi's could play off for 3rd / 4th.

It's got a much better dynamic for me.

Quite a few people saying that. Tend to agree, it works better for the team championships. Might be something LIV look to change going forwards.