LIV Golf

[Mel Smooth]

The Grange or Mayakoba to open up the series in 2024. Vegas looks like it's gonna be on the roster next year - Superbowl weekend. Saudi event to be moved to March - which should be a little cooler than it was last weekend, Hong Kong and South Korea also getting added into the calendar as already mentioned, and looks like the UK event at JCB could be the week after The Open.


Decent podcast this if you are into LIV, or even if you're not - the guys cover lots of golf topicd.

 

[Deleted member 21445]

"LIV Golf are in talks with the R&A to try to ensure more of their players appear at next summer’s Open Championship by financially linking up with the governing body"

Exclusive by @jcorrigangolf

LIV Golf in talks to secure guaranteed Open places

Exclusive: LIV have asked for 12 spots but four exemptions is a more realistic target for the 2024 event at Royal Troon

www.telegraph.co.uk

 

[Backsticks]

"LIV Golf are in talks with the R&A to try to ensure more of their players appear at next summer’s Open Championship by financially linking up with the governing body"

Exclusive by @jcorrigangolf

LIV Golf in talks to secure guaranteed Open places

Exclusive: LIV have asked for 12 spots but four exemptions is a more realistic target for the 2024 event at Royal Troon

www.telegraph.co.uk

The LIV approach to everything is there in the first line "entered discussions also convinced that it can link up financially with the governing body".
The magnitude of the 'link' presumably according to the number of players...

What next, a change of law to allow a 'link'/'liquidity injection'/'controlling interest'/'merger'/'commercial partnership' (choose takeover euphemism of preference) in the ST Andrews Links Trust ? For the growth of the game of course.

The problem is that there is no floor to how bad LIV golfers can be, so how to justify any fixed number of places for them ?

 

[Mel Smooth]

That really was quite a finish to the season - and perhaps the all to count strokeplay on the final day is vindicated. Could have gone either way between The Crushers and The RangeGoats right to the end.
Anirban Lahiri was the anchor man for The Crushers with a 7 under 65 but this recovery shot from Bryson when he completely missed the 16th green was pivotal in keeping the 'Goats in 2nd place.

Solid 67 from Bubba as well, but the rest of his team just couldn't find the scores to back him up.

https://x.com/flushingitgolf/status/1716209500749693439?s=20

 

[Deleted member 21445]

One thing the Liv Golfers seem to love is a long off season, there won't be an event till February now.

I also see it as a negative as well.
If the majors were tomorrow BDC would be among the favourites with the way he has played the last few months since Valderrama.
He is back to his best.

It's probably going to be tough to hold that form till Feb next year without any events to play in.

 

[Mel Smooth]

One thing the Liv Golfers seem to love is a long off season, there won't be an event till February now.

I also see it as a negative as well.
If the majors were tomorrow BDC would be among the favourites with the way he has played the last few months since Valderrama.
He is back to his best.

It's probably going to be tough to hold that form till Feb next year without any events to play in.

I expect a few of them will still play competitive golf where they can - Asian Tour - a few of them are already entered into the Hong Kong Open - and not just the lesser known players from LIV. Bryson will probably be happy to use the break to work on his interests outside of LIV.

 

[AussieKB]

I expect a few of them will still play competitive golf where they can - Asian Tour - a few of them are already entered into the Hong Kong Open - and not just the lesser known players from LIV. Bryson will probably be happy to use the break to work on his interests outside of LIV.

The Aussies are playing in three events down here, not sure who else have entered, but to get away from the Europe or US winter and play a few events in the sun here must be a bonus.

 

[Deleted member 21445]

So Liv completes its 1st full season of 14 events.

In short they now need to add depth to the field for extra quality and to reinvigorate interest.
Lots of soundbites from Liv captains of interest from PGAT players, I dont doubt that is the case but are they Top 30 needle movers or journeymen.
The pro liv will say needle movers, the pro PGAT will say journeymen but the truth is no one has a clue and everyone is waiting for what the new world golf is going to look like.

And that is now in the hands of a handful of men trying to turn a framework agreement into a definitive agreement.

 

[Swango1980]

So Liv completes its 1st full season of 14 events.

In short they now need to add depth to the field for extra quality and to reinvigorate interest.
Lots of soundbites from Liv captains of interest from PGAT players, I dont doubt that is the case but are they Top 30 needle movers or journeymen.
The pro liv will say needle movers, the pro PGAT will say journeymen but the truth is no one has a clue and everyone is waiting for what the new world golf is going to look like.

And that is now in the hands of a handful of men trying to turn a framework agreement into a definitive agreement.

And let the rumours commence over the winter period haha

 

[BubbaP]

Didn't see too much of Sunday, but from what I did it, seems Bryson was again reminding of the 2021 "box office Bryson".

On the speculating front, wonder if Na might be the someone to give Wolff the hugs he seems to need.

Vincent did well, making the most of qualifying previously. Do think he'd likely be an asset to the Oz team, even though not an Ozzie, or would they be desperate to remain full on Oz and that just couldn't happen.

Noticed there was talk of up to 4 or 5 players in the 'open zone' not being there next year - but I just can't see that. Time will tell.

Not sure if Swafford is guaranteed a spot coming back from injury. Or if Pieters has really become a 'range goat'.

To the above post, I think that only really takes off if the number of players/teams are confirmed to be increasing ...
But what do I know!

 

[Mel Smooth]

Didn't see too much of Sunday, but from what I did it, seems Bryson was again reminding of the 2021 "box office Bryson".

On the speculating front, wonder if Na might be the someone to give Wolff the hugs he seems to need.

Vincent did well, making the most of qualifying previously. Do think he'd likely be an asset to the Oz team, even though not an Ozzie, or would they be desperate to remain full on Oz and that just couldn't happen.

Noticed there was talk of up to 4 or 5 players in the 'open zone' not being there next year - but I just can't see that. Time will tell.

Not sure if Swafford is guaranteed a spot coming back from injury. Or if Pieters has really become a 'range goat'.

To the above post, I think that only really takes off if the number of players/teams are confirmed to be increasing ...
But what do I know!

I saw a suggestion that Vincent might be picked up by The Stingers to replace Schwarzel - would make some sense with him being from an African country or do The Stingers want to remain totally South African?
No idea where Wolff goes, I know Brooks has been criticised for the way he's publicly sacked the guy off, but Phil was happy to let him swap last year as well - so maybe he's just a difficult character - with that in mind, which Team Captain wants to take him on? You've got to be looking at one of the bottom half teams that would be looking to strengthen with a player that has undoubted talent, but might be tricky to keep happy. Would Phil event take him back - he's lost a man in Piot unless he somehow wins his spot back through the qualification event in December. If not there then it would either be Na's IronHeads or the Cleeks - McDowells 2 year contract is up and he's in 42nd place in the Open Zone, and Weisberger sits just above him which suggests the team needs strengthening by replacing one of those two players.

If the field size increases as some think it may, then I think all the guys in that Open Zone are pretty safe to be fair - LIV will have some players coming over but not sure there'd be the dozen needed for some new teams, plus a good few more to strengthen the existing teams.

 

[Deleted member 21445]

The team transfers are going to be interesting.

For Liv to continue to hold my interest the teams need to bring in new top talent rather than move the current talent around.

If no top players are added next year I can see me losing interest in it.

One thing which is bad for me is The Majestiks situation.
Their play has been awful, they should all be in danger of being transferred out due to poor play yet 3 of them are captains so only one player can be changed.
Piss poor that, should only be one captain per team

 

[Orikoru]

Surely they'll struggle to attract any new big name players now? Anyone that would have jumped at the chance of the money has already done it. And they had the defence of naivety, whereas anyone moving now knows full way they won't be getting ranking points. So who's going to go?? Not anyone that values their place in the majors and doesn't have an exemption. Not anyone that currently has a good chance of making the next Ryder Cup team either.

 

[Beezerk]

Surely they'll struggle to attract any new big name players now? Anyone that would have jumped at the chance of the money has already done it. And they had the defence of naivety, whereas anyone moving now knows full way they won't be getting ranking points. So who's going to go?? Not anyone that values their place in the majors and doesn't have an exemption. Not anyone that currently has a good chance of making the next Ryder Cup team either.

I don’t think you can be that simplistic about it, we’ll never know what’s going on between a pro golfers ears and how they’ll react to being offered a massive bag of money.
I’m trying to think of some named current PGA players who may be nearing the end of their best years, I’m struggling at the minute.
As an aside, I’ve been playing PGA Golf Road To The Masters on the PS5, I did giggle when I saw Dechambeau and Koepka were featured heavily

 

[Swango1980]

I don’t think you can be that simplistic about it, we’ll never know what’s going on between a pro golfers ears and how they’ll react to being offered a massive bag of money.
I’m trying to think of some named current PGA players who may be nearing the end of their best years, I’m struggling at the minute.
As an aside, I’ve been playing PGA Golf Road To The Masters on the PS5, I did giggle when I saw Dechambeau and Koepka were featured heavily

This is partly the issue. I'm pretty certain that there are pro golfers that can still be tempted by huge money. But, the sort of pro's that I think would do it now are those that feel they are on the decline, and now taking that gamble to cash in on LIV. It is difficult to see how any of the top PGAT players, who are still at the very top of their game, would switch to LIV now. If they did, then why didn't they just do so last year? What would have changed their mind? Would LIV still be offering the scale of money they were offering Phil, DJ, Brooks, etc, or would those numbers now be lower?

Also, where are we with this partnership with PGAT and PIF?

 

[Beezerk]

Also, where are we with this partnership with PGAT and PIF?

Does anyone actually know?
I did a Google search and gave up in the end as it just seemed to be hypothetical guff being reported.

 

[Backsticks]

No golfer of substance will sign for LIV given the uncertainty about its future.
It will require first :
- some clarity on the PIF/PGAT partnership.
- if there is a deal, then, whether Monaghan will keep LIV going, shut it down, roll it into a touring Champions tour type roadshow, or fold them back into the PGAT/DP tours
- if no deal, then what does the future of the PGAT look like, what does PIF decide to do with LIV - they might shut it down too in such a scenario, what the financial offers are, and whether they remain pariahs to the wider golfing world or not, and there is some tours intermingling to enable things like OWGR points.

So, much remains to be seen before any player can make an informed decision. LIV is certainly far less attractive today for anyone considering it than it might have been 15 months ago.

 

[Backsticks]

Does anyone actually know?
I did a Google search and gave up in the end as it just seemed to be hypothetical guff being reported.

Some indications, but probably just tea leaves reading more than substance, is that the partnership with LIV hasnt made much progress And that PGAT investment and restructure may happen, but with alterntive, less unpalatable, partners than the PIF.

 

[LincolnShep]

I might be wrong because money makes people do all sorts of unexpected things, but I don't think anyone who will substantively change LIV's attractiveness will want to go. They might be able to tempt journeyman players who think their career might have plateaued, but no more marquee signings. The journeyman players won't attract more eyeballs so they don't seem like good value (not that PIF seems worried about value for money!).

I see LIV becoming an off-season mini tour with a brand identity that includes the music, the razzmatazz, the team element and all that. It could be great for attracting young people into the sport. A bit like 20/20 has done for cricket. I hope the PGA/LIV merger agreement allows some freedom of movement for the players so they can choose to play LIV without jeopardising their PGAT/DPWT membership options.

 

[Swango1980]

I might be wrong because money makes people do all sorts of unexpected things, but I don't think anyone who will substantively change LIV's attractiveness will want to go. They might be able to tempt journeyman players who think their career might have plateaued, but no more marquee signings. The journeyman players won't attract more eyeballs so they don't seem like good value (not that PIF seems worried about value for money!).

I see LIV becoming an off-season mini tour with a brand identity that includes the music, the razzmatazz, the team element and all that. It could be great for attracting young people into the sport. A bit like 20/20 has done for cricket. I hope the PGA/LIV merger agreement allows some freedom of movement for the players so they can choose to play LIV without jeopardising their PGAT/DPWT membership options.

Why are you using the font Veranda Size 9, when the default seems to be Tahoma Size 10!?

This might be the most controversial thing anyone has done in this thread