LIV Golf

[RichA]

Simple
Is just a new business challenging an established business.
The new business offered itself to them 1st but the established business arrogantly thought its position was to well established to be threatened.
So new business started is own company/tour.and quickly becomes a major threat

I was not suggesting that I didn't understand your analogy. I was suggesting it wasn't very good.

Dyson invented something innovative to challenge a historically excellent product and succeeded because it was a triumph of design, technology and marketing.

LIV took something that was created a hundred years ago (organised pro golf, not golf itself) and threw $2B at it to make it louder. Tweaking the playing format of pro golf is not exactly innovative.

Fortunately, none of LIV, PGAT, DPWT, R&A or USGA actually own golf any more than we do, so I can continue enjoying golf by playing it. Pro golf will just be added to the list of sports that I play or played but no longer care about watching characterless twits playing on TV.

 

[PJ87]

Can I ask, do you play adult golf?

Golf has an image (wrongly) of stuck in dark ages , unwilling to change , stuffy clicky behaviour.. yet this thread does little to prove that image wrong.

 

[Hobbit]

Guys, you do all realise that Rahm's move forces all the LIV guys back onto your TV's in the near future don't you. Within 2 years, you will be watching the most enthralling golf you've ever had access to.

Showing your age Mel. It’s on our TV’s now. Everyone with a smart TV can watch YouTube.

I have mixed views on the mixed formats. I’m stuck in the past but also recognise that shorter versions of the game might attract new viewers and, ultimately, newer players.

 

[D-S]

Avarice I think is the sin

"1 Timothy 6:10 : For the love of money is the root of all of evil"

 

[Mel Smooth]

The end product of LIV and the PIF investment is to make the game truly global, with big events being played across the continents - it may or not be 54 holes / shotgun start etc when the dust has all settled, but I genuinely can't see how the sport will be worse for having all the best players in the world playing around the world throughout the year. I'll accept some people have an issue with the source of funding - but there are many aspects of the PGAT's finances that are dubious at best - the money in golf really is a seperate discussion point..


LIV from the outset wanted something that would mesh with the big events on the PGAT and the Majors - that would have meant some of the low key PGAT events suffering - there are too many of them anyway. Clearly the PGAT wouldn't accept that their 'product' was flawed and stood firm - but we already know they can't sustain it. LIV could go on for years and years and years funded by the PIF - but they won't need to - The PGAT is heading straight for the iceberg, and time is running out to change course.

This is an 'elevated event' and the sponsors are still pulling out....

https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2023/12/08/wells-fargo-quail-hollow-pga-tour.html

 

[Deleted member 23270]

Golf has an image (wrongly) of stuck in dark ages , unwilling to change , stuffy clicky behaviour.. yet this thread does little to prove that image wrong.

I don't think the problem is people are reluctant to change it's more that the LIV product is rubbish. If LIV come up with something exciting and innovative I for one would be interested.

 

[PJ87]

I don't think the problem is people are reluctant to change it's more that the LIV product is rubbish. If LIV come up with something exciting and innovative I for one would be interested.

Have you watched any?

 

[PJ87]

Showing your age Mel. It’s on our TV’s now. Everyone with a smart TV can watch YouTube.

I have mixed views on the mixed formats. I’m stuck in the past but also recognise that shorter versions of the game might attract new viewers and, ultimately, newer players.

Byrson raised the point on the rick shiels podcast

Now they can do a lot more YouTube stuff. They have their image rights back

So he is trying to "grow the game" for want of better phrase, through YouTube and to be fair he is doing a decent job

 

[Deleted member 23270]

Have you watched any?

Yes, struggled with it. Only watch it if no other golf available.

 

[r0wly86]

Byrson raised the point on the rick shiels podcast

Now they can do a lot more YouTube stuff. They have their image rights back

So he is trying to "grow the game" for want of better phrase, through YouTube and to be fair he is doing a decent job

How is he growing the game? Genuine question, how is Dyson having image rights getting more people paying golf, especially in areas where there is low take up, which would be my definition of growing the game

 

[Depreston]

Byrson raised the point on the rick shiels podcast

Now they can do a lot more YouTube stuff. They have their image rights back

So he is trying to "grow the game" for want of better phrase, through YouTube and to be fair he is doing a decent job

He’s posted about 8 times since he joined LIV if anything he was more prolific during his time on the PGA tour

 

[PJ87]

Yes, struggled with it. Only watch it if no other golf available.

Then fair enough, it's not for your tastes and that has to be respected.

It's those who have never watched a single shot who judge on what they think it is and then write it off / slag if off that I can't understand.

I have watched some. It's not overly for me but then outside of Ryder cup and majors TV golf isn't for me full stop anymore.

That said with one of my fav players on Liv now I will prob try it again just to see him play

 

[r0wly86]

Yes, struggled with it. Only watch it if no other golf available.

I wonder if they did a matchplay league, that would be totally different from the PGA could then get team rivalries, regular head to heads of the best players they have.

Might not work but would be different

 

[Yorkshire Hacker]

Basically.....if the Saudis want something, i.e. golf, football, etc etc, there is an unlimited fund of money to finance it. It's hardly a level playing field.
Every time I see Newcastle United or Man City beaten, I am secretly pleased, as, eventually skill wins the day. Unfortunately unlimited cash buys most of the skill.
In the same way, whilst eventually I hope that there is unification in golf, I shall absolutely NOT watch any LIV golf.

 

[PJ87]

He’s posted about 8 times since he joined LIV if anything he was more prolific during his time on the PGA tour

11 in the past 4 months plus all his stuff on Instagram

How is he growing the game? Genuine question, how is Dyson having image rights getting more people paying golf, especially in areas where there is low take up, which would be my definition of growing the game

Listen to the podcast he will explain it better than I can but he seems to be doing matches with Liv players and appealing to different audiences.

 

[PJ87]

I wonder if they did a matchplay league, that would be totally different from the PGA could then get team rivalries, regular head to heads of the best players they have.

Might not work but would be different

Now that would be epic.

That said on YouTube they are doing the match plays with the teams

 

[PJ87]

 

[mikejohnchapman]

I was not suggesting that I didn't understand your analogy. I was suggesting it wasn't very good.

Dyson invented something innovative to challenge a historically excellent product and succeeded because it was a triumph of design, technology and marketing.

LIV took something that was created a hundred years ago (organised pro golf, not golf itself) and threw $2B at it to make it louder. Tweaking the playing format of pro golf is not exactly innovative.

Fortunately, none of LIV, PGAT, DPWT, R&A or USGA actually own golf any more than we do, so I can continue enjoying golf by playing it. Pro golf will just be added to the list of sports that I play or played but no longer care about watching characterless twits playing on TV.

Not sure I agree - I think the analogy is valid.

IMG went to the PGAT with a proposal for a team based competition to be played in the off-season after the Fedex Cup. I believe the tour said they were not interested and preferred the wrap-around season of yet more 72 hole events. IMG didn't have the money to take this forward.

A combination of Greg Norman and others sold this to the PIF and they implemented the exact same IMG idea and called it LIV.

Thus LIV (Dyson) took the innovative idea to the PGAT (Hoover) and when it was rejected, took the idea to market and were very successful.

You can debate whether LIV is (or will be) successful but the analogy is valid.

 

[Imurg]

This is how to Grow the Game....

https://twitter.com/x/status/1733141443336700307

 

[RichA]

I watched about half a Bryson YT video last night but got bored.
Golf Mates are more likeable, relatable and are probably doing more to grow the game than any of the professional organisations.
Overall, pro golf has managed to reinforce the nobby, elitist image of golf that the sport was supposedly trying to get rid of.