LIV Golf

I enjoyed LIV personally, thought the coverage was decent, wasn’t too bothered about the Team aspect.
It’s finished now that the Saudis are out though, the prize money and sign on’s were crazy, think that’s something we all can agree on.
I certainly don’t blame players for taking the money, it’s a job at the end of the day, we would all jump ship in our jobs if we were going to quadruple our salaries 😂😂
 
I wasn't clear - I don't blame them for taking the pay day at all - it's more the way they've died on the LIV Hill - defending it like a MAGA would defend their Sex Offender President....even in the last few days I've seen posts from them both quoting reports of LIV being up a creek and them laughing it off and name calling because these reporters don't know what they're talking about. They've become insufferable weapons, akin to boomers who will claim they had it harder than youngsters today because interest rates were 16% (yea, on house that was 10x less than the cost today :LOL:)

(I still do find it baffling that Rahm took the pay day - in the prime of his career - but that's another story.

EDIT: Consequently, they've (Poults and Westwood) have been super quiet since the report came out yesterday from the WSJ and FT.....wonder why.

I'd imagine Poults has been pre-occupied with his commitments as an investor in McLaren golf.

 
As for those baffled by why Rahm went to LIV, I am still convinced that at the time he:

- Was pissed off at Jay Monahan and the PGA for basically betraying the players who stayed 'loyal' to the PGA by suddenly pivoting to negotiations with LIV (and rightly so)
- Believed that he should secure his LIV pay day while the offer was on the table, believing that:
- Trusted that negotiations would lead to a joint schedule allowing him to play both LIV and PGA events, Ryder Cup and Majors, whilst pocketing the PIF fees

You must remember that at the time of his signing it really looked like there would be a PGA/LIV deal.

Reading his body language and seeing his interviews I think he almost immediately had buyers remorse once the PGA/LIV deal fell through. After that, he started showing signgs of Stockholm syndrome, and pivoted rather agressively to toeing the party line, for example by continuing his fight with the DP World tour. Let's not forget that his LIV deal alone was worth (allegedly) three times the DP World tour's entire annual prize fund.
 
As for those baffled by why Rahm went to LIV, I am still convinced that at the time he:

- Was pissed off at Jay Monahan and the PGA for basically betraying the players who stayed 'loyal' to the PGA by suddenly pivoting to negotiations with LIV (and rightly so)
- Believed that he should secure his LIV pay day while the offer was on the table, believing that:
- Trusted that negotiations would lead to a joint schedule allowing him to play both LIV and PGA events, Ryder Cup and Majors, whilst pocketing the PIF fees

You must remember that at the time of his signing it really looked like there would be a PGA/LIV deal.

Reading his body language and seeing his interviews I think he almost immediately had buyers remorse once the PGA/LIV deal fell through. After that, he started showing signgs of Stockholm syndrome, and pivoted rather agressively to toeing the party line, for example by continuing his fight with the DP World tour. Let's not forget that his LIV deal alone was worth (allegedly) three times the DP World tour's entire annual prize fund.

I think it's more likely he believed LIV on OWGR, he has been on record saying he was angry that it wasn't sorted like he was promised, and likely he though or was led to believe that as reigning Masters champion that the PGA or Majors wouldn't dream of banning him
 
As for those baffled by why Rahm went to LIV, I am still convinced that at the time he:

- Was pissed off at Jay Monahan and the PGA for basically betraying the players who stayed 'loyal' to the PGA by suddenly pivoting to negotiations with LIV (and rightly so)
- Believed that he should secure his LIV pay day while the offer was on the table, believing that:
- Trusted that negotiations would lead to a joint schedule allowing him to play both LIV and PGA events, Ryder Cup and Majors, whilst pocketing the PIF fees

You must remember that at the time of his signing it really looked like there would be a PGA/LIV deal.

Reading his body language and seeing his interviews I think he almost immediately had buyers remorse once the PGA/LIV deal fell through. After that, he started showing signgs of Stockholm syndrome, and pivoted rather agressively to toeing the party line, for example by continuing his fight with the DP World tour. Let's not forget that his LIV deal alone was worth (allegedly) three times the DP World tour's entire annual prize fund.
Great post. I think you're absolutely spot on.
 
LIV will leave a legacy behind. The most divisive thing ever in golf. Not really a great legacy TBH.
Brian Rollap has said on the record that Liv has made the PGA Tour better.
Also the players gained control on the PGAT board and equity.
maybe that will be its legacy 🤷‍♀️
 
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If I was given the mission of ‘grow the game’ and my budget was USD 5 billion, I don’t think that pouring the vast majority of this money down the throats of current multi millionaires would be my number 1 tactic.
 
Can't see them finding new funding, not with the loses it has been making. If they do find some to keep it going the money is going to be way, way down imho.

I wonder if Rahm will now feel like paying those DPWT fines.
There is already talk of 10m purses next year. (Smylie Kaufman Podcast)
20m less per event than currently but still a decent purse in the scheme of things.

An Australia or South Aftrica event can be profitable with supporting such a purse as those events are so successful.
Whether they can get the investment to support a whole schedule and now be sustainable as a business remains to be seen.

If that happens the PGAT purses will drop as well but probably not by as much.

The 2022-2026 time period will forever be known as the golden earning period of time for the players.
 
If I was given the mission of ‘grow the game’ and my budget was USD 5 billion, I don’t think that pouring the vast majority of this money down the throats of current multi millionaires would be my number 1 tactic.
They wanted to promote Saudi as a golf destination.

They should have given the 5 billion to Core/Crenshaw, Doke and Gil Hans to build the most incredible golf courses you have ever seen on the edge of the Red Sea.
Then bring Pro events to those courses through DPWT and get every influencer under the sun over to make you tube videos.

That would have done far more to bring attention to golf in Saudi.
 
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