Before I begin, the first function of this text is to consolidate all of my ideas and musings that I’ve had re: LIV Golf, the PGA Tour, and the entire occasions of the previous few months/years involving the sport that I really like. It’s been an thrilling 2022 in skilled golf, and I felt like this all wanted to be documented, from the angle of somebody not within the golf media, who has a singular background in golf. These opinions are my very own.

So, on that notice, right here’s one thing you have to find out about me. I really like #golf. It’s my favourite sport *by far* and that’s my main agenda and my bias — what’s finest for the sport. I really like taking part in golf recreationally and competitively since I began taking part in as a child about 30 years in the past. However I additionally love watching it on TV, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, in-person — any golf particular content material, likelihood is I’ve seen it. I discover myself fascinated about random golf issues in the course of the course of my day — my favourite programs, finest pictures I or 1 of my favourite gamers have hit, analyzing my final spherical of golf in my head, the sensation of a superbly struck ball, fascinated about tools, or analyzing my very own statistics. It borders on an obsession. OK, it’s positively an obsession, albeit a wholesome one I suppose! It’s akin to a youngster daydreaming about their crush — it ought to principally be a wholesome train.

Over time, I’ve consolidated my love of golf from different sports activities. I don’t watch soccer or baseball nearly in any respect anymore, and at numerous instances in my life, they had been my favourite spectator sports activities. Baseball was my past love, adopted by basketball, with even some tennis combined in. I nonetheless comply with basketball (what Duke alum doesn’t?!) however I’m not as voracious of a client of basketball as I as soon as was, and I retired a number of years in the past from taking part in. So, whether or not it’s the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Beginner Golf, Faculty Golf, and now LIV Golf, I devour ALL of it.

Anyway, I say all that as a preface as a result of nobody has been extra enthusiastic about and supportive of #LIVGolf than me because it began, however the causes behind which might be FAR too plentiful for this text. In case you’re not acquainted with LIV, you’ll in all probability want a crash course earlier than getting began, nevertheless it’s a brand new world skilled golf collection that launched in June 2022: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LIV_Golf.

To doc the place we’re presently within the golf world, we simply completed a fantastic couple of occasions in Asia in October at #LIVGolfBangkok and the Jeddah occasions. These are occasions #6 & #7 of an 8 occasion season. These occasions illustrate most of the explanation why I help LIV. Going to part of the world the place the highest gamers haven’t performed in a very long time (Thailand), seeing superb, and new golf programs outdoors of the USA — LIV is really the primary “world” golf tour. We additionally had some thrilling particular person & group competitions. Seeing a younger rookie golfer (Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra from Spain) earn a tremendous alternative to play with and towards a few of his {golfing} heroes, win a match towards among the finest gamers on this planet, incomes life altering quantities of cash. And seeing certainly one of my favourite gamers and nice champions of the sport (Brooks Koepka), who has struggled the previous few years with accidents, recapture his previous kind and win a match towards an elite discipline of fellow main champions. All of that makes me tremendous enthusiastic about the way forward for world skilled golf and the place it goes from right here. It’s a begin!

For my part, LIV is the pure evolution of the skilled sport, and the final idea has been floating around for about 4–5 years, however has been bandied about in professional golf circles for the better part of a decade with Andy Gardiner and the Premier Golf League. Having been concerned in highschool & faculty golf, and seeing how a lot pleasure the Ryder Cup generates, I’ve been clamoring for the creation of groups in skilled golf for so long as I can keep in mind. Golf is named a person sport, however we’ve had group competitions in numerous corners of the golf world, and it solely provides to how a lot enjoyable consuming golf could be! Truthfully, the group idea modifications all the things with the way you devour golf, provides a brand new dimension, new dynamics and pleasure, and goes to utterly change the sport — I believe it already has. A number of the “criticisms” of LIV (54 gap tournaments, shotgun begins, group competitions) are commonplace in faculty golf, and I’ve by no means heard anybody query the legitimacy of the winner of a school occasion based mostly on any of these criticisms. (Only a style of the hypocrisy to come back!)

For the skilled sport, it additionally creates new worth in professional golf the place most of the key gamers at the moment are player-owners who’ve an fairness stake of their groups and their league that they might by no means have on the PGA Tour. This can be a sport changer. Personally, having recognized so many professional golfers over time, I’m large on participant empowerment and this provides lots of them a possibility that they’ve by no means had earlier than to have a vested curiosity — thrilling instances. Their caddies are additionally seeing an enormous enhance in salaries, advantages, and is but one more reason why LIV has been nice for professional golf. Everybody in and round professional golf has been benefiting from these modifications.

But, consider it or not, this piece isn’t about why you must or shouldn’t watch LIV Golf — that’s so that you can determine, however I hope you give it an opportunity. Personally, should you love golf the best way I do, it’s a no brainer. It’s only a higher general golf product than the PGA Tour principally as a result of they’ve the power to adapt and alter a lot quicker than the PGAT and make the expertise higher for followers. I’ve been watching and supporting skilled golf for many of my life, and in a post-Tiger Woods professional golf world, golf NEEDS one thing new to get followers like me enthusiastic about watching professional golf once more. It’s 100% additive to the present golf ecosystem, though a lot of the present golf ecosystem within the US/UK appears to be towards it — principally for egocentric causes that I’ll dive into. (NOTE: if you hear the PGA Tour speak about LIV or the banning/suspensions of gamers that went to LIV, they by no means acknowledge the damaging influence on golf followers — do not forget that). So don’t let anybody with an agenda cease you from watching — or really feel responsible about liking it!

Anyway, what this text is de facto about, and my greatest gripe during the last 6+ months is round this resistance towards LIV Golf and the hypocrisy, double requirements and propaganda round how LIV has been negatively lined (and smeared) by the institution, company golf media with regard to the first supply of LIV’s funding. The bias within the company media protection has been clear, and excessive — to the purpose the place it’s raised lots of questions as to why it’s been as damaging because it has. It’s actually counter productive however its one thing that I’ve observed that’s inherent to trendy company media. Numerous theories behind this, however when you consider it, it’s not completely shocking. Given the truth that there have been a ton of company pursuits and alleged “charities” which have dined on the proverbial “teet” of the PGA Tour for many years — which generates billions of dollars while saving itself from paying millions of dollars in taxes due to its nonprofit 501(c)(6) organization tax exempt status. These entanglements definitely prolong out to the company media, PR companies and people with a vested curiosity within the enterprise of the PGA Tour — and LIV presents a respectable menace to this. The entanglement proof is intertwined within the PGA Tour Board of Administrators — which I’ll dive into later. I believe these entanglements are actually the place the rubber meets the street.

I’ve spent lots of time over the previous few years finding out and consuming content material to know the golf ecosystem as an entire, the place LIV probably matches within the context of the golf world, the boundaries to entry on this house, and merging that with the understanding of what presently drives the company media. LIV has been an fascinating cross part of the entire above. I knew there could be some anticipated resistance to LIV. As a sport and a tradition, golf “hates” change. It’s a sport based mostly on traditions, and when any seismic modifications are on the horizon to essentially change issues, it’s met with resistance. Whether or not it’s new know-how, who can participate in pro golf tournaments, or the creation of a brand new golf tour — it’s all met with resistance. Once more, no surprises there.

However there has additionally been a ton of hypocrisy and manipulation to be able to #1 demonize LIV Golf within the media (principally due to its ties to Saudi Arabia), and #2 use LIV as a “pawn” to proceed to polarize the American public alongside political/geopolitical strains — one other typical mainstream media tactic that has been uncovered over the previous few years. On a facet notice, my private beliefs are that I *strongly* consider that each one types of demonization are counter productive, and don’t advance us collectively as a society in any respect — and it does relate to this matter. Now’s once I would often cite a few examples of this demonization of LIV, however truthfully, there are far, far too many. Anybody that has been following Eamon Lynch’s articles for Golfweek (owned by USA As we speak / Gannett Media), or Brandel Chamblee on The Golf Channel (owned by NBCUniversal/Comcast) or Kyle Porter for CBS Sports activities (main broadcast accomplice of the PGA Tour), or Geoff Shackelford or nearly anybody reporting for Golf Digest (owned by Warner Bros / Discovery) will know what I’m speaking about and the way they espouse info extra as “golf influencers” than journalists & appear to be Op/Ed writers masquerading as reporters. And sure, there are a lot of others that on this house — I can go on and on. All of this biased “reporting” is occurring despite a few essential information which might be glossed over: #1 how shut the present and historic ties are between the USA and Saudi Arabia with KSA being a key buying and selling accomplice of the USA; and #2 the entire proof in company media of what number of issues are “dumbed down” and used as automobiles to divide the general public.

To deal with Level #1, sure, resulting from among the alleged actions by KSA, the federal government there could be a simple goal for demonization. However, have in mind, it’s crystal clear that Saudi Arabia as a nation wouldn’t be the place it’s with out the assistance and help of the USA for a lot of, many many years — it’s simple. The US and KSA are inextricably tied and there’s nothing any citizen from both nation can do about it — that’s only a truth. Most multinational companies based mostly within the US do enterprise in Saudi Arabia — as do many of the greatest sponsors of the PGA Tour and professional golf (firms like FedEx, Citibank, Exxon Mobil, AT&T, and so forth). In fact to take things further, hundreds of US officials, veterans, and others have taken lucrative jobs working directly with the Saudi Arabian government. Personally, I’ve seen little or no “outrage” within the US re: these companies presence in Saudi, or any outrage about our relationship with KSA previous to or outdoors of LIV. So it boggles my thoughts that we’re holding golfers and athletes to larger requirements than we’re our personal authorities, authorities officers, and the locations that we work and companies we help. That strikes me as disingenuous.

To deal with Level #2, the media has tried to “dumb” this example right down to very particular speaking factors — the place it’s devolved into “Good” (USA centered PGA Tour) vs “Dangerous” (Saudi backed LIV Golf) which is simply not correct for quite a lot of causes. However the company media has been very constant about fanning the flames of division — not solely during the last 6 months with LIV however in so many corners of American society (id politics, COVID, popular culture, racism, misogyny, cancel tradition and plenty of different subjects). It feeds into a few of our most elementary human traits of “tribalism” and scapegoating of “outsiders” or folks we don’t know or perceive. The protection of LIV within the media has been so one sided, it’s wild. And, sadly, we have now to ask ourselves why that’s been the case? There’s been little or no protection within the media from the opposite facet — not even “pro-LIV” simply not “anti-LIV.” Once more the media protection, that claims to be goal, simply continues to lift extra questions than it solutions about “why.”

Let’s minimize to the chase — the financing of LIV has been the most important lightning rod, and EVERY article that mentions LIV within the company media mentions that it’s principally financed by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia. That is true, however is it essential sufficient to be talked about in EVERY SINGLE article about it? Most likely not. As a Black American (and somebody that has chosen a favourite sport that has historically been non-inclusive and closed off to Black People) I perceive coded language, and search for “dog whistles” within the media. If I’m being trustworthy, the protection has bordered on being xenophobic from my perspective, and others have expressed this concern.

Xenophobia: “the fear or hatred of anything which is perceived as being foreign or strange” — it’s made me uncomfortable.

My interactions with folks on social media about LIV during the last a number of months have devolved into Islamophobic messages being despatched my manner, and anti-Center Japanese sentiments expressed in lots of situations. Even the commissioner of the PGA Tour has despatched out official statements referring to LIV because the “Saudi Golf League” and refusing to acknowledge the precise title of the group — one other crimson flag. I’ve observed that there’s been a common lack of respect in America for a sovereign nation that’s speculated to be our ally. A lot has been made about “human rights” points in Saudi Arabia, and I gained’t get into these intimately — however those self same 3–4 speaking factors are in every single place within the media in order that they’re simple to seek out. Nonetheless, I’m educated sufficient to know that #1 there may be validity to a few of these claims, #2 the USA will not be immune from criticism re: human rights points — there are human rights points EVERYWHERE on this planet; #3 these points in KSA aren’t preferrred however are extremely advanced, and #4 in addition they deserve extra investigation and understanding by all events from the West that won’t absolutely perceive them. Over the previous a number of years, I’ve achieved a deep dive into that which I’ll save for one more article.

You’ll additionally hear the time period “sportswashing” continuously related to LIV Golf and Saudi Arabia. Experts have somewhat debunked this sportswashing claim as a result of KSA management has stopped actively attempting to “repair” their repute within the West. If something LIV is simply *hurting* the repute of KSA management additional due to all of the damaging press and the incessant highlighting of “human rights points” that the anti-LIV crowd trumpets about KSA — which consists of nearly ALL of company media.

However the lengthy story brief is that I believe it’s vital to compartmentalize this stuff. The USA shouldn’t be indicted solely based mostly on among the atrocities that we have now dedicated in different elements of the world, or issues that we’ve achieved previously right here within the USA, or issues that proceed to occur right here. Why ought to there be a double normal for Saudi Arabia? So should you use the phrases “murderous regime” or “sportswashing” you may have to re-evaluate why you are feeling so empowered to take action.

Again to the golf, the boundaries to entry for a brand new league to come back into the golf ecosystem are so excessive that the $600 billion Saudi PIF is nearly the one funding group with deep sufficient pockets to tug it off (estimated at a couple of $2–3 billion greenback funding). Previous to the appearance of LIV, the aforementioned Premier Golf League (PGL) tried to “comply with the principles” and pitch their thought to the PGA Tour (similar to the LIV mannequin), however the Tour squashed the concept, and it by no means was put in entrance of the gamers to determine if they need to take an curiosity. The selections had been made *for them* by the PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and different non-golfers on the PGA Tour Board of Administrators. Why is that?

When you might have a monopoly on the highest degree of golf on this planet, a part of your job is *preserving management* and preserving that monopoly in place to serve the present pursuits of the Tour. That’s how monopolies work — simply have a look at historical past. And look, I perceive that, however instances change. As Phil Mickelson mentioned in September:

“The PGA Tour, for the final 20 or 30 years have had all one of the best gamers on this planet,” mentioned Mickelson. “That may by no means be the case once more. LIV Golf is right here to remain.”

Right here’s the place issues get REALLY fascinating. I absolutely notice it doesn’t assist LIV’s picture to have a divisive determine like Donald Trump out entrance and middle at LIV’s occasions coupled with the funding issues — or does it? Not at all am I somebody who voted for or helps Trump’s politics (even when I did, it’s not related to this text) — however I’ve a full understanding of the company media smear marketing campaign that many company media shops have undertaken on him too. The LIV smear is out of the identical playbook. Utilizing potential wrongdoings or missteps and amplifying these to garner public “tribal” help to suit an agenda. Whether or not he deserves the smearing is one thing I’ll depart to you and your individual ideology. However NO ONE is extra polarizing and divisive in present American society than the forty fifth President — that a lot is evident.

However re: LIV, the main reason why he’s involved is because of his GOLF interests, not his political pursuits. He and his firms personal among the finest golf programs on this planet. For the reason that PGA Tour is so carefully aligned with so many company pursuits, notably within the company golf world, many programs don’t wish to get entangled with LIV to be able to not face the wrath of the PGA Tour (see the pending antitrust litigation LIV has filed against the Tour for some samples of alleged anti-competitive behavior and alleged threats). You’ll discover that the US-based programs that LIV has gone to, are ones which have both NO affiliation with the Tour, or had an affiliation and had been left behind by the Tour. This isn’t a coincidence. Watch this house as new programs are added to the schedule.

It’s been well documented that Trump does have an axe to grind with the PGA Tour, PGA of America, and it’s associated interests having taken professional tournaments away from programs that he owns like Doral in Miami, Bedminster in New Jersey, and Turnberry in Scotland. I’ve performed all of them, and so they’re INCREDIBLE golf programs! It’s good enterprise for LIV to make the most of that in order that they’ll host their tournaments on world class golf programs which have the infrastructure to host large occasions. To not point out the press that comes with that — whether or not the press is constructive or damaging, it’s nonetheless press in any case. I believe this can be a calculated choice by LIV that it’s value some extra damaging press hits to be able to proceed to make extra folks conscious of their product. The press is already so damaging about LIV, that may they be any MORE damaging as a result of Trump is concerned? I’m not so positive. Anyway, Doral hosted a PGA Tour occasion for 50+ years (resulted in 2016), Bedminster was speculated to host the PGA Championship in 2022 (however was stripped as a result of Trump was deemed “too divisive”), and Turnberry has hosted a number of British Opens (final one in 2009) however they’ve been taken out of the Open course rotation since then. It’s a wedding of comfort for each events.

The following query is, who’s behind the smear marketing campaign through company media? Logic suggests the PGA Tour, it’s PR or its companions/associates might be — we’ll have to attend and see if the present US DOJ Antitrust Investigation into the PGA Tour uncovers any proof of this. So for now, I’m going to offer them the good thing about the doubt and say its merely coincidental. I believe there may be an inherent bias that exists within the company media that’s lined and supported the PGA Tour for many years — there may be some loyalty there with journalists coming to the protection of the Tour during the last 6 months. The PGA Tour has been “on the ropes” since LIV began gaining momentum and signing among the Tour’s hottest gamers to profitable assured contracts (one thing the PGAT has by no means achieved). Prior to now 6 months, they’ve misplaced lots of their high gamers to LIV Golf (5 of their 10 hottest gamers). The lack of expertise has had a damaging influence on the standard of the Tour — there’s no denying that. So why wouldn’t the media come to the protection of the Tour? There are clearly robust conventional relationships between the Tour and nearly each company media outlet. I don’t thoughts the media coming to the Tour’s protection, however I want they might be extra forthcoming and clear about it, reasonably than pretending to be goal. Once more, watch this house re: the DOJ Antitrust Probe of the PGA Tour and other governing bodies since extra details about this can undoubtedly be uncovered.

I do assume that the frequent bond is that the ways the PGA Tour and the golf media have exhibited have been clear: make followers really feel “responsible” for supporting LIV as they’ve tried to do with the gamers, as a result of Saudi funding. The 9–11 Households “protesting” at Bedminster was in all probability a low level. Together with the PGAT Commissioner happening nationwide TV with anti-Saudi propaganda that appeared just like the dialog was greenlit by Alex Jones — that was cringeworthy. No, there was no protest at Ferry Level though the funding was the identical — positively a crimson flag. When that tactic didn’t work, they’ve tried to delegitimize LIV from each angle — the golfers aren’t good, they’re all previous, washed up, “nobody cares,” “nobody is watching” — even when it’s clear lots of of hundreds of individuals watch each LIV occasion, and general curiosity in professional golf is on the rise. None of it has labored. Look, if you put out an excellent product that persons are eager about, persons are going to be intrigued. It’s LIV’s job to construct on that curiosity and momentum. Time will inform in the event that they’re in a position to succeed.

The PGA Tour has had a monopoly on one of the best male golfers on this planet for 30+ years, and that’s not the case anymore. Monopolies die exhausting, and can depart no stone unturned to maintain issues the best way they’re. It definitely matches the present “clickbait” company media tradition the place they stir up division, and prey on the feelings of the general public to try to divide us. It’s our job as shoppers of media to remain vigilant about this, and name out the propaganda and hypocrisy if you see it. I’ve achieved that constantly relating to LIV because it launched in June 2022, when the damaging press began to select up steam.

As a lot as I’ve supported the PGA Tour during the last 25+ years, their actions over the previous few months have broken that relationship. In truth, the extra I considered it, my private emotions are that I strongly really feel that the PGA Tour has had a dereliction of responsibility because the “keeper” of the skilled sport of golf for the final 50 years. It’s my perception that the Tour, as a result of they’ve a monopoly on one of the best gamers, has felt like they might do the naked minimal to foster the expansion of the skilled sport of golf all through the world. The present PGA Tour product helps this — there are complaints about how the PGA Tour is introduced on TV in every single place you go together with golf followers on social media. There are too many commercials that disrupt the circulation of televised occasions (LIV has no commercials). There are too many occasions — too many for even critical followers of professional golf to care about (PGA Tour has roughly 50 annually, whereas LIV solely has 8 in 2022 and 14 scheduled for 2023). Additionally they don’t play a lot golf in different elements of the world — particularly elements of the world that LIV goes to (Australia, Asia, Continental Europe, Central and South America, and so forth). LIV has dedicated to take excessive degree skilled golf to all of those areas. Professional golf followers have taken notice of this, nevertheless it’s been clear that the Tour hasn’t felt the necessity to enhance their product despite the issues expressed by critical followers. Why? As a result of they haven’t had any competitors and are extra involved with producing cash on the expense of the standard of their product, reasonably than bettering the fan expertise.

Let’s return to what I discussed earlier on this article, and have a look at their Board of Directors. I’m positive they’re all very completed folks in their very own proper, however why are they there? They’re not skilled golfers, and I don’t know in the event that they know and even care about golf. From their professions and areas of experience (personal fairness, hedge funds, PR, media, Huge Regulation) they’re in all probability actually good at earning money — that a lot is evident. However is that what’s finest for the skilled sport of golf and it’s development? Unlikely. Due to the construction of the PGA Tour, the gamers don’t have a voting majority on Tour Enterprise (they make up solely 40% of the Board), in order a lot because the media likes to name the PGA Tour a “player-run group” it most definitely will not be. The Board runs the enterprise of the Tour — they’ve a voting majority. Is that what’s finest for skilled golf? I’m not so positive.

Saudi Arabia, as a nation, is without doubt one of the largest sponsors of golf on this planet, even previous to the appearance of LIV. They’ve invested thousands and thousands in ladies’s professional golf and now billions in males’s professional golf. Earlier this month, the Aramco Team Series: a worldwide skilled ladies’s golf collection sanctioned by the LET (Women European Tour) — placed on a golf match in New York Metropolis with among the high LPGA & LET golfers on this planet. There’s nearly no negative press about it though it’s additionally funded by the Saudi PIF and the Saudi state run oil firm (Aramco) — similar to LIV’s funding. Additionally, there’s no damaging press regardless of the course it’s being performed on in NYC. I’ll provide you with a guess the place it’s being held? In case you guessed a Trump facility, you’d be proper! Trump Ferry Point within the Bronx. There have been no plans for anti-Saudi protests right here, however there have been protests simply 15 miles away in Bedminster NJ when LIV was there earlier this yr, and the company media lined that intimately. Why is that? Comply with the cash. Tour pursuits are within the billions the place LIV is a menace to that — ladies’s professional golf is a small fraction of that and it’s potential to generate cash will not be the identical. These variations should not coincidental.

Whereas we’re with reference to cash, again to the funding of LIV — look if you’re really towards Saudi Arabia, and all the things the nation stands for, and have achieved your analysis, AND you are feeling strongly that supporting LIV is an excessive amount of of a battle of curiosity together with your beliefs, I’m not going to let you know what to assume — though I believe I made a compelling case earlier. However let’s be trustworthy — most individuals haven’t thought that deeply about Saudi Arabia, nor have they each expressed any concern concerning the “supply of the cash” in different athletic areas. So many individuals have let company media pursuits, propaganda and primary speaking factors affect their opinion. However, once more, I really feel very strongly that we have now to compartmentalize this stuff.

In addition to that, should you actually are eager about seeing Saudi Arabia change for the higher — I do know sufficient concerning the Civil Rights Motion right here within the USA to say that you simply don’t change issues by turning a blind eye, or being judgmental from a distance. You modify issues by MORE integration, not much less. So taking a laissez-faire method seemingly isn’t the best way to go.

We are able to argue about why Saudi Arabia is as invested in golf as they’re, and may speak about Saudi Vision 2030. However the backside line is, I do know there are key folks in Saudi Arabia that LOVE the sport of golf and need have an even bigger stake within the sport. Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of the Saudi PIF is the chairman of LIV Golf. It’s effectively documented how a lot he loves the sport — like I do. FWIW, he’s a 12 handicap final I checked. He’s additionally President of the Arab Golf Federation — Consider it because the “USGA” of the Arab World (19 whole international locations). Or have a look at Majed Al-Souror, the CEO of the Saudi Golf Federation and Golf Saudi, and is without doubt one of the managing administrators of LIV Golf. He needs a million Saudi residents to expertise golf for the primary time throughout the subsequent decade. That ambition is actually the way you “develop the sport” of golf.

As a nation, KSA is keen to speculate BILLIONS of {dollars} into my favourite sport, and are unlikely to see a return on this funding for probably a decade. Sure, it positively matches into their imaginative and prescient of modernization for the nation, much like certainly one of its neighboring international locations that I’ll get into in a minute — and if it helps advance the nation that places it on the same trajectory to its neighbor to the East, so that folks can expertise the sport of golf and probably have extra freedoms as an entire, it’s a worthwhile train.

The nation that I’m referring to above is the United Arab Emirates. 30+ years in the past, they had been trying to get extra concerned in golf, and had some questionable human rights points on the time (if you wish to go down a rabbit gap, be at liberty to do a little analysis on Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, his relationship with the Jumeirah Group and professional golf). Now, UAE has invested $1 billion within the former European Tour (Europe’s PGA Tour), now known as the DP World Tour (Dubai Ports) and play 3 of their flagship occasions within the UAE. UAE was additionally trying to modernize — succeeded, and now Dubai, UAE is really one of many world, trendy facilities of commerce on this planet and golf is a giant a part of the infrastructure there. There’s little question in my thoughts that KSA is attempting to realize that. However solely time will inform the extent of success they are going to have — the template is there although.

Extra from the hypocrisy division: when Saudi Arabia was attempting to get into golf in 2019, they sponsored an occasion on the aforementioned European Tour, and the CEO Keith Pelley stated that they wanted to hold a golf tournament there and work with Golf Saudi to help with Saudi’s vision for their future. So when he mentioned that in 2019, that was OK, however now magically it’s unacceptable “sportswashing?” Once more, the hypocrisy is so loud right here — it jogs my memory of LIV’s slogan “Golf However Louder.” I’d describe the LIV vs PGA Tour saga as “Hypocrisy, however louder!” I suppose you do what’s handy on your personal pursuits on the time, and hope sufficient folks flip a blind eye?

Anyway, whether or not you select to help LIV, it’s your choice, nevertheless it’s right here, it’s occurring, right here to remain, and I’d guess good cash that it will likely be the premier golf league on this planet throughout the subsequent 5–10 years. There are lots of excuses the media has put out as to why you shouldn’t help LIV, however should you additional look at the “why” in that, it helps paint a fairly clear image.

The above being mentioned, there’s NO motive why the PGA Tour and LIV Golf can’t coexist within the golf ecosystem, each competing across the nexus of the Main Championships — that are run by governing our bodies unbiased from LIV & the PGA Tour. It’s clear that the house is sufficiently big, and there may be sufficient golf expertise world wide to help this. Golf has by no means been extra fashionable and talked about extra in popular culture than previously 6 months. So coexistence is what I’m hoping for in the long term. It clearly doesn’t must be as adversarial because it presently is (totally on the PGAT facet), the litigation could be settled, and that gained’t go on ceaselessly. I see extra tournaments over the course of time the place LIV and PGAT gamers compete towards one another in conventional golf competitions just like the aforementioned Majors, or extra “made for TV” competitions and exhibitions just like the Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup. Skilled Golf needs to be doing all the things they’ll collectively to faucet into this new public curiosity in Professional Golf and leveraging this to proceed to develop the sport and make it as large as it could possibly probably be. Your complete golf ecosystem would profit from this collaboration. And who is aware of, possibly the two entities will merge finally a la the AFL & NFL within the Sixties. American soccer was not almost as fashionable again then. The Tremendous Bowl was created out of that merger and now it’s the most well-liked sport and sporting occasion within the US. It took the visionary management of Pete Rozelle, Al Davis and others that noticed the imaginative and prescient and made it work. THAT’S what golf wants proper now.

All of it begins with the PGA Tour answering the cellphone calls from LIV Golf that up to now, they’ve refused to reply for the previous yr. This acceptance that LIV is right here to remain and is a everlasting a part of the golf ecosystem, would begin the collab, and almost certainly fast-forward us to the tip sport. With the suitable management and visionaries in place, golf as an entire: the followers, the gamers, and related enterprise pursuits would seemingly all profit from this situation in the long term. So, I believe it’s time for management within the skilled golf world to do the suitable factor, come collectively within the spirit of the sport to make this work. Nothing is not possible. In case you try this, the company media may have no selection however to fall in line and comply with your lead.