A disruptor to the PGA Tour is here, and professional golf may never be the same. BobHarig asks and answers: How did we arrive at LIV Golf?
But when the PGL idea was making news in early 2020, Woods acknowledged he was approached, and his representatives listened.
“To be straightforward with you guys, I haven’t necessarily made a decision one way or the other,’’ Rickie Fowler said at the PGA Championship; the popular five-time PGA Tour winner is not in the LIV field this week. “I’ve mentioned in the past, do I currently think the PGA Tour is the best place to play? I do. Do think it can be better? Yes.
And therein, again, lies the underlying issue, that there is a sense among a good number in the game that the stars are not rewarded to the level of their value. Given the pandemic, and the hiatus all sports took, the idea of a rival league went into the background. It was barely broached publicly over the rest of the year. The PGA Tour quietly put together its PIP program. A new television deal was announced, meaning that by this year, purses and the FedEx Cup bonus money would all increase.But by the spring of 2021, the idea of a rival league again made headlines.
It was serious enough that it again had the attention of the PGA Tour and commissioner Jay Monahan. At a player meeting that week in Charlotte, Monahan made it clear to members who joined a rival league that they faced suspension or possible bans.“They first contacted me back in 2014, so this is seven years down the line and nothing has really changed,’’ McIlroy said. “Maybe the source of the money's changed or the people that are in charge have changed, but nothing has happened.
Nearly 30 years earlier, Norman had been part of a plan to establish a World Golf Tour that would bring together the top players in limited-field events for big prize money. He had the support of Fox Sports, but was ultimately thwarted when then-PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem threatened suspensions and bans similar to what Monahan has discussed today.
The Tour counters that those who join it agree to the rules which only allow for limited appearances outside of the PGA Tour – in the form of conflicting-event releases – that need to be granted.Through numerous starts and stops, LIV Golf slowly announced a management structure and was poised in December, January and February to announce the format of its 14-team league, with more than a dozen players – it said – on board.
“I was doing it in the mode of expecting somebody to tell me why it couldn’t be done,’’ he says. “I had never worked in golf, I had a very steep learning curve. There’s only so much you can pick up without being inside the industry. I probably spent three years waiting for somebody to come to me and say, 'God no, you can’t do this.’
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Greg Norman calls Jack Nicklaus a 'hypocrite' for competing comments on new LIV Golf tourLIV Golf CEO Greg Norman goes off on Jack Nicklaus, calling the Golden Bear a hypocrite for speaking from both sides of mouth on Saudi-funded tour.
Read more »
Exclusive: Mickelson Speaks — On Why He Joined LIV Golf, His PGA Tour Future and His Gambling IssuesIn his first exclusive interview since his 4-month hiatus, Phil Mickelson (PhilMickelson) spoke to SI about his gambling problem, his debut on the LIV Golf Tour, and his future at major championships
Read more »
Phil Mickelson bolts to Saudi-backed LIV Tour after months of controversyGreg Norman, the front man for the controversial Saudi-backed LIV Golf series, on Friday landed 51-year-old Phil Mickelson.
Read more »
Dustin Johnson resigns PGA Tour membership to play in Saudi-backed leagueDustin Johnson, one of the most famous golfers in the world, has resigned his PGA Tour membership.
Read more »
Phil Mickelson to participate in Saudi-backed league, risks losing PGA Tour statusMickelson's comments about the Saudis and the PGA Tour led to many top players pledging their support to the PGA Tour in February.
Read more »
The Rolling Stones Bust Out a Rare Classic on Munich Tour StopThe RollingStones busted out a rare classic on their Munich tour stop
Read more »