UR-Golf Blog Entry 2: Everything Is Backwards

Background

Since 1968, the PGA Tour has been the governing power of the professional golf world. The PGA Tour is the biggest stage for the top players in the world to compete for history, tradition, and… money. The emergence of LIV Golf in 2022 was the biggest shift in professional golf, as the PGA Tour had been the dominating force and was designated to maintain the traditional structure of the sport. Or so we thought. LIV Golf has sought to evolve the financial model and governance of the PGA Tour, with seemingly unlimited finances, LIV is funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and was organized by former tour pro, Greg Norman. . LIV has the stated mission to “modernize and supercharge the game of professional golf through expanded opportunities for both players and fans alike,” by paying PGA Tour pros to play for lucrative amounts of money, but would have to pay the price of giving up what they had on the PGA Tour. Players such as Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Cam Smith, Jon Rahm, Patrick Reed, Sergio Garcia, made up the 54 man roster and are split among 13 different teams, implementing a new team golf format. PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan’s reaction to his talent leaving was anything but positive as he suspended those who accepted LIV’s contract and released a statement saying, “Their participation in the Saudi Golf League/LIV Golf event is in violation of our Tournament Regulations. The Same fate holds true for any other players who participate in future Saudi Golf League events in violation of our regulations” (https://www.pgatour.com/article/news/latest/2022/06/09/pga-tour-commissioner-jay-monahan-responds-players-competing-without-proper-releases“. When asked if Monahan would consider lifting the suspensions for anyone on LIV who wants to return to the tour, his response was “No.”

Fast Forward 3-Years Later…

This is when things are starting to get a little diplomatic. When LIV Golf launched, Rory Mcilroy became the poster boy for the PGA Tour. Whether he meant to or not, he took the lead in standing up for the PGA Tour and became the voice for those who stayed loyal. Rory has also been very upfront about his thoughts on LIV and how much he despises it.

"If you're thinking about one of the biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world, would you rather have them as a partner or an enemy? At the end of the day money talks and you'd rather have them as a partner." – Rory McIlroy on PGA Tour – LIV Golf merger pic.twitter.com/xxk3hzcIS4

— USA TODAY Sports (@usatodaysports) June 7, 2023

Rory Mcilroy

Press Conference June 7, 2023

If you have not checked out my reaction to Rory’s press conference at the Genesis Invitational, go check it out for Rory’s reaction on the potential of LIV Golfer’s returning to the PGA Tour: https://urgolf.blog/3309-2/.

Don’t get me wrong, I like Rory Mcilroy. I respect what he’s done for the game of golf, and he is one of the greatest players of all time. I know Rory has not directly spoken on the players who have left the PGA Tour, but I still find it difficult to stomach Rory telling people to “get over it,” when he had been one of the biggest anti-LIV advocates on the PGA Tour. Oh, and by the way, here is Jay Monahan and his best friend Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of the PIF.

Discussion of a merger between the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour, and the PIF is developing week by week, and I am still trying to understand how everyone is so quick to forget the last 3 years of professional golf. I guess as the PGA Tour’s savior, Rory Mcilory suggested, “Money talks.”

Genesis Invitational Recap

Ludvig Åberg captured his second PGA Tour win this weekend at Torrey Pines with a -12 par total (74,66,70,66). The Swede was on a revenge tour this week, as the last time he played here during the Farmer’s Insurance just 3 weeks ago, he fired an opening round 63 (-9) and unfortunately caught the flu. Maverick McNealy was making headlines today as he started HOT. After being -9 through 14, he ended up shooting an -8, 64, leaving him one shot short of a playoff at -11. Of course, Scottie Scheffler was making a run shooting a -6, 66 with 2 hole-outs. Scottie ended up -9 for the tournament in a tie for third with Patrick Rodgers. Next week is the Mexico Open at Vedanta Vallarta; picks and predictions will be out on Thursday!