LIV Golf. Thoughts?

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tdgeek

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#296340 9-Jun-2022 17:13

Not sure how many golfers are here, not seen a thread

To me, it seems a bit disjointed. On the one hand big money. Free viewing, no TV rights. But the big issue is we have this new massive golf series. What it lacks is big names. Its basically top level, high money golf, of not the best in the world, vy a margin. Yes it has Phil but he is past modern golf, belongs in the Champions League. There is DJ, he has been missing in action results wise for a couple of years. Bryson has interest, I like him, but he is in and out. Many nice names such as Westwood, Louis, but you wont see them at the top of the grid on day 4 (apart from Louis in Majors) There are a number of journeymen such as Na, and many names ive not heard of.

I assume that while its a long way down the list of compelling viewing, and the billions need a return, they must be backing on stripping PGA of the real today players.

Im not against it per say, but to me its a bit like DP Tour, which I watch if Fox is doing ok , I FF through a lot of it. PGA and LPGA have the top ones, a great watch

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#2924416 9-Jun-2022 17:56

I'm an avid golfer and and avid golf fan but I have no interest in this tour at the moment. Don't get me wrong I'm not against it, If people want to play for obscene amounts of money and someone is willing to put up the funds then let them play. Its the people that interest me and the field for the first tournament doesn't get me excited. Its mainly people at the end of their career trying to make a quick buck, people starting out and you can't blame them for chasing the money with a sprinkling of real contenders from the main tours.

tdgeek

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#2924421 9-Jun-2022 18:01

100%. LIV has everything, except a great field. In all sports its the players, drivers, riders, horses that make the spectacle.

mudguard

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#2924445 9-Jun-2022 20:11

It's been a bit of a train wreck in the golf forums. I don't think anyone fundamentally objects to another tour per se, but most are worried about the source of funds. Plus the rubbish being trotted out, oh I'm doing it for my family. Yes that's true, but be honest, just say you're doing it for the money. Some of these players have earned a lot of money, some may not have much of it left (Phil??) so it's nauseating hearing them talking about setting themselves up.

I don't buy into this player's media rights thing either. Being a PGA member only requires you to play 15 events or so. Golf could do with a shake up, The Masters drives me nuts, they need to cull the historic winners once they get rubbish. There's no way Sandy Lyle should be taking the spot of someone younger who can actually play.

tdgeek

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#2924450 9-Jun-2022 20:50

The Saudi arguments are quite interesting. The obvious issues with Saudi, but they support other sports forever with no issues. Not supporting that stance, but it is a point.

Agree re the lifetime membership. Its not rare for a player to get a sponsor exemption then really shine. Same as Lindblad the amateur in the Womens Open, the young talent is there. But hard to get in

No idea how LIV can be viable, I guess its about bleeding the PGA dry as more and more players go there. But I cant see that happening. Journeymen players will go there, but who wants to watch them? There are already of space fillers in LIV as it is

I'll give it a watch but watching out of form players win by 3 strokes against other out of form players will not be compelling. I'll just see how Bryson goes pretty much.

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#2924464 9-Jun-2022 21:34

mudguard: The Masters drives me nuts, they need to cull the historic winners once they get rubbish. There's no way Sandy Lyle should be taking the spot of someone younger who can actually play.

Isn't the point of masters inviting big celebrities based on popularity regardless of playing ability?

mudguard

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#2924476 9-Jun-2022 21:53

gzt:
mudguard: The Masters drives me nuts, they need to cull the historic winners once they get rubbish. There's no way Sandy Lyle should be taking the spot of someone younger who can actually play.

Isn't the point of masters inviting big celebrities based on popularity regardless of playing ability?

Ah maybe you're thinking of another tournament. The US Masters is usually the top fifty world ranked players, the various big amateur winners (US, Asia Pacific etc) and past winners.

So the field is weaker than the rest of the majors as you have past winners, well past their prime who still play, whereas the other majors have ten year exemptions and so on.

johno1234

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#2924556 10-Jun-2022 08:49

I can't get too upset about the LIV tour being run on Saudi blood money. If I did, I'd have to also be upset about various F1 events, the Olympics, the Football World Cup etc all being staged by repressive governments.

As to the golfing question: I expect this to go the way of Kerry Packer's cricket circus and similarly, IPL cricket. Money is an irresistible magnet to professionals be they cricketers or coders. The Saudi money lake is bottomless so if they really want to make this thing fly, then there's no stopping them.

The PGA and DP tours will eventually back down and learn to LIV with it!

In the time that takes to happen, the big questions will be OWGR ranking points, majors qualification and the Ryder Cup. LIV have applied to join the OWGR scheme. This is important as ranking points get you into the field of the majors and those tournaments, while not wanting to offend it, are not beholden to the PGA tour. The Ryder Cup, IIRC is run by the PGA and DP World tours so the rebels are going to be missing at least one. Won't be the same without Poulter's bug-eyed, vein popping antics.

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johno1234

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#2924565 10-Jun-2022 08:56

mudguard:

It's been a bit of a train wreck in the golf forums. I don't think anyone fundamentally objects to another tour per se, but most are worried about the source of funds. Plus the rubbish being trotted out, oh I'm doing it for my family. Yes that's true, but be honest, just say you're doing it for the money. Some of these players have earned a lot of money, some may not have much of it left (Phil??) so it's nauseating hearing them talking about setting themselves up.

I don't buy into this player's media rights thing either. Being a PGA member only requires you to play 15 events or so. Golf could do with a shake up, The Masters drives me nuts, they need to cull the historic winners once they get rubbish. There's no way Sandy Lyle should be taking the spot of someone younger who can actually play.

I think the really hopeless older guys usually take the hint and stop playing but turn up for the dinner and events. But it is part of the charm of the tournament to see some of the old heads like Fred Couples, Bernhard Langer etc not only turn up but sometimes make the cut and beat some of the young guns by using their brains and craft. Gives people like me the warm fuzzies.

tdgeek

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#2924874 10-Jun-2022 17:52

About to have a watch of the RBC, interested to see the comments by the commentators. Highly biased off course, but keen to see how they attack this issue.

tdgeek

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#2924902 10-Jun-2022 18:19

Lol having said that, and only watched a short while, there is no talk of LIV and an inordinate amount of talk of the OWGR and how many top players are at the RBC. Probably fair enough, dont bag it, "follow the process, the score will look after itself" PGA-LIV wise

tdgeek

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#2925358 11-Jun-2022 18:45

Anyone here watched LIV? I didnt, I see Charl Schwartzel is leading day one, many no names behind him, the brand names well down. An embarrassment IMO I cannot see any upsides at all

tdgeek

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#2926545 14-Jun-2022 18:52

Its turning into a sh!tfest. LIV is a crock. Pure.and.Simple

Senecio

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#2926585 14-Jun-2022 20:51

I watched a 15min highlight package they put up on Youtube of day 1. I doubt I'll ever watch another minute of it. No interest at all.

tdgeek

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#2926586 14-Jun-2022 20:59

Senecio:

I watched a 15min highlight package they put up on Youtube of day 1. I doubt I'll ever watch another minute of it. No interest at all.

Same. I had a peek, gave up quickly. Id rather watch an All Blacks match than Halswell vs Lower Hutt. Thats what LIV looks like

tdgeek

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#2934340 25-Jun-2022 18:58

The more I see of The LIV tour the more of a joke it is. I hope they dont get OWGR as while they fund the Asian Tour ( that helps the OWGR process) and there is a precedent for a 54 hole and a non cut event getting OWGR points, I cant see it happening

There hasn't been a golf thread, so will chime in that Im enjoying what Ryan Fox is doing. He really seems to be in a happy place. Family is now based in Europe, and as he said he plays like he doesnt care (he does care as he said but he's freewheeling with no pressure now) A bit like these pros can pepper the flag when practising for an hour+ on 150 shots, he seems to be playing that way in an event.

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