Back in March I wrote an opinion piece that asked, “Is LIV Losing the Battle with PGA Tour?” citing all the obvious reasons why the upstart LIV Golf league wasn’t ever going to be a major factor in the world of golf.
Her’s the link: Off The Fringe—Is LIV Losing the Battle with PGA Tour? | California Golf + Travel
There were a several comments from readers mostly centered on why I was so prejudiced against this exciting new concept. Some had obviously taken former LIV CEO Greg Norman at his word when he predicted his league would stimulate the worldwide growth of golf both as a spectator sport and as a favorite pastime for untold numbers of Asians, Africans, indeed people of every demographic.
They seemed to be offended that pointing out LIV had not fulfilled Norman’s hyperbolic promises nor was it likely to as being offensive.
So much for an thinking, logical dialogue.
The two-year wait for the culmination of the June 2023 announced merger agreement with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour has not gone well for LIV. It is apparent that a few top players teeing it up in what is essentially an series of exhibitions with fields filled with has-beens or never-will-be competitors is not exciting fans. The team play format plus the fact everyone gets a check regardless of what they score is simply silly for a game that has always been a true test of an individual’s talent, skill and mental toughness.
LIV TV ratings are a joke as are the numbers on the sidelines at most events. Neither are something big money advertisers and sponsors are interested in spending big bucks on.
LIV’s best-known players Jon Rahm, Bruce Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau are world-class golfers, but it has been proven many times over the years, you can’t be the best if you don’t compete against the best. LIV is not anywhere near close to being the best competition.
To further expound on the otherworldliness that is LIV, current CEO Scott O’Neal, taking a page from Norman’s book of exaggeration proclaimed, “I think that right now we are going to the moon and back. I’m very confident in where we are in this business and the interest we have currently.” He also made the jaw dropping comment the best players in the world are now competing on the LIV.
The hundreds of millions spent by the Saudi Arabian royal family’s Public Investment Fund to start LIV and keep it alive which included outlandish sums to a few PGA Tour stars enticing them to defect seems to have been a waste.
Its clear money is not the entire answer in a sport where tradition and legacy are important as former stars such as Rahm, DeChambeau and Koepka are finding out. Some would say all that needs to be done to resuscitate LIV is for them to keep on doing what they are doing however without world ranking points, major championship berths consistently available, and better quality of competition LIV is becoming more and more irrelevant.
