By Ed Travis
The rumors are flying fast and furious as men’s professional golf is slipping into the mud of controversy. Recent claims and counterclaims making prime time golf news outlets are making the situation worse, since it was revealed many of the top players have signed non-disclosure agreements with a proposed new tour.
Greg Norman, CEO of LIV Golf Investments, financed by $300 million of Saudi Arabian money, has partnered with the Asian Tour. Norman made a huge presence at the Asian Tour’s Saudi International last month. Ten players from the PGA Tour were granted releases by the PGA Tour, to play in Saudi Arabia and receive huge appearance fees.
Norman’s Asian Tour seems to be in direct conflict with the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour, but he was quoted as saying, “He and LIV Golf were not in this a for a fight, or to compete with the two largest tours.”
But in a comment sounding just the opposite he pointed out, “Nobody owns the golf space.”
He complained also of being the target of unwarranted verbal attacks. “Those against what LIV Golf is doing don’t know the facts.”
Norman has said he wants to work together with the other golf organizations, but both the the PGA Tour and DP World Tour have firmly stated that those players, who sign with any new competitive tour would lose membership, which would make them ineligible for the four major championships and the Ryder Cup.
One of the overriding controversies at the Saudi International and indeed the proposed LIV-backed tour cites Saudi Arabia’s poor record and restrictions on freedom of the press and human rights violations within the country.
It would be fair to point out however no details of Norman’s new tour have been disclosed, nor have details of any discussions with players. The Saudi International field has 21 of the top 50 world ranked players, including three in the top 10, Dustin Johnson, Xander Schauffele and Bryson DeChambeau. Their appearance gave Norman attentive candidates for his pitch.
A few of the rumors making the circuit in addition to the supposed non-disclosure agreements include:
-Norman is talking with current stars, not those approaching the end of their careers.
-Phil Mickelson said, “pretty much every player in the top 100 has been contacted at some point”.
-Englishman Ian Poulter, member of both the DP World Tour and PGA Tour, reportedly was offered a $30 million signing bonus.
-Mickelson perhaps as justification for his talking with Norman said in a social media post, “The media rights are but a small fraction of everything else. And it is the [PGA] tour’s “obnoxious greed” that has really opened the door for opportunities elsewhere.”
-Bryson DeChambeau denied being offered $135 million to ink a deal.
Famed British golfer and European Ryder Cup star, Tony Jacklin has stated,
“The PGA Tour and DP World Tour currently enjoy a monopoly on professional golf right now and they obviously don’t want to let that go. We are heading into a very complex, messy situation.”
Jacklin is correct, and it looks as though it will get much worse before it improves. Professional golf is heading toward a very slippery slope, the mud will splatter everyone.
Players must decide if they want to play for history…their legacy in the game, or for the money.
Fred’s Take on Greg Norman’s Saudi-Backed Asian Tour
By Fred Altvater
Once players abandon the PGA Tour for the greener pastures and guaranteed money on the Asian Tour, the PGA TOUR will definitely take a hit with television ratings and fan approval. However, there are still quality players throughout the Top 500 players in the world and new stars will emerge.
The Asian tour, even with $300 million, can only grab a handful of top name players. Will it be worth it to a Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, or Collin Morikawa to walk away from the history and prominence of the American Tour? I think not.
It is much easier for a young man with a young family to jump on a plane and play events in the United States than to travel to Asia, Australia, or Europe. American players have shown a disdain for traveling too far outside the country in the past.
Will American fans really be that interested in an event in China, or Asia on a regular basis?
The DP World Tour and the LPGA already boast that they are truly world tours and hold tournaments on several continents every year. I don’t think American golf fans will become to attached to a tournament in China at 3:00 AM.
Norman is correct, there is a huge market for golf in other parts of the world and his idea will help fill that need. PGA Tour Deane Beman was wrong to shut him down in the 80’s. Personally I would love to see a true World Golf Tour that features the top players competing around the world.
Carlos Torres and Fred Altvater proposed a World Golf Tour in this episode of the Back 9 Report.
Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington & even Phil Mickelson are all wonderful names, but all are on the back side of their careers. Will fans buy into a Mid-Am Pro Tour made up of players past their primes?
My guess is that Norman’s Asian Tour will grab a few big-name golfers and will survive, but I doubt very seriously that it will ever reach the significance the PGA TOUR holds today.
The brightest lights and biggest sponsors are still are in the United States. The PGA TOUR may well be advised to tell any player go if they must and God Speed.
There are so many young players now in college and coming up through the minor tours that the PGA TOUR will continue to enjoy its place atop the world’s hierarchy of professional golf.
