By Ed Travis
It’s always refreshing when someone you respect agrees with you, or is it the other way around? When the number one ranked golfer says exactly what you are thinking, it’s nice to know you aren’t completely alone. The current No. 1 golfer in the world, Rory McIlroy has taken a leadership role in the world of professional golf with a sensible suggestion to solve the unsustainable and stressful situation that exists between the PGA Tour and LIV.
“There’s a few things that I would like to see on the LIV side that needs to happen,” McIlroy said. “I think Greg [Norman] needs to go. I think he needs to just exit stage left. He’s made his mark, but I think now is the right time to sort of say, ‘Look, you’ve got this thing off the ground, but no one is going to talk unless there’s an adult in the room that can actually try to mend fences.'”
For those who may have been spending the past few months perfecting their pickleball serve, or training 16 hours a day for a WWE comeback, LIV Golf is a competitor to the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, the former European Tour. It is a disruptor to the otherwise usually staid week to week tournaments run by the established tours.
Again, in case you have not been following the controversy, LIV Golf gets its money from the Public Investment Fund which is the sovereign wealth fund of the Saudi Arabian royal family with Hall of Fame member Greg Norman as their front man.
Three things, about LIV Golf, stick in the craw of many observers.
First, is the over-the-top signing bonuses paid by LIV to lure PGA Tour stars. Fan-favorite Phil Mickelson reportedly received $200 million. The list includes Dustin Johnson ($125 million), Bryson DeChambeau ($125 million) and Sergio Garcia, who also banked $125 million, while British Open Champion Cameron Smith had to settle for $100 million. Not unsurprisingly those taking the LIV money were put on suspension by the PGA Tour losing their rights to compete, plus their status in the major championships is yet to be determined.
Secondly, are the LIV tournaments real competition?
Certainly, no one begrudges players winning huge sums because of their playing skill, but it would appear the line is drawn with payments based on reputation alone. Should LIV tournaments really be considered professional competition. The LIV events are closer to a series of exhibitions with limited 48-player fields and 54-hole no-cut tournaments. Plus, there is a team competition format inside each event that can assure some players big paydays even if they don’t play well.
Pat Perez did not come close to a top ten finish on the LIV in 2022, but still finished in the top ten in total money earned because he benefitted from his teammate’s, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed and Talor Gooch, strong finishes, which paid Perez over $3 million in team payouts, giving him a total of $4 million for the season.
Last season’s leading money earner on the PGA Tour, Scottie Scheffler, played in 25 events, won $14 million in total prize money, plus another $5.75 million from the FedEx Cup bonus pool, garnering just shy of $20 million. Rory McIlroy won $8.6 million in 16 events, but added the FedEx Cup title, which paid him another $18 million for a total of $26.6 million.
In contrast, the LIV’s top performer Dustin Johnson took home $35.6 million in just eight events. $9 million more than McIlroy and $15 million more than Scheffler in fewer starts. Plus, DJ got his big signing bonus, as well.
Luring stars away from the PGA Tour simply lessens the product without a commensurate gain for fans not to mention the local charities, who receive substantial donations from every tournament. LIV has no broadcast contract leaving those interested to watch on the LIV social media channel and onsite event attendance has been minuscule.
Third, the LIV doesn’t address the source of their money, namely the Saudi Arabian regime. Even considering Saudi’s sizable percentage of the proven world oil reserves and all the critical political factors, the Kingdom’s dismal record of human rights abuses is an overwhelming point of contention.
Norman has become the focal point and seems to relish the spotlight. From the initial announcement of the LIV series, it was clear the former world number one was on a mission to “get” the PGA Tour. This likely can be traced back to the early 1990’s when Norman’s proposed world tour was vetoed by the PGA Tour. Norman doesn’t seem to be working towards any solution, simply making matters worse with antagonistic comments via social media and interviews.
Don’t forget that according to Norman’s early statements, LIV’s goal was to grow the game by creating additional playing opportunities for a select number of players. This has not been accomplished since the defectors have lost their membership on their former tours. In fact, an acrimonious competitor to the established circuits has been created and professional golf seemingly thrown into a state of confusion.
What has become crystal clear is that unless an amenable solution can be found golf fans and the many charities supported by the PGA Tour are going to be the losers.
McIlroy’s call for Norman to resign from LIV would be a good first step and bringing “an adult in the room” to open a dialogue between both sides is the only reasonable path.
