The new golf tour kicked off in London on Thursday, with fans arriving at the Centurion Club to witness the participation of some of the sport’s biggest names in the first event north of London.
But what is the LIV Golf series, the new venture that threatens to shake the foundations of the sport to the core?
This is a new tour organized by LIV Golf Investments, which consists of eight events around the world, which began in London on Thursday.
Led by former world number one Greg Norman, the team-based series runs from June to October with the goal of “holistically improving the health of professional golf globally to help unlock unused sports” (sic). potential. “
It is backed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), a sovereign wealth fund chaired by Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s heir to the throne and the man whom US intelligence says is responsible for approving the 2018 assassination operation. to journalist Jamal Hashoghi. Bin Salman has denied involvement in Kashoggi’s assassination.
PIF has promised to award a $ 250 million prize pool. Each of the first seven events will have a total prize pool of $ 25 million, with $ 20 million to be split between the players and the remaining $ 5 million to be split between the top three teams at the end of each week.
Before the first event in London, the 12 teams were announced, as well as their captain. On Tuesday, the captains chose their other teams in a draft format similar to the NFL and NBA drafts.
Unlike typical golf events, the London event lasts for three days, not four, with the 48-person course starting with a rifle start – all at the same time – hoping to be more engaging, action-packed event.
Competing in the traditional strike format, the winner will be the lowest score.
While in the first two rounds the best two results will be considered for each team, in the final round the best three results will be considered, with the lowest overall result of the team after 54 holes determined as the team winner.
For the last event – team championship – the format is changed to a tournament with eliminations in four rounds.
Which golfers have registered?
The tear-jerking money attracted a mix of golfers to sign up for the opening event in London, of all ages, backgrounds and success on the golf course.
Six-time main winner Phil Mickelson and former world number one Dustin Johnson are among those leading the event, while other big winners Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaimer, Graham McDowell, Louis Osthuisen and Charles Schwarzel also took part.
Rider Cup supporters Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood were also part of the first cohort to register, and the field includes 18 players in the top 100 in the world.
On the other hand, he also provided a platform for other golfers who are just taking their first steps in the sport, including 15-year-old Rachanon Chantananuwat of Thailand. US Open 2020 winner Bryson DeChambo was the next name to register, adding his name on Friday to the ever-growing list of players to join.
And according to numerous reports, Masters 2018 champion Patrick Reed will be the next big name to sign up for the breakaway tour.
Why is it so controversial?
The LIV Golf series did not come without questions.
The source of the money, Saudi Arabia’s PIF, has led to inquiries and criticism directed at organizers and players for choosing to play for money from the country, given its human rights.
The country has been criticized by human rights groups for years. In March, Saudi Arabia executed 81 men in the largest mass execution in decades. Human rights groups have criticized the country for executing people who were minors at the time of the crimes for which they were convicted.
Another time of controversy over the league is the secession from the established rounds of golf.
The PGA Tour and the DP World Tour – before the European Tour – have long been places where players trade on the golf calendar, outside of the four major tournaments.
But, apologizing for the problems with the balance of money and life, the decision of a faction of players who broke away to play in the LIV Golf series was met with a mixed reaction from their fellow members of the tour.
What do the players say?
On the eve of the series, the most lucrative golf event in the world, the racers were baked by journalists at an often tense press conference in St. Albans, England.
Mickelson has been in the spotlight, mainly because he is one of the biggest stars in the sport, but also because this will be his first competitive event since his controversial comments on Saudi-funded events were published earlier this year by his biographer.
The six-time grand winner was quoted in an interview with author Alan Shipnuk in 2021 for his upcoming book, Phil: The Roaring (and Unauthorized!) Biography of Golf’s Most Colorful Superstar, saying he would consider joining the proposed book. Super League, because it’s “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to change the way the PGA Tour works.”
Shipnuk cites Mickelson, who says disparaging things about human rights in Saudi Arabia, and claims that the kingdom killed journalist Kashoggi.
In his initial response to Wednesday’s press conference, when asked about the human rights situation in the country providing funding for the venture, Mickelson seems to regret it.
“I do not approve of human rights violations at all,” he said.
Johnson, the world’s top-ranked player in the 15th race, withdrew from the PGA Tour and said Tuesday: “I don’t want to play for the rest of my life, it gives me the opportunity to do what I want to do. . “
European Cup supporter Ryder Graham McDowell was also asked about Kashoggi’s assassination during his press conference.
“We all agree that this is reprehensible. No one will dispute this fact, but we are golfers. We are not politicians.
“If Saudi Arabia wants to use golf as a way to get to where they want to be, we are proud to help them on this journey, using golf and the skills we have to help develop the sport. “
What about those who do not participate?
The first LIV event takes place at the Centurion Club. This and the Canadian Open of the PGA Tour are held almost simultaneously and is the first meeting between the two tours.
Centurion’s $ 25 million wallet nearly tripled the $ 8.7 million at the Canadian Open. Defending his title in Canada will be Rory McIlroy, world No. 8.
“Every decision you make in your life that is purely for money is usually not going in the right direction,” McIlroy said Wednesday, according to Reuters.
“Obviously money is the deciding factor in many things in this world, but if it’s pure money, it’s not, it never seems to be what you want it to be.”
In terms of stellar strength, the Canadian Open will easily surpass the Centurion lineup. Toronto’s headliners will include world number one Scotty Scheffler and PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas.
“People have the right to choose as they wish,” Thomas said. “I don’t like DJing right now. I don’t think he’s a bad guy. I will not treat him differently.
“He has the right to choose as he pleases.
“Now I’m disappointed and I wish he and the others hadn’t done it, but it’s their decision.”
What does this mean for the future of golf?
It is unclear what this will mean for the future of golf and where players will choose to trade in the future.
Many of the players affected by the ban – Mickelson, Westwood and Poulter – are in the twilight of their careers, which may reduce the burden of removal.
Several players, including Johnson, Garcia and Kevin Na, relinquished their status on the PGA Tour before the game kicks off in London on Thursday.
But for the six-time big winner, Mickelson, who has already won lifelong status in the PGA Tour, this calls into question his long-term commitment to the tour. He told a news conference Wednesday before the first event of the LIV Golf series that he did not want to give up his lifelong PGA Tour membership, saying: “I won this and I do not plan to just give up.”
And for the young talents in the game, the suspension offers a mystery.
The PGA Tour is the most important golf tour in the world right now and is therefore considered a highlight. However, the new big money tour offers a significant profit opportunity for players around the world, especially future talent.
Do younger players decide to take on the LIV Golf series, thus ruining their chances of playing in the PGA Tour, or stick to the “traditional” route and play in the PGA Tour and potentially reduce their chances of winning?
DP’s world tour – the second biggest tour in the sport – has not yet announced any sanctions for the players. When contacted by CNN, he said there was “no comment” on the LIV Golf series.
As for the four specialties of golf, the participation of players in the LIV Golf series also threw their participation in those in disarray.
Although the US Open next week said players are free to play if they qualify, next month’s Open at St. Andrew’s has not yet been decided publicly.
Shortly after the announcement, LIV Golf released a definite response, calling the suspension “vengeful.”
“Today’s announcement of the PGA Tour is vindictive and deepens the division between the Tour and its members,” it said.
“It is worrying that Tour, an organization dedicated to enabling golfers to play the game, is the entity that is blocking golfers from playing. This is certainly not the last word on this topic. The era of the free agency is beginning, as we are proud to have a full field of players joining us in London and beyond. “
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