Hall of Fame member, Greg Norman has a 30-year vendetta against the PGA Tour, still the Saudi’s felt Greg was the guy to lead this rebel effort and accomplish their “sportswashing” efforts. The concept is certainly not a new public relations strategy. For those that don’t remember simply Google the 1936 Olympic Games held in Hitler’s pre-World War II Germany. Another long-time amateur player told me, they have sold their legacies in the game for life-altering sums of money. “The money is doing all the talking and until those guys realize that reputations are more long-lasting that’s the way it will be.” The LIV season is comprised of only eight 54-hole events and fields are limited to 48 players with a no-cut format, plus a mixture of individual and team scoring where everyone gets paid. It can best be described as a series of exhibitions with a few big names scattered in to gain attention. Won’t golf fans become weary of exhibitions that do not lead to an overall champion, or the threat of missing a cut? Charl Schwartzel was just paid $4 million for his win at the first LIV tournament in London last month, plus he earned an additional $750,000 for being allow participation by LIV Golf members. The USGA permitted them to compete in this year’s U.S. Open at The Country Club, plus THE OPEN Championship will accept their entries, if they are eligible. The Masters and the PGA Championship have yet to make a public statement about future participation. Whatever the future holds the LIV Golf Series’ attempt to carve a spot in professional golf is to the detriment of the established PGA Tour and DP World Tour. Fans, local communities, and charities will also be big losers. Right now, most world class golfers compete every week to build a reputation and a legacy of which they can be proud. They do it the old-fashioned way, “They Earn It.” The players that are escaping to the LIV Series are taking the approach that the easy money is more important. We will see if that approach can be sustained over time. a member of the winning team. By comparison it would take a minimum of three wins on the PGA TOUR to earn that much prize money. Schwartzel banked $4.75 million for just 54 holes of work. Don’t forget Charl was paid a guaranteed sum of money, rumored to be in the $30 million range, just to show up. That’s pretty good money for a 37-year old professional nearing the back end of his playing career. Phil Mickelson reportedly received $200 million, while Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka were paid well over $100 million each. The urgency to win a golf tournament loses its significance, when you already have several million in the bank account and don’t need the firstplace check. Winning no longer matters, only the speed with which you can sign your name on a guaranteed LIV contract. The wild card in all of this is what major championships will Indiana Golf Journal
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