Kevin Na

[fixyurdivot]

Kevin makes it official.

Kevin Na resigns from PGA Tour, will participate in LIV Golf series (espn.com)

A few of us have been chatting about this on the FTx League.  A bit surprising that he's opt to take this "nuclear" approach as opposed to just playing the LIV events and see how this all shakes out... ultimately in court where this is undoubtedly heading.  Some believe it's his way of telling Lord Monahan to get bent.

### Please refrain from taking this thread down the political bunny hole ### 

[RollingGreens]

Could be avoiding the headache and distraction of taking on the PGA in court. Financially he also may be comfortable for what they are paying him and what he will be required to do, so just walking away is fine with him

[fixyurdivot]

55 minutes ago, RollingGreens said:

Could be avoiding the headache and distraction of taking on the PGA in court. Financially he also may be comfortable for what they are paying him and what he will be required to do, so just walking away is fine with him

Good point.  If we ever get the details on some of these LIV contracts, incentives, it may easily explain player decisions.  Kevin is a good example of a mid tier PGA tour journeyman where the sure money just makes more sense at this point. It will be interesting to see if this starts a trend.

[RollingGreens]

11 hours ago, fixyurdivot said:

Good point.  If we ever get the details on some of these LIV contracts, incentives, it may easily explain player decisions.  Kevin is a good example of a mid tier PGA tour journeyman where the sure money just makes more sense at this point. It will be interesting to see if this starts a trend.

Supposedly the LIV interview and access to the public schedule is pretty time consuming. I’d assume if they backed up the brinks truck he will be very prominent in the public eye as one of the top 5 players on their tour

[GolfSpy_APH]

I wonder if he knows what Penalties are coming and just not wanting to even both with it. He can now give LIV his whole focus and majors. 

I also partly wonder if part of suspensions will include fines which by leaving he avoids.

[Golf2Much]

Let me offer a little different twist on this.  By Na resigning before the LIV event the PGA Tour shouldn't have any grounds to take action against him for playing because he's not an official member.  So, if the LIV fails or Na becomes disenchanted with league (or the politics associated with it), since he wasn't officially sanctioned it theoretically should be easier for him to seek reinstatement to the Tour.  

Edited June 5, 2022 by Golf2Much

[fixyurdivot]

1 hour ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

I wonder if he knows what Penalties are coming and just not wanting to even both with it. He can now give LIV his whole focus and majors. 

I also partly wonder if part of suspensions will include fines which by leaving he avoids.

Yes, I got to thinking more about this and whether his legal counsel recommended this path.

33 minutes ago, Golf2Much said:

Let me offer a little different twist on this.  By Na resigning before the LIV event the PGA Tour shouldn't have any grounds to take action against him for playing because he's not an official member.  So, if the LIV fails or Na becomes disenchanted with league (or the politics associated with it), since he wasn't officially sanctioned it theoretically should be easier for him to seek reinstatement to the Tour.  

Yup, that may be the strategy.

[Shapotomous]

25 minutes ago, fixyurdivot said:

Yes, I got to thinking more about this and whether his legal counsel recommended this path.

Yup, that may be the strategy.

I have to believe the business advisors for these guys are working every angle from a legal standpoint since as the player loses sponsors the business managers lose their percentage as well.  

[DiscipleofPenick]

Na seemed like a pretty stand-up guy, but I feel like he falls into that group with the Euro guys joining. He's still good but getting older, probably won't win on the PGA and just wants the payday. I think it's justifiable in his position. I think the money issue is a lot less of it wasn't the Saudis though.

[PMookie]

No Ryder Cup for Na now.

[GolfSpy_APH]

22 minutes ago, PMookie said:

No Ryder Cup for Na now.

Do you think he had Ryder Cup potential?

Given the depth of the US team i don't know if he had any chance even if he stayed.

Or was he on assistant side of things?

[DaveP043]

To me, Na is doing this the right way.  He's acknowledging that he's signed a contract with the PGA Tour, and that the Tour has a contractual right to discipline him if he plays conflicting events without Tour clearance.  So rather than break the terms of his contract and then fight the discipline, he's terminating his contract.  Of course he's doing this with legal advice, and he's doing what the believes is best for himself, but he's not picking a fight with the Tour.  To me the source of the LIV Tour's money is a separate issue

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

These guys have top tier lawyers I’m sure looking into every nook and cranny of their contracts. I’m a free with @DaveP043this is the way to go about it, removes any issues with the tour now and in the future. Does he continue to walk in putts?!?!

[DaveP043]

21 minutes ago, Lacassem said:

These guys have top tier lawyers I’m sure looking into every nook and cranny of their contracts. I’m a free with @DaveP043this is the way to go about it, removes any issues with the tour now and in the future. Does he continue to walk in putts?!?!

Some things will never change!

It wouldn't surprise me if Na's attorney reviewed the contract, and told Na that he WAS bound by the terms, that there was little or no basis for contesting the terms, and that he was likely to lose in court if he tried to contest the contract terms.  Sure, the attorney would make a boatloads more money by taking the issue to trial, but that route might not be the best way for NA to proceed.

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

Just now, DaveP043 said:

Some things will never change!

It wouldn't surprise me if Na's attorney reviewed the contract, and told Na that he WAS bound by the terms, that there was little or no basis for contesting the terms, and that he was likely to lose in court if he tried to contest the contract terms.  Sure, the attorney would make a boatloads more money by taking the issue to trial, but that route might not be the best way for NA to proceed.

100%

[tommc23]

6 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

I wonder if he knows what Penalties are coming and just not wanting to even both with it. He can now give LIV his whole focus and majors. 

I also partly wonder if part of suspensions will include fines which by leaving he avoids.

I think @DaveP043 hit the nail on the head better than I could have worded it 

[bens197]

So the Tour loses one of the most boring and slowest players in competition.  K, bye.

 

[GolfSpy_APH]

36 minutes ago, bens197 said:

So the Tour loses one of the most boring and slowest players in competition.  K, bye.

 

You may be on to something here. This could be where the tour sends it's slowest players. It's a smaller field and no cut 54 holes so could be perfect  for slow players.

Helps pick the speed up for the tour and Liv will get it's players.

[MattWillGolf]

5 hours ago, DiscipleofPenick said:

Na seemed like a pretty stand-up guy, but I feel like he falls into that group with the Euro guys joining. He's still good but getting older, probably won't win on the PGA and just wants the payday. I think it's justifiable in his position. I think the money issue is a lot less of it wasn't the Saudis though.

I wish I voiced it this eloquently on Instagram but this was the general idea I wanted to express and got roasted. (I wonder if they were Kevin’s family. ) He is joining a tour with 54 hole no cut tournaments and guaranteed payouts. The competition will surely be lesser and has a chance for higher earnings. So I felt this was an easier way for him to go.

[RickyBobby_PR]

50 minutes ago, bens197 said:

So the Tour loses one of the most boring and slowest players in competition.  K, bye.

 

5 wins in nearly 500 starts. Basically a 37 year old journeyman. Like many of the names on the list for the first even him not playing the pga tour doesn’t hurt anyone. The bonus of less slow play is a win for the fans.

As far as him quitting, he lost the game of chicken

[bens197]

18 minutes ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

5 wins in nearly 500 starts. Basically a 37 year old journeyman. Like many of the names on the list for the first even him not playing the pga tour doesn’t hurt anyone. The bonus of less slow play is a win for the fans.

As far as him quitting, he lost the game of chicken

100% agree.

 

33 minutes ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

You may be on to something here. This could be where the tour sends it's slowest players. It's a smaller field and no cut 54 holes so could be perfect  for slow players.

Helps pick the speed up for the tour and Liv will get it's players.

I see this as a convenient solution to another problem…as you mention…

If I am a KF player, I see some of these older guys leaving as a huge opportunity for play.

[RickyBobby_PR]

1 hour ago, bens197 said:

100% agree.

 

I see this as a convenient solution to another problem…as you mention…

If I am a KF player, I see some of these older guys leaving as a huge opportunity for play.

I think it definitely opens a door for them. Makes getting into events easier based on current seeding, guys outside the top 125 and in that 125-150 range should get more chances 

[MattWillGolf]

[PMookie]

12 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Do you think he had Ryder Cup potential?

Given the depth of the US team i don't know if he had any chance even if he stayed.

Or was he on assistant side of things?

His name came-up last time around due to some success in match-play, but not really sure he was going to be on a team, but this guarantees his name doesn’t even get brought-up 

[chisag]

9 hours ago, bens197 said:

So the Tour loses one of the most boring and slowest players in competition.  K, bye.

 

 

... From the outside looking in, Na has never cared about his fellow competitors. Slow play with zero concern how it effects others play and that lecturing DJ was just so unprofessional. Do it on the next tee when the cameras weren't on them. I'm with you. bye. 

[berkeleybob]

Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Kevin Na … I’m a very casual fan when it comes to watching professional golf, but I think I’m to see a pattern here. Are there any players joining the LIV tour that can be considered fan favorites?

[cnosil]

7 hours ago, berkeleybob said:

Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Kevin Na … I’m a very casual fan when it comes to watching professional golf, but I think I’m to see a pattern here. Are there any players joining the LIV tour that can be considered fan favorites?

I guess it depends on what you call a fan favorites.  Most “fan favorites” are the players in their prime and playing well; basically the big names in golf that a casual or non golfer might know.  Players like Westwood, McDowell, and Oosthuizen are beyond their peak but still garner attention when playing well.   There are a couple of up and comers like Gooch and Swafford but they won’t put people in the seats of any event but we’re starting to establish themselves.   Most of the people on this board are US based so we don’t necessarily know all the names on the DP Tour that you might know better being in Europe.    

[BIG STU]

On 6/5/2022 at 9:12 AM, Shapotomous said:

I have to believe the business advisors for these guys are working every angle from a legal standpoint since as the player loses sponsors the business managers lose their percentage as well.  

I have said this all along--- All of the lawyers for all parties have been circling the wagons in full CYA mode since this started

[BIG STU]

On 6/5/2022 at 8:10 AM, Golf2Much said:

Let me offer a little different twist on this.  By Na resigning before the LIV event the PGA Tour shouldn't have any grounds to take action against him for playing because he's not an official member.  So, if the LIV fails or Na becomes disenchanted with league (or the politics associated with it), since he wasn't officially sanctioned it theoretically should be easier for him to seek reinstatement to the Tour.  

Now I am going to throw another Monkey Wrench into this scenerio---- With him resigning and no longer being a member if he wanted to come back then would he not have to go back to the Korn Ferry or requalify in some prescribed manner as if he had never been a member??

[MyWifesSwingCoach]

12 minutes ago, BIG STU said:

Now I am going to throw another Monkey Wrench into this scenerio---- With him resigning and no longer being a member if he wanted to come back then would he not have to go back to the Korn Ferry or requalify in some prescribed manner as if he had never been a member??

He probably figures that would be easier than trying to get back in after whatever discipline/punishment would come his way had he not resigned.