Liv Golf Central Thread: Events and News

[fixyurdivot]

31 minutes ago, MGoBlue100 said:

Watching the coverage, which is non-stop and shows almost all the players is pretty cool. Completely different than any PGA Tour or major tournament coverage.  I know it probably won’t always be like this once they franchise & sell the teams, but it’s an awesome way to watch golf right now. Also have a good individual and team competition happening right now.  I like JT Poston, but I can watch that finish tomorrow if I wish. 
 

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing... enjoy the "free ride" while it lasts.  If they really want to win fans, keep it free streaming 

[Bang60]

29 minutes ago, fixyurdivot said:

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing... enjoy the "free ride" while it lasts.  If they really want to win fans, keep it free streaming 

Yeah I hope you’re right but it’s a business and sooner than you/I want they will want a return on investment, I’m ok with that but enjoying it while it last lol plus I’m not really interested in watching the total coverage as I’m bored after 2 hours…

[fixyurdivot]

Well, I'm giving the event and coverage a solid 8.5/10. It went off way better than I expected it too.  The quality of play and battle down the the stretch was very good. I liked the booth and on-course commentators - it felt real and unrehearsed. The quality of the course coverage is the portion that surprised me most.  I was expecting this part to be a bit less refined but it was as good as most tour events (Masters aside).

Brendan Grace just earned, in 3 days, 20% of his career earnings over a 15 year campaign, and Carlos Ortiz 25% of his total over a 9 year tenure on the PGA Tour. Heck, even Jediah Morgan's last place finish (+21) will be able to pay some bills with his $120,000 check.

This is going to capture the attention of lots of players across all the other tours.  I suspect a good many sitting on the fence will fall into LIV's pasture. Not so sure how many more top 50 players go, but it would not surprise me that a handful of the middle of the pack take the bait before the Bedminster event.

Like it or not, LIV is indeed moving forward and creating a new era in professional golf.

[CarlH]

I don't buy that the reduced schedule and relaxed format is the driving momentum for the players....it's the guaranteed money regardless of how poorly you play (Perez!).  At some point, the tour will have to generate some income to continue the payouts...unless the Saudis continue to finance it endlessly.  

I watched a bit of it yesterday and it seemed more like a golf exhibition--or a club tournament with higher level players.  I liked the commentators and their take on the play, but I found the team portion scoring a bit confusing as I never saw the actual team scores, only heard the scores by the commentators.  Not sure how much of it I will watch in the future.  Time will tell, I guess.

[Middler]

1 hour ago, CarlH said:

I don't buy that the reduced schedule and relaxed format is the driving momentum for the players....it's the guaranteed money regardless of how poorly you play (Perez!).  At some point, the tour will have to generate some income to continue the payouts...unless the Saudis continue to finance it endlessly.  

Late to the party?

Anyone who suggests defecting to LIV isn’t about the money first and foremost is kidding themselves, though the LIV players are obligated to give any other PR happy talk reasons to deflect.

The Saudis are behind LIV to distract from/improve their image in the world, not to make money. If that doesn’t happen and/or when oil prices fall again (not anytime soon evidently) - they might reconsider. Showing how many westerners only care about money above all else is a side benefit. Obnoxious greed - the jokes on Phil, and he doesn’t care.

I’ve watched a grand total of about 5 minutes between the first two events. I hate this development and comment less and less, but it’s like looking away from a train wreck, hard to do 100%. I’m no longer confident in how this will play out with LIV and the PGA, but I am sure it’ll take years…so daily/weekly debates seem pointless. We all know what the major inflection points will be, the rest is noise. We might have a slow drip of defections for quite a while, Casey won’t be the last…lots of past their prime, injury prone and/or up and coming PGA players who may sell out.

[fixyurdivot]

32 minutes ago, CarlH said:

I don't buy that the reduced schedule and relaxed format is the driving momentum for the players....it's the guaranteed money regardless of how poorly you play (Perez!).  At some point, the tour will have to generate some income to continue the payouts...unless the Saudis continue to finance it endlessly.  

I watched a bit of it yesterday and it seemed more like a golf exhibition--or a club tournament with higher level players.  I liked the commentators and their take on the play, but I found the team portion scoring a bit confusing as I never saw the actual team scores, only heard the scores by the commentators.  Not sure how much of it I will watch in the future.  Time will tell, I guess.

Oh for sure, it's largely about the money but I do think the format change is appealing as well.  Speaking of Perez, he bagged $750,000 for being part of Team Aces win, and that's in addition to his T29 $153,000.  Mrs. Perez is liking the new tour  .

[MacTourney]

3 hours ago, fixyurdivot said:

Oh for sure, it's largely about the money but I do think the format change is appealing as well.  Speaking of Perez, he bagged $750,000 for being part of Team Aces win, and that's in addition to his T29 $153,000.  Mrs. Perez is liking the new tour  .

If I made that much cash the first thing I would do is start ordering an extra slice of cheese on my whopper.

[GaDawg]

On 7/2/2022 at 6:36 PM, MGoBlue100 said:

It’s a brilliant strategy. I’ve heard the agents are lobbying their clients very hard as well. More money = more commission. 

If Freddie Freeman's past agent represents any golfers, they may want to fire him quickly.

[GaDawg]

10 hours ago, Middler said:

Late to the party?

Anyone who suggests defecting to LIV isn’t about the money first and foremost is kidding themselves, though the LIV players are obligated to give any other PR happy talk reasons to deflect.

The Saudis are behind LIV to distract from/improve their image in the world, not to make money. If that doesn’t happen and/or when oil prices fall again (not anytime soon evidently) - they might reconsider. Showing how many westerners only care about money above all else is a side benefit. Obnoxious greed - the jokes on Phil, and he doesn’t care.

I’ve watched a grand total of about 5 minutes between the first two events. I hate this development and comment less and less, but it’s like looking away from a train wreck, hard to do 100%. I’m no longer confident in how this will play out with LIV and the PGA, but I am sure it’ll take years…so daily/weekly debates seem pointless. We all know what the major inflection points will be, the rest is noise. We might have a slow drip of defections for quite a while, Casey won’t be the last…lots of past their prime, injury prone and/or up and coming PGA players who may sell out.

I am just hoping if more Americans keep joining the LIV tour, the Saudis will start sending us some oil. Lord knows the US needs some help.

[chisag]

3 hours ago, GaDawg said:

I am just hoping if more Americans keep joining the LIV tour, the Saudis will start sending us some oil. Lord knows the US needs some help.

 

... You don't need any gas for your ZIP. Maybe it's time for an electric Ford Lightening 150. 


https://www.ford.com/trucks/f150/f150-lightning/

[fixyurdivot]

7 hours ago, chisag said:

 

... You don't need any gas for your ZIP. Maybe it's time for an electric Ford Lightening 150. 


https://www.ford.com/trucks/f150/f150-lightning/

Pretty impressive HP and torque specs but I'd need/want at least twice that range or a hybrid for my (current) zip. 

[bens197]

Today, I had a delicious meatball sub for lunch.  The meatballs were homemade and the sauce was from tomatoes in my garden.

I haven't played a Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup but I can't imagine there's a whole hell of a lot of difference.

[fixyurdivot]

So what I want to know is how these guys are spending all this new free time they have?  23 days until the next event.  Maybe they'll start doing some of those "hanging with so and so" YT videos... of Pat Perez wearing the "pooch pouch" and carrying an arm load of Ashley's Gucci shopping bags .

Any of our NJ region spies planning to check this out first hand?

Bedminster | LIV Golf

[fixyurdivot]

@@@Breaking News@@@

Ian Poulter allowed to play Scottish Open after ban lifted - BBC Sport

[Birdieputt13]

None of the participants who played in the first LIV tournament were "banned" from the U.S. Open, if they had previously qualified to play at Brookline. The same will hold true for the Open Championship at St. Andrews according to the R & A. The last post indicated that Ian Poulter will be allowed to play in the Scottish Open.

My guess, and I'm not an attorney, is that no one will be actually "banned" from playing in any tournament that they have qualified for. As soon as that happens, I suspect Greg Norman and his entourage of lawyers will file multiple lawsuits against whichever tour implemented the "ban". The PGA and WP World Tours are smart enough to know that. 

I still don't think the LIV tour, despite it's huge purses, is a bona fide threat to either the PGA Tour or the DP World Tour in the long run.  Just my two cents.

[cnosil]

7 minutes ago, Birdieputt13 said:

 

My guess, and I'm not an attorney, is that no one will be actually "banned" from playing in any tournament that they have qualified for. As soon as that happens, I suspect Greg Norman and his entourage of lawyers will file multiple lawsuits against whichever tour implemented the "ban". The PGA and WP World Tours are smart enough to know that. 

 

LIV Players were banned from playing in the Scottish open and 3 apparently won a challenge to play in the event.  

https://www.bunkered.co.uk/golf-news/liv-rebels-win-legal-challenge-to-play-scottish-open

Patrick Reed has been removed as an entrant by the DP tour. 

https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/golf/patrick-reed-is-withdrawn-from-scottish-open-by-dp-world-tour-3754839

[GolfSpy_BNG]

22 minutes ago, Birdieputt13 said:

None of the participants who played in the first LIV tournament were "banned" from the U.S. Open, if they had previously qualified to play at Brookline. The same will hold true for the Open Championship at St. Andrews according to the R & A. The last post indicated that Ian Poulter will be allowed to play in the Scottish Open.

My guess, and I'm not an attorney, is that no one will be actually "banned" from playing in any tournament that they have qualified for. As soon as that happens, I suspect Greg Norman and his entourage of lawyers will file multiple lawsuits against whichever tour implemented the "ban". The PGA and WP World Tours are smart enough to know that. 

I still don't think the LIV tour, despite it's huge purses, is a bona fide threat to either the PGA Tour or the DP World Tour in the long run.  Just my two cents.

 

13 minutes ago, cnosil said:

LIV Players were banned from playing in the Scottish open and 3 apparently won a challenge to play in the event.  

https://www.bunkered.co.uk/golf-news/liv-rebels-win-legal-challenge-to-play-scottish-open

Patrick Reed has been removed as an entrant by the DP tour. 

https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/golf/patrick-reed-is-withdrawn-from-scottish-open-by-dp-world-tour-3754839

They have been granted a temporary stay on appeal. I’m assuming that means once their appeal is heard they will either be banned or back on tour. This seems similar to other athletes being able to play until their appeal is heard. I’m guessing this process last until at least the end of the FedEx or Race to Dubai but who knows

[RickyBobby_PR]

1 hour ago, Birdieputt13 said:

None of the participants who played in the first LIV tournament were "banned" from the U.S. Open, if they had previously qualified to play at Brookline. The same will hold true for the Open Championship at St. Andrews according to the R & A. The last post indicated that Ian Poulter will be allowed to play in the Scottish Open.

My guess, and I'm not an attorney, is that no one will be actually "banned" from playing in any tournament that they have qualified for. As soon as that happens, I suspect Greg Norman and his entourage of lawyers will file multiple lawsuits against whichever tour implemented the "ban". The PGA and WP World Tours are smart enough to know that. 

I still don't think the LIV tour, despite it's huge purses, is a bona fide threat to either the PGA Tour or the DP World Tour in the long run.  Just my two cents.

They’ve been suspended by the pga tour so they are technically banned from any pga tour event they are qualified for and also the Ryder cup. 
 

US Open run by USGA not PGA tour

The Open run by R&A not PGA tour

PGA Championship run by PGA org not PGA tour

Masters run by Augusta not PGA tour

 

[GolfSpy_BNG]

My question is why was Wilco Nienaber apparently granted an exemption from the DP Tour to go to Portland to be an alternate for the LIV event?  I don’t know the whole story and honestly haven’t looked into it much but that seems strange for him to get one but the other guys are suspended/banned.  

[gavinski91]

19 hours ago, fixyurdivot said:

So what I want to know is how these guys are spending all this new free time they have?  23 days until the next event.  Maybe they'll start doing some of those "hanging with so and so" YT videos... of Pat Perez wearing the "pooch pouch" and carrying an arm load of Ashley's Gucci shopping bags .

Any of our NJ region spies planning to check this out first hand?

Bedminster | LIV Golf

I imagine some of them will be able to work on their personal branding stuff more. I saw that Bryson had his entire content team following him around during the tournament in Portland, something that the PGA never let him do, so I imagine he'll be releasing a YouTube video at some point that goes behind-the-ropes with him.

[cnosil]

1 hour ago, gavinski91 said:

I imagine some of them will be able to work on their personal branding stuff more. I saw that Bryson had his entire content team following him around during the tournament in Portland, something that the PGA never let him do, so I imagine he'll be releasing a YouTube video at some point that goes behind-the-ropes with him.

I would agree, at the PGA events, the tour owned all footage.

[chisag]

19 hours ago, cnosil said:

LIV Players were banned from playing in the Scottish open and 3 apparently won a challenge to play in the event.  

 

... Pretty arrogant and a little surprising. When, according to most reports, the other players don't want them there and the tournament doesn't want them there and the DP Tour doesn't want them there and you have sold your soul for money elsewhere so not in need of a payday and the very reason they joined the Mutineer Tour ... why would they want to be there? 

[Thin2win]

3 hours ago, chisag said:

 

... Pretty arrogant and a little surprising. When, according to most reports, the other players don't want them there and the tournament doesn't want them there and the DP Tour doesn't want them there and you have sold your soul for money elsewhere so not in need of a payday and the very reason they joined the Mutineer Tour ... why would they want to be there? 

Maybe because they like the event,  it's good practice for the British open,  and they don't have an event this week?

[fixyurdivot]

3 hours ago, chisag said:

 

... Pretty arrogant and a little surprising. When, according to most reports, the other players don't want them there and the tournament doesn't want them there and the DP Tour doesn't want them there and you have sold your soul for money elsewhere so not in need of a payday and the very reason they joined the Mutineer Tour ... why would they want to be there? 

Not surprising really.  Poulter stated early on that he would pursue legal action against the tours.  He clearly disagrees with PGA and DP Tour on this matter.  As for why he and some of the others would want to be at the Scottish Open, I can only surmise it is because they feel they have earned the right to participate (just like the US Open and The Open events) and feel the sanctions/fines are unjustified.  The question is how many of his Ferrari's might the court wrangling cost him?  And, there is also a possibility that the source of money also is used to assist the legal efforts (maybe as a class action?)  An early win for one player will set strong precedence for the balance of individual suits.  I think we'd be naïve not to think LIV will go to great lengths to win what is now, clearly, a war in professional tour golf. 

[chisag]

1 hour ago, Thin2win said:

Maybe because they like the event,  it's good practice for the British open,  and they don't have an event this week?

 

... Of course but it doesn't change the arrogance of desiring to be somewhere you are obviously not wanted. I think G McDowell summed it up well claiming he is not political and just playing for the money and then was surprised by all the negative feedback, evidently from those with mothers, sisters, wives and gay family members who find sports washing repugnant. But at least he stated he doesn't want to be at the Scottish Open if he isn't welcome and did not take part in the law suit. As an actor I did not take 25k buyout for a cigarette ad in Europe 30 years ago and I certainly could have used the money back then. 

... We are very far into this thread and I can't imagine it won't get worse with the next tournaments location increasing moral outrage. There are those looking at liv as just about money and those looking at liv as a moral indignation as well as some that don't care about anything other than the quality of the golf and I have to think everyone has already drawn their line in the sand and nothing any of the sides says will change anyones mind. I have stated many times I am a life long hippie from the 70's when all we wanted was to make the world a better place. Older and wiser now, I realize how naive we were, especially when the greed of the 80's and moving forward wiped away almost everything we fought for. Others will certainly disagree and that of course is the beauty of a free society and I completely respect their right to their opinions as vehemently as I disagree with their positions. I think most of us post for others of a like mind, not to change anyones opposing opinions. 

[fixyurdivot]

It would be great if we could move this thread towards discussing the "happenings" associated with the LIV events and players as opposed to hearing folks repeat the same politically slanted personal beefs... repeatedly.  I find the whole damn thing fascinating and am interested to see how it all shakes out.

This is a golf forum and, like it or not, LIV is a current tour. If you don't care to follow it other than to tear at its political aspects, then please state your position (if you haven't already) and move on.  But if all we're going to hear is personal, politically slanted beefs, not much value and not in step with forum thread guidelines. 

[tommc23]

44 minutes ago, fixyurdivot said:

It would be great if we could move this thread towards discussing the "happenings" associated with the LIV events and players as opposed to hearing folks repeat the same politically slanted personal beefs... repeatedly.

I kept the part I liked the most out of your post. I absolutely ignore this thread because of the reasons you stated!!!!

[fixyurdivot]

The instructions seem pretty clear.  So if some cannot stay clear of the politics, then it cannot be a topic of discussion and must be shutdown?  Wow, that's an interesting approach - and quite frankly counter to the manner in which this forum has managed itself in the years I've been a member.

There is plenty to discuss about LIV without bringing politics and ones personal griefs into play - repeatedly.  But, if the decision to let some wreck it for all, so be it.

[Middler]

14 hours ago, chisag said:

 

... Pretty arrogant and a little surprising. When, according to most reports, the other players don't want them there and the tournament doesn't want them there and the DP Tour doesn't want them there and you have sold your soul for money elsewhere so not in need of a payday and the very reason they joined the Mutineer Tour ... why would they want to be there? 

I assumed you were paraphrasing Billy Horschel, since that’s almost exactly what he said at the presser yesterday.

 

[Headhammer]

One of the LIV golfers is going to have to win a non-LIV event, they've either qualified for or forced their way into, for their tour to be taken seriously. Otherwise, the rhetoric will continue to be that these guys are a bunch of has beens. If a LIV golfer wins The Open the golf world's collective mind will explode and dammit I'm here for it.