Liv Golf Central Thread: Events and News

[PeterHenric]

In all honesty, DJ is the only guy on the tour that I would be interested in watching. Couldn’t care less about the other guys.

[PeterHenric]

30 minutes ago, TBS said:

For $9,320 you can get all access including being able to walk inside the ropes with players/caddie.  I'm not joking - 

https://tickets.livgolf.com/2022-new-jersey/club-54-premium-2-day

 

I'm sad that the Club 54 package at Jeddah doesn't include alcohol... But it is much cheaper than Bedminister. Only $5,900

https://tickets.livgolf.com/2022-jeddah/club-54-2-day

I have only been to a couple events live and I was honestly disappointed. You had to stand so far away from the guys, you couldn’t hear what they were saying or really appreciate the shots because you weren’t close enough to see it all happen. It would be awesome to be able to walk behind them and hear them talk and stuff.

[Middler]

On 5/26/2022 at 3:35 PM, DaveP043 said:

Thanks, I did find an article about it.  Its an interesting problem, the course owners have signed a contract, and there could be significant financial repercussions if they choose to back out.  There could also be repercussions if members leave the club in protest.  None of us know the "balance of power" between owners and members there, but its possible that the only leverage that the members have is to quit.  I don't know if that's likely, not understanding the availability of good golf in that area.  Time will tell, but I'll be a little surprised (not astounded, just a little surprised) if the club indeed backs out.

Evidently the owners signed a contract with LIV without even telling members, much less get their views. Plus "Eleven local mayors signed a letter opposing LIV Golf Invitational Series coming to Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club on June 30-July 2." And "Despite pushback from local mayors, a U.S. senator and golf club members — several of whom have resigned from the club..." so there have been member resignations already.

Needless to say, there are ZERO corporate sponsors. Getting members to "volunteer" to work the tournament should be a hoot, and evidently there are job postings online for the event. I am hoping the event is a total flop, even though everyone gets paid.

Quote

Escalante Golf, which owns and operates Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club outside of Portland, “cut a lucrative back-room deal with a controversial Saudi-funded golf tour” and it did so “without consulting club members or its advisory board,” according to sports reporter John Canzano. Escalante “took the money and signed on to host” an LIV Golf Invitational Series event on July 1-3 at Pumpkin Ridge, but a long line of members at the club “aren’t happy.” One member said, “I don’t know any member who thinks this is good for the club.” Pumpkin Ridge “informed members” about the LIV event on March 16 via email. The “ham-handed announcement described the golf event as ‘unique and unprecedented.’” It also informed members that the course “would be shutting down for eight days in the heart of prime golf season” in order to “make course improvements.” Pumpkin Ridge is not the only course owned by Escalante that “committed to the LIV Golf Invitational Series” as The International Golf Club near Boston “will host the same series” Sept. 2-4. There are "growing concerns about course security and potential protesting." Community leaders also have "discussed how to deal with what will certainly be a tumultuous and emotional weekend" at Pumpkin Ridge.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2022/03/31/Events-and-Attractions/Pumpkin-Ridge.aspx

https://www.kgw.com/article/news/investigations/controversial-saudi-backed-golf-tournament-oregon/283-b89b7c54-1dd3-4288-8b34-f8c49208047e

[MGoBlue100]

3 hours ago, Lacassem said:

That’s how I’m looking at it to, PGA Tour’s bluff has been called

Time for the attorneys to get rich...  

[MGoBlue100]

1 hour ago, TBS said:

Yeah I think so, but know that they don't have to and probably won't make these suspensions public. It will have to come from the players. This is going to end up in court. Allegedly Monahan was in DC a few weeks ago, probably lobbying for some support for updates to anti trust.

If the Tour suspends or bans anyone, you can bet that player (or players) will make it public, as they go to court.  Should be interesting...

[MGoBlue100]

51 minutes ago, LICC said:

Because they really want to play Doral and Trump Bedminster instead?

The Blue Monster is a great course, and Bedminster was going to host the PGA until they decided to pull it for Southern Hills.

[bens197]

1 hour ago, LICC said:

Do you really think DJ moves the needle that much on ratings? I don't.

Interesting you used the Pebble tournament as an example, as that is the one DJ has skipped to play in the Saudi event instead the last few years.

It was Pat Perez’ quote as an example of how sponsors may threaten the Tour if they do not permit certain players to enter. 
 

As far as your initial question?
 

US Open, Masters and 22 other Tour wins.
 

Yeah he moves the needle. 

[LICC]

48 minutes ago, MGoBlue100 said:

The Blue Monster is a great course, and Bedminster was going to host the PGA until they decided to pull it for Southern Hills.

Neither one is a great course.

[DaveP043]

52 minutes ago, MGoBlue100 said:

If the Tour suspends or bans anyone, you can bet that player (or players) will make it public, as they go to court.  Should be interesting...

I'd be interested to hear the arguments from the players.  They've made a contract with the PGA Tour, they've broken that contract, but they don't want to face the discipline for breaking the contract that's spelled out in the contract they've made.  Yes, they are independent to an extent, they're also contractors in that they've agreed to a contract.  Both are important, in my mind.

This is only a guess, but I'd bet that the discipline for a single offense is relatively small, perhaps a short suspension.  I don't think the PGA Tour is likely to go beyond what the contract with the players specifically allows for.

Edited June 1, 2022 by DaveP043

[LICC]

11 minutes ago, bens197 said:

It was Pat Perez’ quote as an example of how sponsors may threaten the Tour if they do not permit certain players to enter. 
 

As far as your initial question?
 

US Open, Masters and 22 other Tour wins.
 

Yeah he moves the needle. 

I didn't ask if he was good golfer. I asked if he moved the needle on ratings. I don't see it. Have ratings been worse in tournaments that he hasn't played? He hasn't done much this year and no one seems to have missed him in the final round telecasts.

And what sponsor would make a stand against the PGA Tour to insist on them allowing a LIV player to not be suspended? No sponsor would have any legal standing to back out, so the most they could do would be to pull back a future sponsorship. Who would do that to insist on Dustin Johnson being in a field?

Pat Perez isn't a strong reference here.

Edited June 1, 2022 by LICC

[LICC]

4 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

I'd be interested to hear the arguments from the players.  They've made a contract with the PGA Tour, they've broken that contract, but they don't want to face the discipline for breaking the contract that's spelled out in the contract they've made.  Yes, they are independent to an extent, they're also contractors in that they've agreed to a contract.  Both are important, in my mind.

This is only a guess, but I'd bet that the discipline for a single offense is relatively small, perhaps a short suspension.  I don't think the PGA Tour is likely to go beyond what the contract with the players specifically allows for.

I agree. It's not like the PGA Tour is trying to enforce a non-compete agreement to sue to stop them from playing in the LIV event. They can make a choice- they are able to play the LIV event but then per their PGA Tour membership agreement they are suspended from some number of PGA Tour events. 

Edited June 1, 2022 by LICC

[Shankster]

This is a pretty sour thread to read.  I’m out.  

[sixcat]

The Roman Numerals LIV is the number 54.

LIV Golf highest end, all inclusive ticket package is called Club 54.

Performance 54 is a Saudi backed organization responsible for some of golfs biggest brands. https://performance54.com/ 

Coincidence? 

[RickyBobby_PR]

10 minutes ago, bens197 said:

It was Pat Perez’ quote as an example of how sponsors may threaten the Tour if they do not permit certain players to enter. 
 

As far as your initial question?
 

US Open, Masters and 22 other Tour wins.
 

Yeah he moves the needle. 

I don’t think DJ moves the needle. He rubs more people the wrong way than he does bringing them in. Most people get on him about his boring interviews, perceived lack of intelligence. 
 

He’s a big name with success but he’s not a needle mover. Not to mention there’s not even a product that is DJ specific to market. 
 

Put him in a threesome with some random names at an event with other big names in it and I bet you his following around the course is smaller than the other big names at the event 

[bens197]

5 minutes ago, Shankster said:

This is a pretty sour thread to read.  I’m out.  

It had potential…I’ll join you. 

[bens197]

2 minutes ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

I don’t think DJ moves the needle. He rubs more people the wrong way than he does bringing them in. Most people get on him about his boring interviews, perceived lack of intelligence. 
 

He’s a big name with success but he’s not a needle mover. Not to mention there’s not even a product that is DJ specific to market. 
 

Put him in a threesome with some random names at an event with other big names in it and I bet you his following around the course is smaller than the other big names at the event 

You may be right. Time will certainly tell. 

[MattWillGolf]

11 minutes ago, LICC said:

I didn't ask if he was good golfer. I asked if he moved the needle on ratings. I don't see it. Have ratings been worse in tournaments that he hasn't played? He hasn't done much this year and no one seems to have missed him in the final round telecasts.

And what sponsor would make a stand against the PGA Tour to insist on them allowing a LIV player to not be suspended? No sponsor would have any legal standing to back out, so the most they could do would be to pull back a future sponsorship. Who would do that to insist on Dustin Johnson being in a field?

Pat Perez isn't a strong reference here.

I agree, DJ isn’t exactly charismatic. The LIV money must be pretty huge. He is missing a tournament of one of his biggest sponsors. A sponsor who made him the centerpiece in their TV commercials.

[MattWillGolf]

Some humor for this topic just because.

[TBS]

11 minutes ago, Shankster said:

This is a pretty sour thread to read.  I’m out.  

Fair point here - to keep this thread positive, what would you like to see in LIV golf? Remove the Saudi aspect, how could a rival tour make pro golf a better product for the viewers?

[ZJBogey2]

PGA doesn't want the competition and to adapt...the conflicting events of the Canadian Open, John Deer, and Rocket Mortgage are not flagship events. This could have been an opportunity for the Tour to experiment with different formats while top players got a significantly higher payday at the LIV events. The other LIV events conflict with the wrap-around season events that most top names don't play in anyways. This could be a win win for golf if we got to see the top players play more often.