THere’s a key issue with the distribution of the $4million (£3.2million) first prize in a shotgun-started tournament. Whether the winning putt at Centurion Club on Saturday will be holed on the 1st, 7th, 13th or some other green is unknown. Maybe the traditional stroke play format as used on mainstream tours is boring for some, but at least people know where to be for the breakup.
If that were the only potentially chaotic element of the LIV Golf Series, which debuts in Hertfordshire on Thursday, Greg Norman would have no cause for concern. Instead, confirmation that Graeme McDowell and Dustin Johnson would attend the $25 million event sparked the kind of backlash that was inevitable given the bottomless funding from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. The Royal Bank of Canada ended sponsorship of both players. Golf, once such a secure domain for the corporate classes, now carries an element of risk like never before.
A number of players have been protected by the focus on Phil Mickelson – whose affairs with the Saudis are the stuff of dubious legends – and later on Johnson, but when they serve in the coming days their role in a sports washing exercise will be abundantly clear.
This cannot be described in any other terms: there is no commercial point in handing out wild cash to those who are either delaying time until the Seniors Tour, would not make a splash on any main street in Britain or, in Johnson’s case, their PGA Tour The game’s revenue of around $72 million has set its reputation on fire with such a grotesque display of greed.
Golfers are willing pawns in the Saudi rebranding game, which is bad for the sport’s reputation.
It will be exciting to see what LIV can deliver. The fact that it even hosts a tournament confuses many skeptics. There are no world ranking points available, unhelpful ticket prices and no mainstream TV network to offer coverage.
The competition lasts 54 holes and has a Pro-Am event. In short, it’s not exactly marching towards a sporting revolution. For every Johnson, McDowell, Lee Westwood or Sergio García there is a Blake Windred, Hudson Swafford or Jediah Morgan.
Australian Matt Jones, who has over $17 million in career earnings, explained his commitment as follows: “Very busy with my family, being able to provide for them. For me it was a purely business decision. I am very happy with the decision I made.”
And here’s the rub: The world doesn’t know or care nearly enough about Jones to criticize the 42-year-old for doing so.
Last place in the 48-man field is worth $120,000. A team element carries a $5 million prize. Players have been informed that a Tuesday night draft party will be a “casual red carpet event with a touch of LIV boldness.” In contrast, there is no prize money for last place in a PGA Tour event and the next tournament on the calendar, the Canadian Open, offers $1.5 million to the winner. The mind confused.
Matt Jones described the participation as purely a business decision. Photo: Tony Gutierrez/`
Mickelson’s involvement has not been confirmed but there are suggestions that could change early next week. When he arrives in the UK, his first public statements since retiring from the public eye in February will be widely awaited. Does Mickelson owe it to Norman and his Saudi cronies for drawing this attention?
The reaction of the existing ecosystem will be more interesting than the Centurion game. Players do not violate PGA or DP World Tour regulations until they fire a shot in the LIV tournament. These players will inevitably try to argue – through lawyers – that they are independent contractors and free to perform wherever they please.
If the LIV series thrives, or even continues, those who preside over the major championships and Ryder Cup eligibility will inevitably have to take a stand. The scope for severe player penalties is alive and well defendable on the basis of the Saudi connection, but high offices must be careful not to lose moral superiority through dictatorial behavior. At a grassroots level, this is a threat to two tours working in partnership.
If Norman has his way, outside players get so jealous of the checks given to those who have even a fraction of their talent to want to commit. LIV’s problem, for now, is that Johnson is the clear exception, being at least near the top of his sport and tempted by dollars.
“I don’t think I’m at a point at this point in my career where I can risk things like that,” said Bryson DeChambeau. “I am loyal to my family that I have built with sponsors and everything around me.
“And the world of golf will probably change in some ways. I don’t know what it’s like, it’s not my job. I will just continue to play professional golf and enjoy playing with the best players in the world wherever it takes me.”
DeChambeau’s opinion illustrates what LIV is struggling with. That, plus the widespread feeling that its offering has very little competitive validity. This is sport, only in too vulgar a form than we should expect.
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