LIV From Saudi Arabia, It's a New Golf Tour

I never thought there'd be a day where there was not only a golf controversy, but one I was interested in, yet here we are!  Because all of this stuff with the LIV Tour is just wild!  I even found myself trying to explain it to someone else, even though, I'll admit, there's still a lot of stuff that I don't understand!

The basic details seem simple enough.  This new breakaway tour is funded by the deep-pocketed Saudi government and actively recruited players, successfully convincing a number of high-profile names to come over.  Whether it's because they liked the format (54-hole events, no cuts, a team element), were unhappy with the PGA Tour, and/or were simply lured away by the money doesn't even really matter.  The point is the LIV Tour was successful in gaining enough top-tier players to make their events worthwhile.

Not surprisingly, the PGA is none too pleased about any of this.  In fact, the PGA has suspended all 17 players who participated in this week's inaugural LIV event and promised that any others who take part in a future LIV event will be suspended, as well.  They're even going so far as to remove them from the FedEx Cup rankings, which also means they won't be able to play in the President's Cup.  In response, many of them have resigned their membership in the PGA and turned in their Tour cards.

Their status for the Majors is unchanged, however.  The US Open is, by definition, "open," meaning anyone who qualifies is allowed to play.  The PGA doesn't run the British Open, so they have no control over who can play in that.  And the Masters does its own thing.  The only one they could conceivably prevent the LIV players from entering is the PGA Championship, although several of the LIV players are Major champions, which gives them an exemption into the other Majors, including the PGA Championship.

So, the Majors, for the most part, will be unaffected.  And the players who've joined the LIV Tour, most notably Dustin Johnson, have said they still plan on playing the Majors.  The only difference is that, instead of playing in PGA tournaments every week, they'll be playing in LIV Tour events instead.

It seems likely that there will be some sort of legal action regarding these players' PGA Tour suspensions.  In their eyes, they're independent contractors, free to play whenever and wherever they want.  In the PGA's eyes, being a card-carrying member of the PGA means you're essentially signing a non-compete clause and agreeing to participate in only PGA-sanction events.

Frankly, I see both sides' point.  Which is why I'm very interested to see, if this does end up in court, how the litigation plays out.  Because the PGA does seem to be well within its rights to suspend them.  But, with those who've resigned from the PGA to join the LIV Tour, there isn't really anything they can do.

All week, I've been making the comparison between this and tennis.  It's the best parallel I could think of.  Imagine if there was a rival tour and Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, the Williams sisters, etc., decided they were fed up with the ATP and WTA, so they went to play on that tour instead.  How would the ATP and WTA respond?  Probably the same way.  More importantly, though, would they be welcomed back if/when the rival tour failed?

That's the biggest question I have regarding the LIV defectors.  The Saudis have plenty of money, so I'm sure they'll be able to fund this thing for a while, but what happens when to those players when they inevitably get bored or the funding dries up?  Their only option would be to go back to the PGA, assuming that bridge isn't completely burned.

Each of them had their reasons for joining the LIV Tour, but, if it were me, I would've been hesitant.  For that reason.  They all made an incredibly risky decision to jump right into this thing feet first.  There's no guarantee the LIV Tour will last.  If, a few years from now, it's clear the LIV Tour isn't going anywhere, that's a completely different decision.  But right now, it's a massive risk.

Especially when you consider the fact that these players are losing sponsors to play on the breakaway circuit.  I'm sure there was some pressure applied by the PGA that resulted in these sponsors choosing to cut ties with the players, but, whatever the reason, that's what they did.  So, add that to the financial implications of their decision. 

Sure, the prize money on the LIV Tour is lucrative (and, while not being publicized, I'm sure they're offering signing bonuses for coming over, too).  But, as has been pointed out by many of the critics, that money is coming from the government of a country with a very poor human rights record (and where it was illegal for women to go out alone at night until just a couple years ago).  And, by taking that money when you know where it's coming from, you're indirectly condoning it (whether you intend to or not). 

If it's all about the money, that's fine.  Just say that then!  Because Phil Mickelson has looked ridiculous tripping over himself trying to not answer those uncomfortable questions.  Saying that you're just doing it for the money, though, is something that most reasonable people would understand, even if they didn't necessarily agree with it.  And frankly, which is worse, looking greedy or looking like you support human rights violations?

And what about TV coverage?  Who's actually going to broadcast LIV tournaments?  The PGA has contracts with virtually every network.  And you can bet CBS, NBC/Golf Channel and ABC/ESPN aren't gonna risk their relationship with the PGA by showing LIV events, too.  Who's left then?  Pretty much just FOX and Turner.  Would either have any interest at all?

Granted, the LIV Tour wasn't launched with TV in mind.  But what was the purpose of starting it then?  That's the part I understand the least.  If there were more players that the PGA could accomodate or they were getting shut out in some way, it might make a little bit of sense to me, but that's not the case.  Was anybody, in the golf world or outside, clamoring for an alternative to the PGA?  Or did the Saudis just have money to burn and decide they wanted to start a rival golf tour?

Who's to know what's ultimately gonna come out of the LIV Tour?  Maybe it'll last and players will have a choice as to which tour they want to join.  Or maybe it'll be a failure and these guys will be left out on in the cold.  That's why all of this is so fascinating!  Because nobody knows how this will all play out!  All we do know is that, right now, this whole thing is a mess!  A wonderful, delicious mess!