A PGA Tour pro has called for players to start receiving contracts after the emergence of the controversial LIV Golf Invitational series.
LIV Golf is Challenging the Status Quo
The emergence of LIV has undoubtedly rocked the status quo. Apart from assembling their legal team, the PGA may need to evolve in other ways to adapt to the changing landscape of professional golf.
From the guaranteed prize money in the 48-man, no-cut, 54 hole events to the lucrative signing bonuses, LIV Golf has captured some of the biggest names in golf, the biggest being six-time major champion Phil Mickelson.
Mickelson, 52, who welcomed legendary on-course announcer David Feherty to LIV from the jungle, is said to have been paid as much as $200 million for his services in what is likely a multi-year deal with the Saudi-backed series.
Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka are all said to have commanded signing-on fees north of $100 million.
In an effort to combat this changing landscape, an anonymous PGA Tour pro thinks players should start getting contracts, according to Golfweek’s Eamon Lynch.
Lynch, one of LIV Golf’s staunchest critics, has absolutely torn Mickelson and the LIV defectors to shreds, accusing them of being puppets for the Saudis.
This player reportedly told Lynch:
“Fans don’t know where PGA Tour stars are going to play week in and week out, sponsors don’t know what they are buying, and ditto for NBC/CBS. If you can create 12-14 ‘big’ events where the stars have to sign up for a majority of them, say 10 of 12 or 12 of 14, plus majors and a couple more then that starts to look more attractive to sponsors, TV and fans. The era of maximum playing opportunities needs to go and the era of the best against the best more often needs to start.”
Can the PGA Tour and LIV Golf Coexist?
As the LIV Golf Invitational gears up for its third event this week at Trump Bedminster in New Jersey, it’s becoming clear that the Saudi-based startup isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
“Take the money and run.”
Former President Donald Trump, who is hosting the third invitational, is fired up to have PGA Tour players make the jump to LIV Golf after the organization moved its 2022 Championship away from Trump National amid the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol.
“All of those golfers that remain ‘loyal’ to the very disloyal PGA, in all of its different forms, will pay a big price when the inevitable MERGER with LIV comes, and you get nothing but a big ‘thank you’ from PGA officials who are making Millions of Dollars a year,” Trump wrote last week on the social media app, Truth Social.
Rory McIlroy a few weeks ago wondered if it might be time for PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan to take a call from LIV commissioner Greg Norman. Jon Rahm said at the British Open he’s upset there might not be a way forward to LIV players to compete for Europe in the Ryder Cup. A prominent sports agent in Europe, Chubby Chandler, told INews in the UK that “they all have to get around a table and talk. They will have a massive problem otherwise.’’
All in all, it seems like the free market is doing it’s thing allowing new organizations to enter the space ultimately providing a better experience for the fans. I’m sure PGA and LIV will undoubtedly find a solution to this. One way or another. Only time will tell when.. and how it will turn out.
