LIV Golf (Saudi PIF), "Mergers," and More

[imsys0042]

https://golf.com/news/phil-mickelson-suspended-jay-monahan/

The article comes to the conclusion that Mickelson is not suspended, and I kind of agree.   But I wonder if Phil headed that off by "taking time away".   

[iacas]

 

The PGA Tour has (more!) company | The Fire Pit Collective

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As the Saudis continue to circle, the Premier Golf League has made a big offer to partner with the Tour

 

[boogielicious]

Still sounds sketchy to me.

[imsys0042]

That's like me collaborating with Adele on her next album.   

[GolfLug]

1 hour ago, imsys0042 said:

That's like me collaborating with Adele on her next album.   

That is hilarious 😂.

If you do, don't ask her to perform in front of a crowd..heh 

Edited March 16, 2022 by GolfLug

[Zeph]

If you can’t beat them, join them.

[imsys0042]

https://golf.com/news/liv-golf-series-8-events-millions-purses/

Among the statements made by Guppy Norman

• 8 events, with one at a location TBD
• pros with single digit ranking in the World Golf Ranking have responded positively
• events will be played with shotgun starts, so pro golf can now be like your drunk scramble on a goat path golf course
• each event is 54 holes with no cuts, other than the hands chopped off by the tournament sponsors

[iacas]

3 hours ago, imsys0042 said:

https://golf.com/news/liv-golf-series-8-events-millions-purses/

Among the statements made by Guppy Norman

• 8 events, with one at a location TBD
• pros with single digit ranking in the World Golf Ranking have responded positively
• events will be played with shotgun starts, so pro golf can now be like your drunk scramble on a goat path golf course
• each event is 54 holes with no cuts, other than the hands chopped off by the tournament sponsors

 

 

[jmanbooyaa]

When do we find out the players?

[iacas]

 

[Zeph]

As in every other sport, the problem may be that they offer a lot of money, and that is difficult to say no to. Especially for those not regularly at the top of the leaderboards.

[hunterdog]

16 hours ago, jmanbooyaa said:

When do we find out the players?

I think PGAT card holders have to ask for exemption 45 days prior to the event. 

I found this in the 2019 -2020  PGA Tour Player Handbook and Tournament Regulations manual:

3. Guidelines for Conflicting Event Release a. Each Regular Member of PGA TOUR ordinarily shall be eligible for three releases per season based on participation in 15 PGA TOUR cosponsored or approved tournaments and, in addition, shall be eligible for one release for every five cosponsored or approved tournaments (as defined in paragraph C of Article I) in which he participates above 15 tournaments. b. Notwithstanding the above, the Commissioner may deny any particular release request if he determines that such a release would cause PGA TOUR to be in violation of a contractual commitment to a tournament sponsor, or would otherwise significantly and unreasonably harm PGA TOUR and such sponsors. Also, the Commissioner shall be entitled, but not obligated, to grant additional releases when he determines that to do so would not unreasonably harm PGA TOUR or the sponsor involved. c. In making the factual determinations contemplated in the preceding paragraph, the Commissioner shall consider, but shall not be limited to, the following factors: (1) The overall makeup of the field from which the member seeks to be released; (2) The member’s standing on the current and previous season’s FedExCup Points List; (3) The number of tournaments that the member has played in, or committed to play in, for the current season; (4) The member’s record of participation in the tournament from which he seeks to be released. d. The Commissioner will consider conditional releases under the following circumstances: (1) If the member has not played in the tournament for which he seeks to be released for an extended period of time, such release may be conditional upon his participation in the tournament the following season. (2) After five releases have been granted for the same tournament, subsequent releases may be conditional upon the member playing in the tournament the next season. (3) If a member has committed to the tournament and is subsequently granted a release, such a member may be required to play in the tournament the following season. All requests for conflicting event releases and/or television releases must be submitted no less than 45 days in advance of the first official round of competition of the tournaments for which such releases are requested. The Commissioner normally shall make decisions on release requests not later than 30 days in advance. 131 NOTE: No conflicting event releases will be approved for events held in North America.

[Vinsk]

32 minutes ago, hunterdog said:

think PGAT card holders have to ask for exemption 45 days prior to the event. 

But this, from what I read, is only when there is a conflict of events yes? If the player is playing when there isn’t a PGAT tournament taking place then the 45 days isn’t necessary.

[imsys0042]

10 minutes ago, Vinsk said:

But this, from what I read, is only when there is a conflict of events yes? If the player is playing when there isn’t a PGAT tournament taking place then the 45 days isn’t necessary.

Yeah, but those dates overlap with PGA Tour events.   I think the Killers' League is avoiding the majors, but with the wrap around season there's an event almost every week.   Also for the North American tourneys, there is this:

"NOTE: No conflicting event releases will be approved for events held in North America."

I'm no lawyer (I don't even play one on TV) but the golfers signed up and play on the PGA Tour and I'm sure part of that agreement is to abide by their rules and bylaws.   So I'd have to think that all the talk of suing to allow players to play on the Worm Infested Guppy Norman Tour (TM) is to prove that these non-release clauses are somehow illegal as well as playing on another tour is somehow breaking the agreed bylaws that the players agreed to.   I don't really know how hard that would be to do.

[boogielicious]

18 hours ago, Zeph said:

Especially for those not regularly at the top of the leaderboards.

There’s the problem. They may get a bunch of lower tier players to start out, pay them loads of money and then the league is stuck as an overpriced minor league. It’s a recipe for failure. 

[iacas]

59 minutes ago, boogielicious said:

There’s the problem. They may get a bunch of lower tier players to start out, pay them loads of money and then the league is stuck as an overpriced minor league. It’s a recipe for failure. 

If some unknown Asian Tour guy gets a $4M check for winning a lame event, it won't be no-name players for long.

[boogielicious]

21 minutes ago, iacas said:

If some unknown Asian Tour guy gets a $4M check for winning a lame event, it won't be no-name players for long.

Correct, but how long before the Saudis get bored paying out big dollars to lower tier players? USFL was like that. Big sponsors may not help them, so they’re floating their own money.

[iacas]

26 minutes ago, boogielicious said:

Correct, but how long before the Saudis get bored paying out big dollars to lower tier players? USFL was like that. Big sponsors may not help them, so they’re floating their own money.

They have a lot of money.

This isn't the USFL.