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

[imsys0042]

1 hour ago, Hardluckster said:

https://golf.com/news/rory-mcilroy-liv-comments-path-forward/?amp=1

🤔

I think the perception that the last event went well enough and the courts siding with players for the Scottish Open  is starting to make people realize that this is not going to go away.   Or that it won't be treated like a joke by a lot of people.

Not sure if Rory is talking off the top of his head, or this is a shift in how it'll be handled by the DP and PGA Tours.

 

[Darkfrog]

From the linked article re: how players, agents, coaches, and caddies viewed the experience:

Quote

Players and caddies and coaches and agents spoke highly of their experience.

Isn't this expected? I mean the players and their teams (ESPECIALLY agents) with multi-million dollar guaranteed money, who are sucking the bloody teat of the Saudis, aren't going to say it sucks. In fact, I would think they are obligated contractually to praise LIV Golf and talk about how pumped they are to be in a team competition, just like in college, and how awesome the fans are, and how nice it is to have 54-hole shotgun start tournament so they can spend more time with their families, and all the good they are doing through golf, and that they are independent contractors making business decisions, etc.

[RFKFREAK]

13 minutes ago, Darkfrog said:

From the linked article re: how players, agents, coaches, and caddies viewed the experience:

Isn't this expected? I mean the players and their teams (ESPECIALLY agents) with multi-million dollar guaranteed money, who are sucking the bloody teat of the Saudis, aren't going to say it sucks. In fact, I would think they are obligated contractually to praise LIV Golf and talk about how pumped they are to be in a team competition, just like in college, and how awesome the fans are, and how nice it is to have 54-hole shotgun start tournament so they can spend more time with their families, and all the good they are doing through golf, and that they are independent contractors making business decisions, etc.

Seriously - you know the Saudi's didn't drop this kind of cheddar without doing all they can within their control to make sure they get favorable press.

[Friz]

I think its a pretty safe rule of thumb, if you want to know if something is good, don't ask the people who benefit from a positive answer.  Don't ask the chef if a restaurant is worth eating at, don't ask a director if their movie is worth seeing, don't ask a golfer receiving millions of dollars if the LIV is a good experience.  Of course they think its good, they've already indicated they don't care where the money is coming from, so Pat Perez just got over a million dollars despite failing to break 80 in one of his rounds because his teammates carried him to a pointless team victory.  Great experience!  Phil Mickelson shot three rounds of 75 or worse, and still gets to keep his $100 million sign on bonus.  Great experience!

But for the fans....over two-thirds of the field failed to shoot under par in a tournament where the winning score was -13 (over one fewer round, lets not forget).....great experience?  Fewer days of golf, fewer hours of golf, no cuts, no pressure to perform well....great experience?  At the end of the day, if the consumer of the product isn't having a great experience, it won't last.

[iacas]

At the Portland event they had hired "good looking people" to be "spectators" to be seen and seen with. To put on a good image.

[boogielicious]

27 minutes ago, iacas said:

At the Portland event they had hired "good looking people" to be "spectators" to be seen and seen with. To put on a good image.

Ian Poulter wasn’t one of them!😜

[Vinsk]

50 minutes ago, iacas said:

At the Portland event they had hired "good looking people" to be "spectators" to be seen and seen with. To put on a good image.

Yeah. I had to decline. Had other business affairs.😃

[imsys0042]

1 hour ago, iacas said:

At the Portland event they had hired "good looking people" to be "spectators" to be seen and seen with. To put on a good image.

A rumor, completely started by me, says that the Oregon escort services replied en masse to Pat Perez with “not for any price”

[cutchemist42]

13 hours ago, imsys0042 said:

I think the perception that the last event went well enough and the courts siding with players for the Scottish Open  is starting to make people realize that this is not going to go away.   Or that it won't be treated like a joke by a lot of people.

Not sure if Rory is talking off the top of his head, or this is a shift in how it'll be handled by the DP and PGA Tours.

 

Yeah the tone is definitely different after Pumpkin Ridge.

[Friz]

Headlines in UK this morning.  Poor Ian 😂

 

LIV Golf rebel Ian Poulter embarrassed in Scottish Open after winning legal battle to play | Golf | Sport | Express.co.uk

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IAN POULTER endured a difficult start to this week's Scottish Open.

Saudi golf rebel Ian Poulter suffers humiliation at the Scottish Open after eight-over-par round | Daily Mail Online

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Ian Poulter endured a day to forget on Thursday at the Scottish Open - in a week when he won his legal battle to...

Edited July 8, 2022 by Friz

[mcanadiens]

10 minutes ago, Friz said:

Headlines in UK this morning.  Poor Ian 😂

I imagine the guy will put it behind him. If you can wear pants like he does, he probably doesn't worry about much. 

[GolfLug]

I would make exceptions and cheer every flubbed shot any of the LIV guys would hit if the opportunity ever presented. Of course, I hope the opportunity would never present itself... unless.... I was offered a figure I couldn't refuse to watch.. 😜

[ssbn611]

I don't think any of the following has been previously mentioned:

• Pat Perez received $5M up front and then the other $5M when he played in the Pumpkin Ridge tournament. I assume the other players have similar deals. I originally heard it was paid out over three years
• The expenses for the caddies are covered. All expenses. So the caddies are also very happy
• The LIV Tour has a private 777 aircraft with all first class seating they use to transport the players( and wives and caddies) as needed. For example, they used it to get them to Ireland (I think it was Ireland) this week
  https://twitter.com/barstoolsports/status/1545438581019316225?s=20&t=po7zvcTttatiTFvX8kPH-Q
• Perez got offered the LIV deal because of DJ. he and DJ are good friends and eat together with DJ's private chef a couple of times a week
• The LIV website sucks. and this includes the Leaderboard and information on it, not shot by shot info for example, it's just bad

Edited July 8, 2022 by ssbn611

[iacas]

4 hours ago, ssbn611 said:

• The expenses for the caddies are covered. All expenses. So the caddies are also very happy

Of course. You don't want the early defectors talking about how it stinks.

[Alx]

Watched some of the LIV broadcasts and I gotta say they are just better than the PGA/DP coverage. Its more fast paced and less time spent with the long-winded scenic shots or just watching a player setup for their shot for an obscene amount of time. Like who thinks its a good idea to show 3 minutes of a player who barely made a cut lining up a 35 foot straightish putt? I dont mind seeing the actual putt, but I dont want to watch the ridicilous preparation for such a meaningless shot.

Dont get me wrong, the scenic shots and longer takes have their place in a broadcast when shown occasionally.

[ChetlovesMer]

1 minute ago, Alx said:

Like who thinks its a good idea to show 3 minutes of a player who barely made a cut lining up a 35 foot straightish putt?

I'll admit I stream every bit of golf I watch. But I don't remember seeing a lot of what you describe above. But maybe because I stream the broadcasts they are different?

Also, no worries at the LIV about showing guys "who barely made a cut". 😆

[Alx]

3 minutes ago, ChetlovesMer said:

I'll admit I stream every bit of golf I watch. But I don't remember seeing a lot of what you describe above. But maybe because I stream the broadcasts they are different?

I guess the main point is that the takes are just too long for my taste. LIV does it better here.

 

3 minutes ago, ChetlovesMer said:

Also, no worries at the LIV about showing guys "who barely made a cut". 😆

😂

Edited July 9, 2022 by Alx

[iacas]