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

[saevel25]

It’s sad, I liked Rahm. I won’t be rooting for him anymore.

[snapfade]

[jsgolfer]

5 hours ago, ChetlovesMer said:

Maybe I'm officially an old fart.

I don't like the shotgun format. I also kind of feel like the announcers are "trying too hard" if that makes sense. In terms of trying too hard, I feel the same way about the teams thing. That really feels forced to me. 

Don't get me started on the flash mob. 

I’m almost 60 and don’t consider myself an old fart but shotgun starts suck, unless you’re playing a scramble. 

[Darkfrog]

Rahm went from being one of the more articulate pro golfers to coming off like a LIV bot spewing out the same old talking points - grow the game, team golf, new format, innovation, best choice for my family, etc.

LIV is practically unwatchable, and Rahm doesn't make it any less so. Outside of the majors, and a few other events like Ryder Cup I have almost zero interest in men's professional golf. If there is some sort of LIV/PIF/PGAT merger in the future, I don't see myself regaining any interest.

I don't see what the long game is here, from the perspective of fan interest. Feels like men's pro golf is intent on destroying itself.

[ChetlovesMer]

11 minutes ago, Darkfrog said:

I don't see what the long game is here, from the perspective of fan interest. Feels like men's pro golf is intent on destroying itself.

I kinda feel the same way. 

[Archie Bunker]

Even with Rahm, LIV golf is still an unwatchable train wreck on TV. I don't think he will increase their viewership. 

[iacas]

28 minutes ago, Darkfrog said:

I don't see what the long game is here, from the perspective of fan interest. Feels like men's pro golf is intent on destroying itself.

I might watch the majors and the Cups next year. And some LPGA Tour stuff. I already watched more LPGA Tour stuff this year than non-major men's events. By like a 2.5:1 ratio.

[ChetlovesMer]

17 minutes ago, iacas said:

I already watched more LPGA Tour stuff this year than non-major men's events. By like a 2.5:1 ratio.

Ditto

[ChetlovesMer]

1 hour ago, snapfade said:

I think I might have added a clause to my contract saying I don't have to take any cheesy pictures with Greg Norman when I sign. 

[iacas]

si.com

https://www.si.com/golf/news/pga-tour-tipping-point-jon-rahm-1-billion-compromise-patrick-cantlay

 

[DrizZzY]

I honestly think Rahm leaving the PGA tour will be the lynchpin for the PGA tour allowing LIV players back. It may not be for 2024, because statuses are already set, but membership is already upset and losing one of their biggest players is soul crushing. 

[Flipped]

Hypocritical, sanctimonious, naive Monaghan and his blind followers diminished the PGA Tour for many fans by not immediately merging with LIV  once the first wave of PGA Tour stars left. That continues with Rahm’s departure. 

[DeadMan]

3 hours ago, Darkfrog said:

Outside of the majors, and a few other events like Ryder Cup I have almost zero interest in men's professional golf. If there is some sort of LIV/PIF/PGAT merger in the future, I don't see myself regaining any interest.

I don't see what the long game is here, from the perspective of fan interest. Feels like men's pro golf is intent on destroying itself.

I am pretty much here. I liked Rahm. He seemed thoughtful and smart. Coming across as well as he did in a second language is seriously impressive. He was one of the few guys on tour that I legitimately liked and rooted for. I was rooting very hard for him against Brooks in the Masters last April. Rahm is the first guy to go to LIV that I'm disappointed about losing on tour.

And yeah, my interest in men's pro golf might be just the Masters and the Open in 2024. And I guess watching the US Open at Pinehurst will be interesting, too. Not sure I'll be tuning in for any tour even this year.

I will say it's not really men's pro golf destroying itself. It's the Saudis' distorting the market by paying ridiculous money for these guys. Lionel Messi has apparently earned around $1.4 billion in his career. Cristiano Ronaldo has earned $1.5 billion in his career. Jon Rahm is not worth $600 million. Nobody besides LIV believes that. That's why this is happening. The PGA Tour certainly didn't help itself by not doing anything to prepare for post-Tiger life (and by not taking care of the stars that drive interest), but men's professional golf is fine if the Saudis' aren't there.

Oh well. So it goes.

Edited December 8, 2023 by DeadMan

[iacas]

3 minutes ago, DeadMan said:

Jon Rahm is not worth $600 billion.

Dan, you're off by 1000x.

Also, I think LeBron has made $300M in his career, or less. Rahm is not worth that.

Golf is such a niche sport.

I'm glad I don't have much time anymore to watch golf, because… this shit is what I'd see when I turn on the television? No thanks.

[DeadMan]

Just now, iacas said:

Dan, you're off by 1000x.

He's not worth $600 billion either... 🤪

[saevel25]

4 minutes ago, iacas said:

Also, I think LeBron has made $300M in his career, or less. Rahm is not worth that.

Just looked this up, he's made 434.9 million over his career. He made 44 million last year.  Unless Rahm signed a 20 year deal or something, this is just stupid money that LIV is throwing around. I am not sure what else in the contract, how much is guaranteed, or maybe a lot of that is pro-rated winnings. Still, just stupid. 

8 minutes ago, iacas said:

I'm glad I don't have much time anymore to watch golf, because… this shit is what I'd see when I turn on the television? No thanks.

Same here. I try to watch the Majors, and that's pretty much it. 

[DeadMan]

11 minutes ago, saevel25 said:

I am not sure what else in the contract, how much is guaranteed, or maybe a lot of that is pro-rated winnings. Still, just stupid. 

I'd bet a large part of the deal is equity in a team. That was the rumor when it first stared. Not all $600 million is cash. Which, LIV golf franchises are currently worth $0, so I hope for Rahm's sake that the majority of the deal is cash.

[Zeph]

All the money has been putting me off a lot of sports the past decade, along with general interest dwindling. I watched some football (the one where you kick the ball more than carry it) in my life, but now I don't even watch the world cup. FIFA sitting on the Middle East kings' laps and the insane money in the business is off-putting.

$600M is a lot of money and I can't say I wouldn't do the same, but it's disappointing all the same. LIV remains completely uninteresting to me.

LIV players play on that tour because of money, and it shows.