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

[iacas]

28 minutes ago, turtleback said:

Exactly.  His 20+ career never measured up to the expectations of his early years.  The next person who says, "Hey, Charles Howell's playing this week's tournament - we need to go see it" will be the first one.

Regardless, winning $43M and ranking in the top whatever he is for all-time earnings makes you well above a "mediocre" golfer.

Mediocre golfers last a few seasons and win a few million bucks at most. Your definition is out of whack if there's Tiger, Sergio, Rory, and twenty others, and everyone else is "mediocre." Thousands have played the PGA Tour in the time that CHIII played it.

[Friz]

17 minutes ago, turtleback said:

The next person who says, "Hey, Charles Howell's playing this week's tournament - we need to go see it" will be the first one.

I bet his mom has said that.  Maybe even his wife.  And yes I assume they use his full name.

[jbishop15]

Sergio has finished his sympathy circuit and has decided to keep playing on the DP World Tour along with LIV

god he's such a f***ing baby. all these years and i still cant stand him 

[Aguirre]

9 hours ago, iacas said:

Regardless, winning $43M and ranking in the top whatever he is for all-time earnings makes you well above a "mediocre" golfer.

Mediocre golfers last a few seasons and win a few million bucks at most. Your definition is out of whack if there's Tiger, Sergio, Rory, and twenty others, and everyone else is "mediocre." Thousands have played the PGA Tour in the time that CHIII played it.

Yes, you're 100% correct that Chuck Parnevik is an above average golfer. As you said, that career longevity and money list rank speak for themselves. 

But I'm like most of the other posters thinking who gives a f***. Nobody who is a FAN cares if he sticks around. He's bubbled up on a leaderboard in some nameless corporate sponsored droning "other" event every ten weeks for ten years. 

[iacas]

5 hours ago, Aguirre said:

Yes, you're 100% correct that Chuck Parnevik is an above average golfer. As you said, that career longevity and money list rank speak for themselves. 

But I'm like most of the other posters thinking who gives a f***. Nobody who is a FAN cares if he sticks around. He's bubbled up on a leaderboard in some nameless corporate sponsored droning "other" event every ten weeks for ten years. 

I never said fans care about him.

[Friz]

Changes to LIV for 2023

Report: LIV Golf to feature relgation, qualifying tournament beginning in 2023 | Golf News and Tour Information | GolfDigest.com

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Some players may be exempt from relegation depending on their contract with LIV Golf.

Relegation, but not real relegation

Quote

Beginning in 2023, LIV will keep season-long standings and will offer points to the top 24 finishers in each of its events. At the end of the season, four players from the bottom of the standings will be relegated—but some players and team captains may be exempt from relegation depending on their individual contract with LIV Golf. Other players outside the top 24 finishers could lose their playing privileges should their team decide against renewing their deals.

And a qualifying tournament full of players who have turned them down, and would become ineligible for the events that allowed them into the qualifier

Quote

A number of players will reportedly be exempt into the qualifying tournament, including major winners from the past five years, No. 2-32 on the money list from the LIV International series, the top 75 in the Official World Golf Ranking, PGA Tour and DP World Tour winners from the past year, and members of the most recent Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup teams.

But they'd also have a fixed field of 48 guys, and static teams, so the poaching does indeed have a maximum and end date

[turtleback]

14 hours ago, Aguirre said:

Yes, you're 100% correct that Chuck Parnevik is an above average golfer. As you said, that career longevity and money list rank speak for themselves. 

But I'm like most of the other posters thinking who gives a f***. Nobody who is a FAN cares if he sticks around. He's bubbled up on a leaderboard in some nameless corporate sponsored droning "other" event every ten weeks for ten years. 

Another little fact showing that Howell is mediocre except for longevity.  He has one top ten in a major and a t9 in the Players.  Every single player above him in the career money list has at least one major win except Matt Kuchar.  But Kuchar has a victory in the Players and 12 top tens in majors.

[iacas]

1 minute ago, turtleback said:

Another little fact showing that Howell is mediocre except for longevity.

He achieved that longevity because he’s not mediocre. If he’s mediocre it’s among “those who earned $25M+ and lasted 15+ years.”

And that’s not “another” as you’ve already shared it.

Longevity is important because of what it says about your level of sustained performance.

Thousands have been on Tour for a year or three. Few have done better than CHII for a career.

[Double Mocha Man]

On 7/18/2022 at 8:00 AM, Friz said:

And finally, I would never see a shotgun start as a positive in any round. 

Shotgun starts are for scrambles...

[mcanadiens]

Liv got Bubba.

Exclusive: Bubba Watson joins LIV Golf as Saudis land another major champion

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Bubba Watson is set to be unveiled during this week’s LIV Golf Series event as the Saudi rebel circuit’s latest big-name capture. The left-hander will play in the next £20 million tournament in Boston in the first week of September.

 

[Shindig]

15 minutes ago, mcanadiens said:

Liv got Bubba.

Exclusive: Bubba Watson joins LIV Golf as Saudis land another major champion

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Bubba Watson is set to be unveiled during this week’s LIV Golf Series event as the Saudi rebel circuit’s latest big-name capture. The left-hander will play in the next £20 million tournament in Boston in the first week of September.

 

Oh no not Bubba.  

Is now on the list of things I won't have to say when I see who is leading a (non-major) tournament I care about.

Okay, I'll add a fun fact about Bubba now that it probably won't happen again.  Did you know that the first time in PGA Tour history where back-to-back weeks had a Palmer and a Watson win tournaments were Ryan Palmer and Bubba Watson?  

[Golfingdad]

25 minutes ago, Shindig said:

Oh no not Bubba.  

Is now on the list of things I won't have to say when I see who is leading a (non-major) tournament I care about.

Okay, I'll add a fun fact about Bubba now that it probably won't happen again.  Did you know that the first time in PGA Tour history where back-to-back weeks had a Palmer and a Watson win tournaments were Ryan Palmer and Bubba Watson?  

So this is pretty consistent with their getting all of these just-past-their-prime big names that are not really relevant anymore.  Obviously DJ and Bryson and maybe 1-2 others are still in their prime, but it brings up a thought that very well may have already been mentioned in here (I'm certain it must have - ya'll are smart) ...

Just how much better can these guys possibly get when they're playing so infrequently?  And how much incentive do they even have to care and play well if they've already been paid?

I can't imagine when all is said and done, even if they acquire a few more names, that the quality of their golf improves.  And now (if I'm right about that) I kind of want the majors to let these guys all play and so everybody can see how much they suck.

Oh yeah - and CHIII said "its not about the money."  He didn't elaborate beyond that but my guess is he's growing the game? 😉

Edited July 27, 2022 by Golfingdad

[ChetlovesMer]

9 minutes ago, Golfingdad said:

CHIII said "its not about the money."  He didn't elaborate beyond that but my guess is he's growing the game? 😉

[Shindig]

11 minutes ago, Golfingdad said:

Just how much better can these guys possibly get when they're playing so infrequently?  And how much incentive do they even have to care and play well if they've already been paid?

I would like to float this idea, for free, to the folks who are running LIV.  Have you considered hiring Albert Haynesworth as a director of post-getting-paid player development?  

12 minutes ago, Golfingdad said:

Oh yeah - and CHIII said "its not about the money."  He didn't elaborate beyond that but my guess is he's growing the game? 😉

I am sad to discover that he is willing to lie so egregiously. 

[imsys0042]

29 minutes ago, Golfingdad said:

I can't imagine when all is said and done, even if they acquire a few more names, that the quality of their golf improves.  And now (if I'm right about that) I kind of want the majors to let these guys all play and so everybody can see how much they suck.

Oh yeah - and CHIII said "its not about the money."  He didn't elaborate beyond that but my guess is he's growing the game? 😉

the consensus at my home course is that LIV sucks and the players should just say they don’t care about where the money comes from and that they are doing it for the money and leave it at that.   These talking points and crapola about growing the game is just a dodge that few people buy.  
 

there also is such a disincentive to play good golf.  They’d have done better to call it “The Match on Steroids” and say it’s a fun exhibition a few times a year and leave it at that. 

[turtleback]

23 hours ago, iacas said:

He achieved that longevity because he’s not mediocre. If he’s mediocre it’s among “those who earned $25M+ and lasted 15+ years.”

And that’s not “another” as you’ve already shared it.

Longevity is important because of what it says about your level of sustained performance.

Thousands have been on Tour for a year or three. Few have done better than CHII for a career.

Not one outstanding achievement other than longevity.  That's mediocre in my book, even if it isn't in yours.  And no, I never shared this fact.  Prove me wrong.

1 hour ago, Golfingdad said:

Oh yeah - and CHIII said "its not about the money."  He didn't elaborate beyond that but my guess is he's growing the game? 

Whenever anyone says it's not about the money, it's always about the money

Edited July 27, 2022 by turtleback

[wilsonroy53]

On 6/17/2022 at 8:02 PM, Zippo said:

Were I one of the "names" playing in those exhibitions I'd start wearing a rainbow shirt. Unfortunately, the Saudi's action reminds me of a certain bill that was introduced in a certain state, recently.

That's excellent, I agree. I frequently mention the collections of items in these shows that I wear.

[Vinsk]

When a golfer tells LIV mgmt. they need to miss a tournament for family reasons…..