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

[Sandy Divot]

If Bubba wins, he better not be thanking his Lord and Savior.

[Friz]

It honestly feels like LIV's primary objective is to maximize the amount of major trophies they have among their field, with absolutely zero regard to how relevant those guys are today.  Bubba is another guy that simply fills up one more spot on LIV's road to a permanent 48 without losing anyone I care too much about.

[mcanadiens]

10 minutes ago, Friz said:

It honestly feels like LIV's primary objective is to maximize the amount of major trophies they have among their field, with absolutely zero regard to how relevant those guys are today. 

If positive PR is the true goal, big names are better than relevant names.

[imsys0042]

I think MBS was watching the original Major League movie when he had this idea…..

[phillyk]

5 hours 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 talked to a lady in my section who controls a couple tournaments and grant money for player development. I didn’t know this, but the PGA Tour does give some percentage of revenue to the PGA. This helps fund our player development programs, drive chip and putt programs, etc.

I’ll wait for my check from LIV and let you know when it arrives.

[Aguirre]

Not all of them, of course, but I can't help but notice that LIV has also attracted a lot of the tour's designated assholes.

[Zeph]

Another has-been then. Maybe this can be a positive for the PGA Tour if they won't be able to play there anymore. Out with the old, in with someone new.

[coachjimsc]

7 hours ago, Zeph said:

Another has-been then. Maybe this can be a positive for the PGA Tour if they won't be able to play there anymore. Out with the old, in with someone new.

I have been thinking about this as well. For everyone of those veterans that leaves, it opens up a spot for a Cam Young, Will Zalatoris and Mito Pereira's of the world waiting for their opportunity.

[iacas]

12 hours ago, phillyk said:

I didn’t know this, but the PGA Tour does give some percentage of revenue to the PGA.

Yeah, technically they're still licensing "PGA" from the PGA.

No talking here while I was away about the 14-event schedule with 11 additional elevated Asian Tour events, of which players are "expected" to play in several of them (to get some OWGR points).

So much for spending more time with the family.

[turtleback]

At least Bubba is not mediocre.

[iacas]

Dog with a bone, man. Move along.

On 7/23/2022 at 4:50 PM, turtleback said:

The only aspect of his career that is not mediocre is his longevity.  In money list terms, over 20+ years he was in the top 25 only 4 times, while he was outside the top 50 8 times.  Good enough to keep his card, but hardly the stuff of stars.  Not only did he have only one top ten in a major he has a very poor record in both the Players and the WGC events, so he has been pretty lousy in premium events.  In 9 of his 20+ years he wasn't even ranked in the top 100 in the OWGR.  Other than his first 3 years he's only been in the top 50 on the OWGR once.  He's been around a long time mostly as a third tier player, occassionally sniffing the second tier.  Never made a Ryder Cup team, made 2 Pres. cup team's.  That all adds up to mediocre, relative to the standards of the Tour, in my book.  Except for his longevity.

And that the 'super widely respected' label is meaningless to me.  I put more stock in analyzing his record.  Heck, I'd bet half of those players with all this respect for his accomplishments still think Jack is the GOAT.  Howell comes across as a super nice guy and I'm sure that colors their thinking.  I'm sure he is highly and widely respected' as a person, but by the standards of the Tour he was meh, but for a very long time.

The details are here, for all to see:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Howell_III

Then…

On 7/26/2022 at 4:46 PM, turtleback said:

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.

I said it doesn't count as an "another" because you already shared it…

23 hours ago, turtleback said:

And no, I never shared this fact.  Prove me wrong.

I rest my case.

[iacas]

Hmmmm.

Katie Kearney, Brian Urlacher, Hailey Ostrom, Stephen Malbon…

Oh, and I assumed y'all would see Charles Barkley, Chris Harrison I missed but he's the TV guy. Clay Travis is apparently a radio/TV host. And the Geoffrey Zakarian is a celeb chef.

[Sandy Divot]

17 hours ago, Aguirre said:

Not all of them, of course, but I can't help but notice that LIV has also attracted a lot of the tour's designated assholes.

I read a tweet today that said, “The LIV Tour has more pricks than a hedgehog .”

 

[Shindig]

Hmm, Sir Charles playing with Sergio Garcia.  What did he (Charles) ever do to deserve such a fate?  I'm not sure how much nonsense he's willing to stand from LIV, but that insult should get him to reject them on its own. 

[Zeph]

There’s Trumpet 1 and Trumpet 2, also. Not very surprising and certainly not a reason to watch. A reason not to watch in fact.

[iacas]

29 minutes ago, Shindig said:

Hmm, Sir Charles playing with Sergio Garcia.  What did he (Charles) ever do to deserve such a fate?  I'm not sure how much nonsense he's willing to stand from LIV, but that insult should get him to reject them on its own. 

Charles is hardly a saint.

[Friz]

1 hour ago, iacas said:

Love it.  These guys are now going to be contractually obligated to play probably a minimum of 20 events for LIV, will still want in the Majors to get to 24.  18 of those will be fixed dates, maybe they have a little flexibility for which International Series events they play, but just compare it to what the PGA Tour offered.  Play a minimum of 15 events, majors count toward that 15, and you can choose which events you want to play all season.

I'm so happy these guys got the "freedom" they were looking for.

[iacas]

5 minutes ago, Friz said:

Love it.  These guys are now going to be contractually obligated to play probably a minimum of 20 events for LIV, will still want in the Majors to get to 24.  18 of those will be fixed dates, maybe they have a little flexibility for which International Series events they play, but just compare it to what the PGA Tour offered.  Play a minimum of 15 events, majors count toward that 15, and you can choose which events you want to play all season.

I'm so happy these guys got the "freedom" they were looking for.

Greg Norman keeps using the words "free agency" and "free agents" but I don't think he understands what those words mean.