I am not going to invest too much of my or your time on Tiger Woods. Anybody who has followed professional golf as I have, understands Tiger Woods may be the greatest golfer alive, but he has been a rotten human being.
Not until he realized his days were numbered, he never cared for the fans. The fans were a nuisance and he did not have time for them. Probably because he carried his father chip on his own shoulder, who knows.
Now, he is taking shots at Greg Norman, LIV Golf, and the players who chose to jump ship. He went as far as to say that the R&A was right in uninviting Greg Norman, a two time Open Champion, from the Champions dinner and the 15oth anniversary celebrations.
Imagine if people had demanded Tiger Woods be banned from any festivities because he was a rotten husband, hit a fire hydrant, was high as a kite, and was taken into custody? Exactly!
Tiger Woods have no moral high ground to criticize anybody. To hear him talk about how these players turned their backs on the tour, it is laughable. Golf is a business and people make business decisions.
Tiger Woods has been sponsored by Nike his whole career, despite the fact Nike uses factories in China, with child labor, and working conditions they could not get away with in the United States.
Do I think Tiger should give up his “business” decision? Absolutely not, but with that Tiger needs to understand he has zero room for hypocrisy.
As we speak, the United States Department of Justice antitrust division is conducting an investigation of the PGA Tour and their shoddy practices. It has been reported they have contacted player’s agents seeking information about the PGA Tour bylaws.
The PGA Tour, been the arrogant entity they are, have said, “This was not unexpected.” “We went through this in 1994 and we are confident in a similar outcome.”
Sure, the only difference is that back in 1994, professional golf was small potatoes and today is big business. I am sure the liberal DOJ is going to take a closer look this time and the outcome may be far from similar.
As I said many times, I welcome this antitrust investigation. The PGA Tour has no right to monopolize professional golf, they do not own it.
This chapter is far from over and LIV Golf has all the money they need to litigate until the cows come home.
As for Tiger, well, he is not the Tiger Woods he used to be, so I guess this is the only way he can remain relevant. Sad and pathetic!
The R&A Decided Not To Invite Two Time Open Champion Greg Norman to Open Champions Dinner
Enough said!
As the LIV Derangement Syndrome continues to cause havoc among professional golfers and their monopolistic institutions, the R&A has decided that Two Time Open Champion Greg Norman, is not worthy of attending the Champions dinner.
When they denied Norman’s request for an exemption to play the Open at St. Andrews at the age of 67, I kind of understood, but to deny him an invitation to the Champions dinner, is low class.
In their statement, the R&A stated that next week’s Open is an “extremely important milestone for golf.” Really? Well, that may have been the case, but the R&A made it about Greg Norman instead.
They want “to ensure that the focus remains on celebrating the Championship.” Again, the R&A failed miserably by making it about Greg Norman.
My message to the R&A? You chose to take the low road instead of taking the high road and welcome Greg Norman as a gesture of good will. It is obvious the R&A, the DP World Tour, and the PGA Tour, do not want an amicable resolution and rather continue to fight.
These people do not care about the game of golf or its legacy, all they care about is the bottom line.
Unfortunately for them, they refuse to find a cure for LIV Derangement Syndrome, and that is a shame.
Needless to say, I will not be watching the 150th Open Championship.
Rory McIlroy, of North Ireland, waits to hit on the 12th hole during the first round of the PGA Championship golf tournament, Thursday, May 19, 2022, in Tulsa, Okla. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
After months attacking Greg Norman, LIV Golf, and the players who chose to join LIV Golf, Rory McIlroy, the de facto loudmouth of the PGA Tour, has suggested perhaps is time to have a conversation with LIV Golf and CEO Greg Norman.
I guess McIlroy finally realized LIV Golf is here to stay, and most likely than not, more defections will come about after next week’s Open Championship at St. Andrews. The money is just too good!
McIlroy, as much as PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, has been part of the problem. Week in and week out, running his mouth with his other ‘compadres’, Justin Thomas, and self appointed PGA Tour messiah, Billy Horschel, he has done nothing but antagonize and disrespect Greg Norman and the LIV Golf players.
Now he wants to talk? I hope Greg Norman tells the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour to pound sand. The way they have behave, with little class and bullish attitude, gives them no leverage in my book.
LIV Golf has proven to be a successful product and Greg Norman does not need the PGA Tour’s approval or assistance for continued success.
Greg Norman tried and was rejected. Sorry Rory, but your hypocrisy is several months too late.
My only advice for Mr. McIlroy? Like the Irish saying goes, “Who keeps his tongue, keeps his friends.”
By the way Rory, Greg Norman has two Open Championships. Just saying.
Branden Grace Wins Second Leg of The LIV Golf Series at Pumpkin Ridge
Branden Grace captures LIV Portland Invitational Photo courtesy of compleatgolfer.com
Another successful week for Greg Norman and LIV Golf with Branden Grace capturing the second leg, and first United States LIV Golf event, at Pumpkin Ridge in Portland, Oregon.
With his win, in front of a sold out crowd, Grace got a nice trophy and a nifty $4 million dollar check for his first place finish.
Do not believe the blabbering clowns at the Golf Channel and the PGA Tour, this money does not come out of their signing bonuses, that rumor was already debunked by LIV Golf this week.
I watched all three rounds at LIV.com and I enjoyed every second of it. While the PGA Tour and CBS spent most of their broadcast time basking in wokeness, LIV.com was all business, nothing but golf.
The streaming was flawless and the commentary has gotten a lot better. The golf course was beautiful and the setup was demanding.
The final round was not only very entertaining, but in front of a sold out crowd, the likes of Dustin Johnson, Carlos Ortiz, and Branden Grace, put up a show and great golf.
I do not know for how long LIV Golf will be around, but if I were to judge by the first two events, I think Jay Monahan, the PGA Tour, and the DP World Tour, better grab on to their trousers; it is going to be a turbulent ride.
Greg Norman spent a lot of his time walking around and talking to the fans. I am sure he was very happy to see a sold out crowd, despite the fact Monahan has done everything in his power to put a dent on the future of LIV Golf.
Pat Perez was right, the strongest field was at Pumpkin Ridge this week. From former Masters, to Open, to U.S. Open champions, they were there.
I was looking for the current Masters, PGA, and U.S. Open champions, at the John Deere Classic, but they were nowhere to be found.
Funny, they have been whining about LIV Golf, but they were not at TPC Deere Run to support the opposite field to the LIV Golf event. Go figure!
As the PGA Tour hypocrisy and pettiness continues, LIV Golf marches into the future.
The Hostile Takeover of the DP World Tour by Another Name
DP World Tour Commissioner, Keith Pelley and PGA Tour Commissioner, Jay Monahan
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and the suits at PGA Tour headquarters are suffering of what I call LIV Derangement Syndrome or LIVDS.
LIV and Greg Norman have created the perfect storm and the PGA Tour does not know how to tackle it.
Sure, they have their useful fools at the Golf Channel doing their bid on television, even during golf tournaments. Taking away from the live coverage to virtue signal about how the PGA Tour is better than LIV, the Saudis, and their billions of dollars.
Throwing silly names around like “sportswashing” and claiming moral superiority over those who chose to join LIV and Greg Norman’s vision of golf.
There is no secret that as much as I enjoy watching professional golf, I think the PGA Tour is a greedy organization and under Jay Monahan’s leadership, even more so. But that is my personal opinion of the organization’s leadership and not of the players.
In the latest stunt coming out of PGA Tour headquarters, the PGA Tour has been forced to rethink their strategy and alliances in an attempt to defeat LIV and maintain a monopoly on professional golf.
Jay Monahan and DP World Tour Commissioner Keith Pelley have disclosed a new 13-year operational joint venture partnership. The main talking points are:
PGA Tour increases existing stake in European Tour productions from 15% to 40%
DP World Tour guarantees growth in annual prize funds to members for the next 5 years
Sunshine Tour/PGA Tour Australasia now enjoy a formal pathway to the DP World Tour
Starting in 2023, the top 10 players at the end of season DP World Tour rankings will earn PGA Tour cards (in addition to those already exempt)
In their combined press conference, Jay Monahan said, “It was clear from the outset that our Strategic Partnership with the European Tour Group was a powerful agreement for both sides, and we are thrilled with today’s announcement of this expanded partnership. We will continue to collaborate on a global schedule and key commercial areas as we draw our organizations and memberships even closer together while innovating to provide the most entertaining and compelling golf possible to fans around the world.”
Keith Pelley went on to say, “Building on the success of the existing Strategic Alliance between ourselves and the PGA Tour, this move will significantly enhance the meritocratic ecosystem that has successfully served the professional game on both sides of the Atlantic for more than 50 years. It is a natural extension and progression of what we have been doing over the past few years and I passionally believe that this move is the right thing for our players, our Tour, our fans, and the game of golf in general.”
He went on to say, “Our two tours have undoubtedly drawn closer over the past few years and today’s announcement strengthens both Tours for the betterment of our memberships.”
It is curious to me that all of the sudden the PGA Tour is so enamored with the DP World Tour. After all, the PGA Tour has never encouraged their members to participate on the DP World Tour, and is public knowledge American players do not like to play in Europe or in any other continent where the DP World Tour runs tournaments.
Very few Americans are members of the DP World Tour or care to be members of the DP World Tour.
The DP World Tour has always been seen by many as a lesser tour, with most of the European born stalwarts jumping ship to join the PGA Tour in the United States.
This is all happening now because of Greg Norman and LIV Golf. Otherwise, Monahan and his crew would have never made this move. If that is not the case; why now?
Simple, the PGA Tour is in a crisis and needs the DP World Tour to fortify itself from LIV defections. Will it work? I am not so sure.
Going from 15% to a 40% investment, is a big jump, and anybody spending that amount of money is going to want something in return. Again, nobody knows the details of this “Strategic Alliance,” but if I owned 40% of the DP World Tour, I am going to expect to have a huge voice in any business decisions affecting the tour.
The rest of the talking points are nothing more than ways to deter current and future players form joining LIV.
In my opinion, this is nothing more than the equivalent of a hostile takeover of the DP World Tour by the PGA Tour. The DP World Tour will now be the useful idiot to counter LIV, and they will be at the mercy of Jay Monahan.
Even the Korn Ferry Tour, the PGA Tour feeder tour, has agreed to award 30 PGA Tour cards in 2023. That is five more PGA Tour cards. The PGA Tour hopefuls have a long way ahead to fulfil their dreams. Thanks Jay!
The PGA Tour is also bringing back the defunct Q School to spice things up and make it even harder for players to get to the PGA Tour.
All of this is good talk at a time when professional golf is evolving. The PGA Tour is throwing everything but the kitchen sink at LIV, but with over $900 billion dollars in assets, the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia can finance LIV for a long time.
Nobody knows how this is going to work out, but one thing is for sure, players like McIlroy and Justin Thomas will not have to worry about earning a paycheck. They just need to keep blabbering Monahan’s talking points and they will be all right.
In the meantime, the LIV Golf Series will be teeing it up in Portland this week and people are going to watch.
