"In one sense, it is difficult to detect anything warm and cuddly in all of this. Elite golfers, who were already obscenely rich, take the bounty on offer from a Saudi Arabian-backed disruption model before shuffling back whence they came essentially for a trivial penalty when the novelty wears off. This is hardly sport at its purest. Instead, an admission by Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed that they blundered in believing the fairways were greener on the LIV side."
"The PGA Tour, desperate to portray themselves as the big boys in the playground, welcome one-time pariahs back with open arms. Other golfers who spurned LIV's fluttering eyelashes scratch their heads, wondering why they bothered. There is, however, an underlying and endearing point. All the petroleum pounds in the world are no substitute for legacy. Trying to match the achievements of Arnold Palmer, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy carries significance."
"LIV golf has no relevance beyond its own domain. Saudi Arabia has made inroads into various sports but, in golf, the kingdom is unquestionably doomed. LIV is on the road towards oblivion, far earlier than most had anticipated. Only those who will gain financially from its continuation can try to spin an alternative story. Executives at the PGA Tour, who feared for their business when LIV blasted on to the scene, are besides themselves with excitement."
Elite golfers accepted large payouts from a Saudi-backed LIV circuit and later returned to the PGA Tour with only minor penalties when the novelty faded. Financial incentives failed to override the importance of legacy and historical achievements in golf. LIV lacks relevance beyond its own domain and appears headed for collapse despite massive spending. Observers estimate the circuit may have burned through about $6bn since 2022. The returns of Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed signaled disappointment with LIV and undermined its objective of seriously rivalling established tours. PGA Tour executives feel vindicated as former LIV players reintegrate.
Read at www.theguardian.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]