Like many of you out there I love golf. For those already not aware, there has been a controversy brewing for several months pertaining to the Saudi financed new LIV golf series that is slated to hold its first tournament in London next week. The tour is publicly spearheaded by Aussie Greg Norman. It consists of small fields and extreme amounts of money, some $50 million per tournament I believe. There are also unique team formats that are supposed to be in play. Some more information below.
[Report: PGA commissioner draws line in the sand on LIV restricted-content](Report: PGA commissioner draws line in the sand on LIV restricted-content)
There is considerable controversy involved as the PGA tour has refused to release any of its members to compete on this tour. Threats of severe sanctions, including a lifetime ban on any player entering an LIV tournament, have been threatened. This obviously raises questions of unfair business practices, if not an outright monopoly.
There has also been much criticism that the new tour is Saudi backed, with human rights abuses by America’s long time ally frequently being cited. It was in relation to this that Phil Mickelson made his ill advised comments a few months ago, resulting in him taking a self inflicted Tiger like hiatus from competitive golf.
I am not taking a firm position on any of this as there are valid arguments on both sides. I am appalled by Saudi behaviour. On the other hand, it doesn’t seem to bother sports like soccer or F1 or even the European golf tour.
I am also not a fan of the PGA’s good old boy monopolistic and dictatorial policies. If you are not aware, the current World Golf events and essentially the ranking system and Fed Ex Cup was the brain child of Greg Norman in the 1980’s. The powers that be of the PGA tour at the time told him to take a hike and threatened him with sanctions before a short time later they stole his ideas and adopted them as their own. He received no credit or compensation and the Tour continues to profit from his ideas to this day.
This is very big news internationally and has the potential for a financial bloodbath in the world of golf. And golf is very big money around the world, being dwarfed perhaps only by soccer, although I am not sure about that. Most of the richest athletes in the world are golfers, including the richest athlete ever, Arnold Palmer (unfortunately now dead). Golf mints more millionaires annually than any other sport, although the extremely rich make more money from endorsements and the business opportunities the sport provides than they actually earn playing.
Today it was announced that there is a Canadian connection as surprisingly several top players, some sponsored by RBC, have opted to play the LIV tournament in London next week over the RBC Canadian Open. RBC has cancelled the long standing endorsement contracts of Dustin Johnson and Graeme McDowell and UPS has cancelled their contract with Lee Westwood as a result of their intention to play in London next week. More below.
[RBC ends sponsorship relationship with Johnson restricted-content](RBC ends sponsorship relationship with Johnson restricted-content)
Players have been speaking out and taking sides, to some extent. This has the potential to change the professional golf landscape as we know it.
Your thoughts and comments are welcome.