Being that I’m a traditionalist-leaning golfer, LIV shouldn’t have interested me so much, yet it did. While I don’t like the loud music playing during tournaments, I did enjoy watching the first two seasons and generally like it better than a regular PGA Tour event.
I’ll try to stay on topic with this broad topic, yet, as golf fans know, it can be an in-depth topic. When this much money is being thrown around, things get more serious and the stakes higher.
Speaking plainly, most golf viewers and fans aren’t as interested in the money players make as the golf being played and the golfers playing it. The storyline for the tournament is what makes it unique and interesting.
Money is more important to the suits behind the scenes than to those who love the game.
I don’t believe LIV players are sell-outs or greedy for joining the league. They likely believe things will have to change eventually and they will be allowed to play in PGA Tour events in the future — things will straighten out soon enough.
The big problem for LIV is world ranking points. It has kept probably a dozen good golfers from playing in the Majors the last two years.
Golf fans just want to see the best players play in the Majors, Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup, and signature events. That is all.
At the regular PGA Tour stops, having some of the top players with a field of underdogs works just fine for most viewers.
Benefits of LIV to Golf
In general, siphoning 48 golfers from the DP and PGA Tours has created more opportunities for that many players who wouldn’t have the chance if they stayed. LIV Golf is opening the game up to more people to play professionally.
See, 50 players move up from the Korn Ferry and Challenge Tours and then there are 50 players who can now move up from the third-tier pro golf tours and 50 who can then enter those tours.
With all of the great players LIV Golf has and will have, it is set to become the premier pro golf league in the world. That is what the struggle has been all about, the PGA Tour vs. LIV Tour for the top status.
For now, the PGA Tour has that status, but with the money LIV Golf has, it will inevitably become the premier golf tour when it has the prestige to go with it.
The recent merger between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour is a good thing for both organizations, as it will dissolve the animosity and start creating a product that viewers want to see and support.
This will have to include LIV Golf getting world ranking points and being able to play in PGA Tour events and the Ryder/President’s Cup.
Meanwhile, LIV Golf will get an influx of the rest of the best golfers in the world, puffing its ranks and making it the premier pro golf league in the world. Jon Rahm just showed an example of this.
When I talk of the PGA Tour, just include the DP World Tour as well.
Cons of LIV Golf
The 3-day tournament thing needs to go, and so does the loud music during the tournament — sounds like a rave party.
Besides the critiques of LIV tournaments, the impact of the upstart league hasn’t been all positive for the golf world in general.
I don’t think anyone who loves golf and is a fan of watching it likes how LIV Golf has disrupted the traditions and history of the PGA Tour. The PGA Tour is a well-respected pro golf tour that upholds charity and values beyond just profit and fame.
LIV Golf has yet to define what it stands for beyond just offering the most money and having loud music disrupt the atmosphere of tournaments.
The PGA Tour has memory after memory of the best golfers in the past and present playing on certain courses at certain times of the year, etc. The routine of golf revolves around the PGA Tour, and it is a pleasant scene built upon years of work from those who love and honor the game.
LIV Golf threatens these values; in a way, just to be different.
Conclusion
Overall, I like watching LIV Golf and think it is good for professional golf. The team aspect is great, the golfers playing there are great, and the worldwide aspect is interesting.
In this off-season from golf, leaders have been quiet so far with the particulars of what the merger means for golfers. I’m sure this will change as the year unfolds, and this will reveal what the future of the game looks like.
Hopefully, LIV Golf turns down the music and adds a day to their tournaments; as for the PGA Tour, hopefully, they allow LIV golfers to play in PGA Tour events, Majors, and Ryder/President’s Cups; and world golf rankings need to be given to the LIV Golf Tour.
Last thought, it would be great to have an over 50 team on LIV representing the seniors. I know the Majestics are almost there, but not quite. Go RangeGoats!
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