Posted on 06/09/2022 6:52:09 PM PDT by KierkegaardMAN
A full-scale battle has erupted between an upstart Saudi-funded golf series and the PGA Tour, potentially throwing the future business of golf into question.
Why it matters: Major broadcast networks have invested over $6 billion for the rights to air PGA Tour events through 2030, with additional commitments coming from corporate sponsors for players, the tour and its individual events.
But the newly formed LIV Golf series is luring top players with massive appearance fees and weekly purses, forcing the PGA Tour to fight to retain talent — and putting players, sponsors and fans in conflict given the Saudi kingdom's poor human rights record. While tension has been brewing for months, the PGA Tour today suspended 17 golfers who participated in LIV Golf's inaugural event this morning in the U.K., citing their failure to secure required conflicting-event and media rights releases.
The suspensions include some of the world's top players and those drawing the kind of fan interest that fuels the money pouring into the PGA Tour itself. Details: Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood top the list of golfers "suspended or otherwise no longer eligible to participate in PGA TOUR tournament play," the PGA Tour wrote today in a memo to its members.
The organization was vague on whether and when they could return. Yes, but: The names of players who have not left the PGA Tour are, at this point, equally notable. They include Tiger Woods, still the game's biggest draw, who's popularity changed the economics of golf immeasurably over the last two decades.
(Excerpt) Read more at axios.com ...
Has the PGA transitioned to Woke yet?
Remember the PGA pulled a tourney from trumps course and moved it to Mexico. F em.
The PGA announcers always put me to sleep. I never understood why they speak softly when they are nowhere near the players.
The season-ending event for this new LIV Golf Tour will be at Trump's Doral golf course in Miami, so he did get the last laugh.
Doral was a longstanding premiere location on the PGA tour. When the PGA took it off the schedule just because a PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES owned it, that was too effing much.
Yup. They BANNED all Trump resorts and courses for future tourneys. That’s why I’m all for the PGA’s downfall.
“the PGA Tour today suspended 17 golfers ...include some of the world’s top players”
sounds like a great way to inspire loyalty of your most important employees, and make it more attractive to stay employed with your organization instead of switching to a much higher paying competitor ...
PDJT is a backer of the tour, and he’s got powerful Saudi connections. I even interned for the PGA back at Stanford. Their top execs back then even dont play golf, believe it or not. Just a bunch of trust fund babies who never worked a day in their life.
The Saudis are hard workers so they should get the tour.
I wish LIV all the success. Make sure all tourneys would be at Trump courses.
Unless more big names leave the PGA, I think they’ll do fine.
Doubt we can ever win against all that middle east money.
The only thing MLB is good for is napping. In the few games I went to in my life, I fell asleep at every one of them. Baseball is the most boring thing that ever existed as far as I am concerned.
I do like some things about this LIV:
1. Shotgun start
2. Different Teams each tournament
3. Hidden landmines (apologies to Carlin)
Not Saudi, but we had a Yemenite maid back in the day. She kept the place tidy and could carry baskets on her head.
The PGA is fully woke F them. I play golf around the world, the PGA strong arms the player’s it about time they get some. Plus the PGA told the Trump courses to piss off and two of the 12 LIV events are at Trump courses.how do you like them apples PGA.
PGA and LIV and both play. Free market. The league that plays on Trump courses will get more fans.
“...given the Saudi kingdom’s poor human rights record.”
This reporter needs to GET WITH THE TIMES - the Saudis are now the GOOD GUYS, as we need them to increase oil production in order to drop prices and ‘make Putin feel pain’.
So today, according the Neocons and their media, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, and Iran are the ‘good guys’ and can DO NO WRONG!!!
Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Reed, two golfers in the primes of their careers, will join LIV when the tour makes its U.S. debut. Rickie Fowler, too, although his game on a professional level has gone south for a number of years.
The PGA Tour better think of something more effective than threats, suspensions, and punishing PDJT to save themselves.
Players on the PGA Tour are independent contractors, not employees. This is headed to court, and I don’t think it’s going to end well for the Wokesters trying to run roughshod over wealthy golfers who own mansions and private jets.
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