Have you started watching LIV yet? Or are you a diehard PGA Tour fan? Whichever side of the fence you fall on, either way, you’re watching millionaires get richer. While the biggest news about LIV initially revolved around the substantial payments the elite names received, it’s not that much different from what PGA Tour players are earning these days.
But should they be thanking the PGA Tour players? Here are my thoughts on the first two tumultuous years of the LIV Tour’s existence.
LIV Controversey: Video
The Genesis of the LIV Tour
At the outset, the LIV Tour was shrouded in controversy due to its financial backing from questionable businessmen from Saudi Arabia. This conversation quickly pivoted to the financial disparities—how a LIV player’s earnings far exceeded those on the PGA Tour.
PGA players were enticed to leave the PGA because they suspected the organization of withholding profits for board members and not fairly distributing them to the players, the real stars of the show.
The Hesitation and Risk
These players initially hesitated to switch because the LIV tour had no established TV rights or history.
It was a fresh slate.
For those who took the leap, the rewards were immense—they became instant hundred millionaires. However, this came at a cost as the PGA Tour decided to ban them from participating in any PGA Tour-sanctioned events.
Thankfully for them, most major tournaments are not sanctioned by the PGA Tour, allowing LIV players to exploit this loophole and compete in the world’s biggest tournaments.
LIV’s Impact and PGA’s Response
Initially, LIV succeeded in signing some big names, catching the PGA Tour off guard. In response, the PGA Tour escalated purses to keep its players loyal. Tournaments were rebranded as signature events, solely to justify the inflated prize money, a strategy that appears to have worked.
LIV has not managed a significant signing since Jon Rahm joined at the start of 2024.
Nevertheless, LIV hasn’t lost its momentum. Ticket sales continue to rise, and many seasoned golfers admit that attending a LIV event is more exhilarating than a PGA event, thanks to the LIV music and carnival-style activities. However, the bigger concern is the division of the world’s best golfers between two entities.
We may never again see the best compete against the best across a unified league.
Then again, there’s movement on a PGA/LIV merger.
Ranking Points Controversy
Despite LIV players being eligible to play in the majors, they must still earn sufficient World Golf Ranking points to qualify. LIV Tour has struggled with gaining recognition from golf’s governing bodies, leaving them unable to award World Golf Ranking points at their events.
It seems particularly unfair since over 20 tours worldwide, including small tours like the Tartan Tour in Scotland, can award these points.
Yet, notable players like Bryson DeChambeau competing against Jon Rahm, Cam Smith, Dustin Johnson, and Phil Mickelson on the LIV Tour do not get the same recognition. Officially, it’s because LIV events are only 54 holes, but the true reasons might be more complex.
Future of LIV Players in Major Tournaments
Currently, the only LIV players eligible to participate in the majors are those who’ve won a major in the past, securing a lifetime invitation. As the older generation nears retirement, the number of LIV players in majors may dwindle, potentially harming the game’s competitive spirit.
Unless the boardroom conflicts resolve, we might witness the decline of professional golf, paralleling soccer’s fragmented format where the best players won’t play against each other in the same league.
Looking Forward
Until a resolution is found, I’ll be watching both tours and hoping for an event akin to the Ryder Cup between the two—an event that could indeed be very exciting.
Clint is PGA-certified and was a Head Teaching Professional at one of Toronto's busiest golf academies. He was also featured on Canada's National Golf TV program, "Score Golf Canada," twice. He graduated with a degree in Golf Management from the College of the Desert in California and studied under Callaway's co-founder, Tony Manzoni. He has a handicap index of 6.2 and spends the winters near Oaxaca, Mexico, where he plays twice a month at the Club de Golf Vista Hermosa. He's written over 100 articles at GolfSpan since 2021. You can connect with Clint at LinkedIn, FB, his website, or Clintcpga@gmail.com.
