MARANA (AZ) — Kevin Na was just finishing his first round at LIV Golf Tucson when he headed back to The Gallery Golf Club Clubhouse. Kelli Bowers, director of operations, saw him pass.
Bowers was asked by Na, the Iron Heads captain.
Bowers stated, “I would love for you to make pizza tonight.”
LIV Golf’s business model for team play is growing in Year 2. This means that more responsibility is being placed on the shoulders of the captains. Bowers will be responsible for managing team travel, apparel, social media, and apparel. He also organizes a pizza party to help the players relax and keep them energized starting at the first day of tournaments.
LIV Golf has tightened its purse strings for the second year. This is part of the pulling back in team operations. The league no longer fully finances players’ travel, accommodation and other operational costs. Most of the 12 teams registered as LLCs, in accordance with professional sports team practices. They are now franchises within the league and responsible for all expenses.
The captains of these teams are, in a sense, the owners of the franchise. This is at least until an individual or business purchases the team. Each captain has chosen a general manager.
Phil Mickelson (captain of the HyFlyers) stated that “you have to have a lot support from many different areas.” “You cannot be your best without the support of others. So you need to humble yourself and ask for help.
“We tried to get everyone involved with HyFlyers, from our fitness, physical therapy, coaching, our coaching, and our caddies, family support systems, wives, to the executives who run the team and do all the day-today stuff.”
Na receives that support from Jens Beck, his agent/general manger at ProSport Management who has begun building a team with business leaders such as Bowers.
Bowers said that “(the players) expect us (the coaches) to take everything off of the golf course so that they can play golf stress free.” Bowers’ background in golf is as a four year player at the University of Washington and as an assistant women’s coach at Grand Canyon University.
This includes booking travel for players, their family, coaches, and physiotherapists. LIV offers some great deals on accommodations. Organizing and ordering all apparel. Social media.
These bills are now paid by the teams and not LIV Golf.
Each team has four revenue streams. These include prize money, sponsorships and merchandise sales.
We don’t know the exact amount of prize money. Five million of the $25 million LIV awards for each event goes to the top three winning teams. The winner team gets $3 million, the second place team $1.5 million, and the third place team $500,000.
LIV Golf announced two sponsors: EasyPost, a global shipping logistics company, and Resorts World Sentosa (a Singapore-based hotel company). However, no team has yet announced a deal that could result in patches on their shirts and hats.
More Captains involved in business side
Many captains enjoy stepping outside their comfort zones and getting involved in the business side. The high-end players have always been one-man businesses, but this time, they are working with agents to put together a team that includes a coach, trainer, nutritionist, and caddie.
Brooks Koepka, Henrik Stenson and others have made it a point of diving into the business side.
Koepka, a Jupiter resident and Smash captain, said that “I’ve probably been the most involved player here.” “It’s hard work but we managed 38 weeks per year.
“I love the business side of it. I have learned a lot.”
Majesticks is unusual in that it has three players listed as captains: Lee Westwood (in the list), Ian Poulter (in the list), and Stenson. Stenson seems to have assumed the largest role.
Stenson stated, “I am a perfectionist by nature. So the same way I expect a lot from my team when they practice and play, the same goes for the team’s gear and travel.” “I want it as seamless as possible.”
Even though Bowers does the legwork for Iron Heads’, all ideas are and are made by Na.
She said, “He’s really involved.” “Everything that I have an idea about I give straight to him. We talk it through and either love it or we hate it. You can either try it or not.
Na said: “There are times when I have to pull my self back and say that I need to concentrate on the game.”
Golfers who are at the heart
These guys are still avid golfers. Some of these guys have been playing competitively for between 30 and 40 years. Some are still young and golf is their family, their passion.
Regardless of whether they view the business side, or like Torque captain Joaquin Niemann who admitted it was “really not me favorite part, but I prefer to play golf”, the priority is to take care of their team.
The captains are responsible for making sure that the remaining three players make birdies after the team has been formed. This was done during the offseason which ran from late October at Doral to the last day of the Doral team championship.
RangeGoats captain Bubba Watson said, “I have said this before when I was on Ryder Cup team, Presidents Cup team, my job when I have a partner is to make them loose and make them focus, let them enjoy it,” It’s a whole new level. “I have three guys I want to be there for, whatever they need, whatever the team needs.
Watson, 44, continued: “I’m trying to get those guys fired up.” “When the old man is beating them up or outdriving, that lights a fire under them.”
Cameron Smith, who won the 2022 Open Championship in 2022, joined the Saudi-backed league. He was surrounded by familiar faces to ease the transition.
The Aussie captains the Ripper team with three of his countrymen: Marc Leishman and Matt Jones, as well as Jed Morgan.
Smith replied, “Just hanging out and three good mates,” when Smith was asked his greatest responsibility as a captain of the team. Smith said, “All the boys were really good boys. Although it’s a new role, I love it. Although there are a few additional responsibilities, all the stress is at home. It’s something you can do.
Watson, a two time majors champion and holder of 12 PGA Tour titles has seen LIV revitalize his career.
Watson stated, “As a young child, I didn’t think there was an opportunity. But now there is an option to become a franchise owner.” I can’t afford an NBA, a MLB team, an NFL team, a hockey team, or any other team. It’s cool to be part of the beginning of history.
It’s been a dream come real from a business perspective.
