ST. SIMONS ISLAND (Ga.) — The RSM Classic, the PGA Tour’s last fall event, is surrounded by a serene atmosphere that almost seems to dissolve all worries.
Since the 1920s, the Sea Island Club Seaside Course has provided a soothing oasis for golfers. It offers stunning views of the St. Simons Sound, and weaves its way through marshes, seagrass, and centuries-old trees. It’s not uncommon for the top players to fall into a trance during a round, as do 20-handicappers.
Golf’s current dispute, which has raged for years between LIV Golf and the Tour, seemed distant. The best of nature offered it all: a tee and a ball, with the clubs.
Zach Johnson, a long-time resident of St. Simons Island, described it as “a perfect synergy among the Tour, Sea Island and RSM, Davis [Love III]” and his foundation.”
However, a peaceful environment didn’t allow for the possibility of a peaceful resolution to PGA Tour vs. LIV conflict.
Charley Hoffman, a member of the PGA Tour Policy Board, said that she was not optimistic when Charley asked if the upcoming golf break could allow both sides to take a deep breath and think about any possibilities for conciliation. I don’t see how they can partner with them at the moment. They don’t have any sustainable products.”
Kevin Kisner will be leaving the Policy Board at year’s end. He was also blunt.
He said, “No…I don’t believe that’s the future.”
The LIV Golf logo was displayed at the 2022 LIV Golf Miami event held at Trump National Doral, Miami. (Photo: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports)
Both tours available on an extended stay
Two weeks ago, the RSM Classic was over. This caused a 46-day break from official-money tour golf. The qualifiers for Sentry Tournament of Champions were held in Kapalua (Hawaii) Jan. 5-8.
It’s six weeks, four days of opportunity to recharge your mind or retool your swing. There are three unofficial events: the Hero World Challenge in The Bahamas, the QBE Shootout in Naples and the PNC Championship in Orlando.
LIV Golf is also on break. It was launched in June last year and held eight tournaments in the U.S. and Europe.
The Saudi Public Investment Fund funds it and Greg Norman, a World Golf Hall of Fame member, runs it. LIV Golf has provided guaranteed contracts to stars like Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson and Cameron Smith (rumored to exceed $100 million for Mickelson and Smith), as well as $255 million in prize money.
Jay Monahan, PGA Tour commissioner, suspended them as per the Players Championship promise.
According to Amnesty International, the main problem with LIV Golf is its backing by Saudi oil money. The government still restricts basic civil rights of women and criminalizes homosexuality. It also has the death penalty for crimes such as theft and protesting against it.
LIV plans a 14-tournament program next year. It will begin Feb. 24, at the Mayakoba Resort, Mexico. This venue has hosted a PGA Tour event 16 years ago but is now part of the LIV fold.
Yes, LIV is raiding Tour site as well as Tour players.
LIV doesn’t yet have a TV contract that is significant (its tournaments can be streamed online on YouTube), and its members aren’t earning World Golf Ranking Points (which grates on Norman). The golf world will wait with great anticipation to see whether the Augusta National Golf Club will invite LIV players who are past champions or have won majors in the last five years.
During a practice round at TPC Harding Park’s PGA Championship, Davis Love III hit his tee shot on 11th hole. (Photo: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)
Peace talks are blocked by legal action
LIV Golf joined an antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour a few weeks prior to the RSM Classic. The Tour countersued. Before that, the war between words and actions was ugly as the Tour suspended all its members who jumped on LIV Golf.
Monahan announced a number of financial and changes that have raised the purses for 17 events to at minimum $20 million. This was led by The Players Championship, which is $25 million. He also increased the Player Impact Program to millions of dollars. Monahan worked to ensure that the best players around the world play at least 20 tournaments each year.
In October, he stated that coexistence with LIV Golf was “not in the cards”, and hasn’t been in any of the cards.
Norman stated two weeks ago that LIV Golf had “no interest” in any truce.
A few players who served on the PGA Tour Policy Board many times or are currently members agreed with Monahan that there can’t be peace and the Tour schedule won’t slow down the heat.
Davis Love III, an RSM Classic host, has served five terms as a member of the Policy Board. He said that it was impossible to make friends with LIV Golf as long as LIV Golf is enticed players with insanely high prices the PGA Tour cannot match and suing them.
He described it as “a hostile takeover effort.”
Love stated that if they said, “Maybe we made a mistake, maybe we should drop the lawsuit, maybe we should stop stealing your players,” then we might talk to them. Love said, “But I don’t believe that’s their model.”
Hoffman is currently serving a two year term on the Policy Board. He agreed with Love’s description that LIV golf is acting as a corporate raider.
He said, “Davis did it right.” “I don’t see how they can partner with you at this time. I am not so optimistic. They’ll be playing as long as there is play money. They won’t be able deliver a better product than the PGA Tour, but if they want keep losing money
Kevin Kisner’s term as a member of the Policy Board ends at the end the year. He doesn’t believe there is any need to extend olive branches.
He said, “I don’t believe you would ever look upon a competitive threat and attempt to figure out how we can work together.” “Maybe it was before it started, but at this point, I don’t see any direction.”
CEO of LIV Golf Greg Norman looks on from the first tee box during the first round of a LIV Golf tournament at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster. (Photo: Jonathan Jones-USA TODAY Sports)
Replacing Norman?
Rumours have circulated that LIV golf may replace Norman as CEO with an industry insider like Mark King, former CEO Taylor Made. Officials at LIV denied the rumor, but Tiger Woods , Rory McIlroy and Rory McIlroy have stated that Norman’s aggressive, confrontational style must be eliminated from the picture in order to see any signs of peace.
Woods stated Tuesday at a news conference held in The Bahamas that he sees a chance if both organizations place a stop to their litigation.
If you are in litigation, there is no incentive to negotiate. Greg must go first, then the litigation against us, then our countersuit against theirs… these would need to be at a stay. Then we can all speak freely.
McIlroy stated that Greg needs to leave at the DP World Tour Championships in Dubai two weeks ago. “He must leave the stage. No one will talk to him unless there is an adult present who can help to mend fences.”
Jay Monahan, PGA Tour Commissioner, speaks at a news conference in preparation for the 2022 Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images).
What’s next for the PGA Tour?
Johnson stated that he would rather concentrate on the Tour’s future, and pointed out that it is a multi-faceted 501(c)(6) trade association that has more prongs than its primary charge of creating business opportunities for its members (players).
He said, “There are many missions.” “No. 1. Go to the markets and give back [the Tour has given more than $3B in charity since 1933]…great stewardship. No. No. 2 is opportunities to play. They are fulfilling this mission. My confidence is extremely high if we can please our title sponsors…and television along the route and make it better, which we seem capable of doing every time.
Kisner stated that LIV Golf’s efforts to attract college and amateur golfers has not succeeded in achieving the primary goal of the PGA Tour.
He said, “I believe the direction of our Tour will only go up.” “Every child who dreams of becoming a professional golfer is attracted to the PGA Tour. That’s a great thing to have.”
LIV argues that the PGA Tour was forced to make changes because of it. Norman stated in a recent interview, that Tour players should “thank LIV.”
During an interview with ESPN Chicago, he stated that “Since LIV has come on board the PGA Tour stepped up.” They would not have achieved that without competition.
Hoffman stated that Hoffman was unaware that the PGA Tour had signed a record TV contract two years ago, and that the 2021-22 season yielded record purses.
He said, “We were growing anyway.” “That’s what everyone was missing, that LIV was being copied by us all. No. The TV deal was the turning point in our financial year. The purses would go up. “We didn’t do much other than to try to come up with a better system that will bring our top players together more often. That is the most important thing.”
Monahan stated that the core of the problem, in an interview with ESPN in October, was that LIV’s legal actions had ruled out any possibility of resolving the conflict in a boardroom.
It is now in courtrooms and will likely remain there for a while.
Monahan stated in an interview that words and actions were important. It’s impossible to imagine that players could sue the PGA Tour if their employer sued them.
Contact Garry Smits, [email protected], and follow him on Twitter @GSmitter
