Lynch: Nobody in golf can be certain of anything. Greg Norman, Phil Mickelson and LIV Golf’s Greg Norman are the only two golfers who can be certain about anything.

Voltaire, a French philosopher from the 18th century, wrote: “Doubt may not be pleasant, but certainty can be absurd.” Voltaire lacked, it seems, the vision of twenty-first century propagandists Greg Norman or Phil Mickelson.

In the world of golf, uncertainty is the only currency that exists right now. The PGA Tour Framework Agreement with Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund. How radical the realignment will be of the ecosystem. The time frame for getting clarity. How private investment fits in the scheme. The Saudis’ tolerance for dilution before they lose face. What the Tour players will support. You won’t hear any confident assurances from anyone who is knowledgeable about these issues. They don’t really know. As Norman and Mickelson said this week in Trump Doral, the only precinct that has a smug certitude about it is LIV.

Norman’s silence has been so unusual since the Framework Agreement was announced almost five months ago that it is possible his employer, Jamal Khashoggi, may have ordered him to remain silent. The flaxen-haired puppet clearly hasn’t been contemplating troubling facts in silence for the past five months. He said that “all indications” show the LIV’s position has never before been stronger, and the success and position of our players as well as our brand have never been better.

He didn’t say what those indicators were. Bubba Watson claims he is being besieged by interested parties . In reality, however, his product has no scale and has not attracted any announced buyers for franchises. It also presents a risible program that makes North Korean State Television seem nonpartisan and no longer provides viewership statistics. LIV’s only asset is cash, which rarely inspires true fans of any sport.

Norman added that “the business model works”, displaying the same bulletproof confidence that he would have displayed on any second Sunday in April. LIV may have “never had a stronger” but this is less due to Norman’s management and product quality, than the fact that the sole beneficiary views it as an effective (for the moment) vehicle for legitimacy in the sports.

Mickelson deserves to have a poster made in the style of Rosie the Riveter, because he is so reliable in his advocacy. He said, “I am excited to see who will be coming next year.” “Over time we will just get better and better. We’ll keep adding better players.”

This is as close to being a true statement as Mickelson’s been in a long time. LIV has announced that four of the current players will be demoted. The quality of the players will also improve, since new recruits are less likely to stink than those who have been benched. Mickelson was asked on Wednesday whether he believes there will be new players moving to LIV. He replied, “Do I believe that?” No, I’m sure that will happen. “When players see LIV, they’re eager to become a part.”

It is important to consider the quality of new recruits. Does anyone want to take the plunge?

Norman revealed that he is aiming for seven stars. “The PGA Tour players that we’re speaking with today want to be freed. “Those conversations are still ongoing,” he stated.

Sorry.

Norman did not say that last weekend.

He said that a year earlier, at the same event.

The script for last week was as follows: “I’m personally speaking to a number of players who are interested in joining LIV… We’re receiving a lot expressions of interest.”

He has turned his recitation into golf’s Waiting For Godot in which he predicts the arrival a central figure who never appears.

There’s a possibility that an elite player is ready to sign a contract with LIV. After Department of Justice review, the Framework Agreement dropped a clause that would have prevented LIV from poaching players. What are the chances that a player of note will leave now, with such uncertainty about the future relationship between tours? How likely is it that the Saudis will jeopardize negotiations by making a move like this? It’s unlikely that anyone will join LIV in the winter who can sell tickets or draw attention. TGL is the only league to sign stars. The tech-centric outfit backed and partnered by Rory McIlroy , Tiger Woods , and the PGA Tour. Norman has almost all the players on his wish list committed. This suggests that TGL will seed any future ecosystem, and not LIV. Norman and Mickelson’s cocksure bluster on LIV prospects is not a credible promise, but merely posturing in order to comfort players who are stranded.

The future of professional gol has never been so uncertain and volatile. This is a fact that affects every tour, as well as its members. All of these players know that anyone who claims to “know” or who can see many chess movements ahead is just making up a fantasy.