23rd September Newsletter 2024

RESULTS
Weekly Results From Around The World

LPGA: Kroger Queen City Championship - Lydia Ko | -23
DP World Tour: BMW PGA Championship - Billy Horschel | -20
Champions Tour: PURE Insurance Championship - Paul Broadhurst | -14
Sunshine Tour: Vodacom Origins of Golf - Sishen - Yurav Premlall | -11
LIV Golf: Team Championship Dallas - Rippers

NEWS
Short News Snippets From Around The World

Rahm Rejected. LIV Golf attempted to pay fines for Jon Rahm and other players to allow them to compete on the DP World Tour and maintain Ryder Cup eligibility. However, the DP World Tour rejected the offer, prioritizing its alliance with the PGA Tour, despite Rahm's appeal and LIV's proposed concessions.

Tell Your Wives. The Masters and CBS are extending TV coverage by five hours in 2025, including two hours of exclusive streaming on Paramount+ for the weekend. The partnership with Bank of America was also announced, bringing the number of "champion partners" to four. The Masters continues to limit commercial time to four minutes per hour.

PGA & PIF. Talks between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) are progressing, but a $300 million payment to Jon Rahm from LIV Golf complicates negotiations. Some PGA players want Rahm and others to return LIV earnings. Other proposals include fines or charity contributions. The deal remains uncertain.

Ryder Cup News. The PGA of America confirmed LIV Golf players are eligible for the PGA Championship and U.S. Ryder Cup team, provided they meet qualification criteria. This decision follows LIV's inclusion as an approved tour, allowing players like Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka to compete at the 2025 Ryder Cup if selected.

The Average Handicap. A new study reveals the average Handicap Index is 14.2 for men and 28.7 for women, based on data from 3.2 million U.S. golfers. The average 18-hole score is around 94, though many casual golfers may not keep accurate records, leading to a skewed perception of averages.

INSTAGRAM
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DEBATE
Should LIV Players Give Back Their Money? (The Answer is No)

The ongoing debate surrounding LIV golfers returning their massive earnings highlights deeper issues within professional golf’s fractured landscape. The rift that began with the launch of LIV Golf and its large payouts has led to tensions, and calls for these players to face financial penalties seem to dominate much of the conversation. But should LIV players really return their money? The short answer: no. Here’s why.

Money and Division: The Core of the Issue

When LIV Golf emerged, backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), it completely altered the golfing world. With massive signing bonuses and extravagant prize pools, many players jumped ship from the PGA Tour to LIV. Big names like Jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann, along with other high-profile golfers, secured deals worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Rahm, for instance, reportedly received a $300 million bonus to join LIV Golf, and he’s earned another $35 million this season alone.

Some PGA Tour players are pushing for these LIV golfers to face financial penalties, perhaps even returning the money they earned from LIV. This suggestion gained traction during recent talks between PGA and LIV officials in New York, as reported by Bloomberg. The reason for this? Many PGA players feel that their LIV counterparts should bear some financial consequences for choosing to leave the PGA Tour and take a risk on the rival league.

Contracts Were Signed, and Risks Were Taken

It’s important to remember that LIV players, regardless of how they are perceived now, took a considerable risk when they signed their contracts with LIV Golf. Some of them faced intense public scrutiny, potential career roadblocks, and even lawsuits. Yet, they accepted the money and the conditions of their contracts.

Now, with calls for financial penalties, it’s unrealistic to expect these players to give back what they’ve earned. These contracts were legal and binding, and the golfers made decisions based on what was offered. To demand that they return their money would undermine the legal agreements they entered into. As much as the golfing world may dislike the split, contracts should not be retroactively invalidated just because the landscape has changed.

Finding a Middle Ground

While the idea of returning money seems unreasonable, there is potential for compromise. Rather than requiring LIV players to return their earnings, future earnings restrictions could be considered. LIV golfers could be allowed to play in select PGA events but might face limitations on how much they can earn in these tournaments.

For example, they could be restricted from competing in events like the FedEx Cup or receiving bonuses from such prestigious tournaments. This way, there’s a balance between acknowledging the LIV players’ decision and maintaining fairness on the PGA Tour. Additionally, there could be probation periods or limitations on the number of Tour events LIV players can participate in, ensuring that they don’t entirely dominate both leagues.

LIV Players and the PGA Tour: A Complicated Relationship

This debate doesn’t exist in a vacuum. The relationship between LIV and the PGA Tour has been fraught with controversy, as many LIV players, including Phil Mickelson and Talor Gooch, attempted to double-dip by playing in both LIV events and PGA tournaments. Gooch even sought a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) to play in the FedEx Cup Playoffs, which caused further friction.

The PGA Tour is concerned about the integrity of its competitions and how welcoming LIV players back could affect the standings, sponsorships, and viewership. However, as more players look to return, the idea of forcing them to give back money seems far-fetched. The PGA needs to find ways to include these players without causing further division within the sport.

Rory McIlroy’s Perspective

Rory McIlroy, one of the leading voices in professional golf, has been open about the split within both LIV and PGA camps. According to him, roughly half of the players from each side are in favor of a deal between the leagues, while the other half remains opposed. The primary reason? Money.

Both LIV and PGA players want to secure their financial futures, and merging the leagues could potentially increase prize purses and earnings. However, for many players who aren’t at the top of the standings, a merger may not be as beneficial. Middle-tier golfers, such as Anirban Lahiri, might see their incomes reduced, given the limited opportunities to compete in high-paying events if the leagues join forces.

For top players, a merger could be a lucrative opportunity, but others, like journeyman Michael Kim, feel it won’t affect them as much. Kim tweeted that a potential deal wouldn’t change his schedule or earnings significantly, and he questioned whether LIV players returning would even improve the PGA Tour’s dwindling TV ratings.

Conclusion: What’s Next for Pro Golf?

The debate over whether LIV players should return their money isn’t just about fairness—it’s about the future of professional golf. A merger could bring the two leagues closer together, but it’s unlikely that all parties would benefit equally. As discussions continue, one thing remains clear: LIV players earned their payouts legally, and the idea of asking them to give that money back holds little merit.

Instead, the focus should be on finding compromises that allow both sides to coexist without further deepening the divide in the sport. Whether or not a formal agreement is reached, professional golf will continue to evolve, and the best players will always find a way to thrive.

EVENTS
What Can We Expect From The Upcoming Events

LPGA: Walmart NW Arkansas Championship - Defending Champ | Haeran Ryu
PGA Tour/DP World Tour: Presidents Cup - Defending Champ | USA
DP World Tour: Acciona Open de España - Defending Champ | Matthieu Pavon
Asian Tour: Yeangder TPC - Defending Champ | Poom Saksansin