For anyone who has been living in a bunker these past few weeks, LIV Golf is a newly formed rival to the established PGA Tour, an invitational series that will consist of eight events in its inaugural season.
Two of these events have already taken place, in Hertfordshire, England, and at the Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in Oregon, with each extending to 54 holes across three days, instead of the traditional 72 holes over four days.
This format-change explains the new tour’s name, with ‘LIV’ the roman numeral for 54.
Featuring in these competitions are household names and multiple major winners, including Phil Mickelson, Lee Westwood, Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson and though these ‘rebel’ players are suspended indefinitely from participating in future PGA events they are still free to compete in majors, such as the British Open Championship due to tee-off this week.
Incidentally, the two events in question were concluded without contention in front of curious crowds, with Charles Schwartzel winning the first, and Brenden Grace upsetting the golf odds in the other.
So far then, so not especially controversial although of course a breakaway league was always bound to be newsworthy and it certainly garnered plenty of headlines, mainly focusing on the fractious nature of it.
Only it has been controversial and frankly that’s something of an understatement, with some claiming the sport of golf will never be the same again.
Indeed, consider the criticism and condemnation that greeted a proposed European Super League in football at the height of the pandemic. Now double it. Treble it, even.
Tiger Woods gives damning verdict on LIV Golf pic.twitter.com/JjzXybHDGl
— Golf Monthly (@GolfMonthly) July 12, 2022
The reason for such rancour lies in the country behind the ambitious venture, with financial backing coming from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), a sovereign wealth fund overseen by the state’s ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
With Saudi Arabia’s appalling human rights record it has led to accusations of ‘sportswashing’ while the defected players have had their ethics queried. Some in the media have even gone so far as to suggest Westwood and company have sold their souls.
And sold for an exorbitant price because the extraordinary money involved is another reason why LIV Golf has prompted uproar.
Phil Mickelson is reputed to have been paid $200m to participate while long-time online betting favourite Tiger Woods turned down four times that amount if reports are accurate.
Each tournament meanwhile offers up a $25m purse, the likes of which even the moneyed PGA cannot come close to matching, and it grates to hear rebel players insist they have jumped ship to ensure financial security for their families.
Just one look at Dustin Johnson’s net worth for example illustrates they are already set for life.
According to LIV Golf’s official website, the new format will ‘supercharge the professional golf landscape and create new value for fans and players alike’ but to date there has been no evidence of it doing any such thing.
Instead, it has provoked only disharmony and grievous ill-feeling, leaving a whole sport splintered.
Is LIV Golf the future? Let’s hope not.
