Yesterday at the Players Championship press conference, celebrating their 50th year, PGA Comish Jay Monahan was cock a' hoop in his state of the nation message, ticking all the boxes including a rousing depiction on the tour's future.
Sam Greenwood/ Getty Images
Buoyed by the recent launch of PGA Tour Enterprises with a whopping $1.5 billion investment from the Strategic Sports Group (SSG) which is basically half a dozen of America's super wealthy sports team owners, the future without the PIF led by their governor Yasir Al- Rumayyan, looks bright.
He addressed the status of their discussions, originally planned to conclude in January then by the Masters week, as "going to take time"
"I recently met with the governor of the PIF, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, and our negotiations are accelerating as we spend time together,” Monahan said. “While we have several key issues that we still need to work through, we have a shared vision to quiet the noise and unlock golf's worldwide potential.”
He and SSG members flew to Saudi Arabia in January to talk with Al-Rumayyan.
“It's going to take time,” Monahan said, “but I reiterate what I said at the TOUR Championship in August. I see a positive outcome for the PGA TOUR and the sport as a whole.
I say it's looking like that time could well be never.
“Most importantly, I see a positive outcome for our great fans. Despite the distractions over the last two years, fans, sponsors and communities continue to value and engage with the PGA TOUR, and I am more confident than ever in the fundamental strength of our organization.”
So who needs the Saudi's LIV now becomes clearer as time continues to heal all wounds.
Continued poaching of players came to a head with the signing of Jon Rahm for over $300,000,000, a very divisive moment for all concerned including public opinion. With major TV contracts all signed sealed and delivered by NBC, Peacock, Golf Channel, Sky Sports, ESPN, PGA Tour Live TSN etal , excluding the LIV tour, they continue to play in obscurity apart from attendance at their individual tournaments.
Out of sight, out of mind...
No matter how much we have been thrilled by the exploits of DJ, Rambo, Poults, Sergio etal the game goes on, flourishing more than ever without them with Rory, Scottie, Viktor, Tommy, Jordan, Justin, Hideki having the stage to themselves.
Exciting, tremendous new talent like the Hojgaard twins Rasmus and Nicolai, Ludvig Aberg, Tom Kim to name a few, stars emerging from Denmark, South Korea, Finland, Japan. Canada, South Africa are all playing on the PGA Tour for huge purses drawing fans from their countries with them.
Now, no mention in all of this of the DP World Tour.
Whether those of us who remember the European Tour in all its glory dismay, it will still always be a good home for many of it's rank and file members, despite smaller purses, and arduous travel and who still have the chance of making it in America where the big money for them, always was, and always will be.
Much criticism was laid under the Strategic Alliance allowing its top 10 players full membership on the PGA Tour, but Matthieu Pavon, Nicolai Hojgaard, Ludvig Aberg, Christiaan Bezuidenhout etal are simply flourishing as players and financially, how could the DP World Tour not be seen to reward their efforts, rather than keeping them playing in Europe.
Long before that decision, as Rory points out, European Tour players found their way to America on their ability, to beat winter and play all year round.
Shane Lowry, Justin Rose moved to Jupiter in West Palm Beach with their families to join Poulter, Rory, Luke Donald etc., where over 30 active golfers live with tax break incentives in ideal winter weather, and superb facilities, all started by Jack Nicklaus when he moved there in 1966 and still has Tiger as their most famous resident.
Ryder Cup
Not having LIV players allowed to play is no longer an issue and here's why.
This little competition between the USA and GB&NIre in 1926 has grown to be such a world wide colossus, and the crowning jewel of the DP World Tour / PGA Tour that each side wants their best team available and that would include LIV.
However not one of us can never forget 2023 Europe's 7th straight home win in Italy 16.5 to 11.5, a team in transition without any of their former stalwarts turned LIV, Poulter, Westwood Stenson, Sergio.
As it turns out their exploits will always be fondly remembered, but are past and to be honest they weren't missed at all. The absolute joy, singing of the European players on the bus ride after the presentations were over, summed it up.
It could not have been more exciting, except in the USA, but will ramp up again at Bethpage Black, as compelling as ever.
It just doesn't need LIV anymore, nor does golf.
Bryan Angus
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