Running 2022 Golf Thread

Interesting move for Bubba. He has two adopted children and is an enthusiastic Christian. Both are frowned upon by the LIV Golf backers.

 

I love Rory. That's all.

 

What do you want from a guy who claims to be from Bagdad (Florida)?

 

I think Gary is sponsored by Saudi Golf or something like that. He’s a tremendous shill.

If you want to get blocked on Twitter, ask him why he skipped his “very dear friend” Arnie’s funeral for a corporate gig.

 

Nuanced perfectly.

I don't agree with the Saudis, their horrible human rights record and the latest attempt at sports washing (IOC, FIFA, PGA Tour ... FIA?)

But please spare me the BS that the PGA Tour takes care of its players. I have a difficult time buying that for one moment, they're "independent contractors," and the next that they're banned from the tour for competing in the LIV Tour. The fact that Tiger Woods tried to stand up for the Tour and chided the alleged defectors for taking guaranteed money was unintentionally hilarious.

“I understand different viewpoints, but I believe in legacies," Woods said to Golf Digest in May. "I believe in major championships. I believe in big events, comparisons to historical figures in the past. There’s plenty of money out here. The Tour is growing. But you have to go out there and earn it. You’ve got to go out there and play for it. We have the opportunity to go ahead and do it. It’s just not guaranteed up front.’’

See also: A piece from Gannett on appearance fees (i.e., guaranteed money). Guess whose name is all over it: https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2020/...nged-landscape-promotional-fees-around-world/

Surely, many of you remember when Woods would go to Dubai and Abu Dhabi for six- and seven-figure appearance fees. Granted, those were for single weekends, but still, spare us going after the defectors over the money. We get the larger point, but the wording was empty coming from him. If he had kept the appearance money charade out of it, the message would have worked much better.

OK, so Jay Monahan stood up for his organization. But forget softballs ... Jim Nantz tossed him beach balls. What else was Monahan going to say? "Well, go ahead. I don't care."? Would he be willing to talk so tough if enough of them left and basically forced him to promote most of the Korn Ferry Tour to fill the 156-man field? And "a series of exhibition matches"? Isn't that what WGC events, the Ryder Cup and the Presidents Cup are? And if they have this big an issue with other tours offering guaranteed money, why didn't Deane Beman ban Seve Ballesteros and everyone one else who took appearance money on the European Tour a generation ago?

If the PGA Tour loses enough top players, how quickly does Monahan walk the suspensions back?

Philosophically, I understand not wanting to touch the Saudis and their attempt at covering up some of their horrendous acts. But the PGA Tour and Monahan might want to address their crumbling ivory tower.

 

Does this mean his decision to go to the LIV Tour puts him between Iraq and a hard place?

 

I've met and talked with Pat Perez's dad at a country club in San Diego. Tony Perez (not the first baseman) and Pat Perez are estranged. Tony helps put on a charity tournament for the Wounded Warriors Project and works with an organization that helps disabled veterans get onto golf courses, giving them instruction, equipment and suitable jobs.

 

Probably can't stand his wife. Then again, who could?

 

You know I greatly respect your views but I've got to say you're off here.

The PGA Tour pros almost fit exactly the legal definition of an independent contractor:

They are required to pay their own way in every single way every day;
They decide who will be their caddy, equipment mgr., etc.;
They earn the opportunity to play on the Tour;
They, not the Tour, decides when and where they play;
They decide when to show up for practice, if ever; and
They decide how much to pay their caddies and others.
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The Tour is exactly how you would want your organization to be regulated:

The Tour decides what venues will be used;
The Tour decides when the tournaments will be played and how;
The Tour decides who will be allowed in and under what circumstances.
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Anti-trust violations occur when you bar someone from entering the market.

This is a really good example of what isn't an anti-trust violation because the LIV Tour is everything that a viable alternative should be:

More money;
different rules;
an open invitation to an alternative choice.
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Anti-trust doesn't mean if you choose one alternative, you MUST be given the opportunity to have ALL alternatives.

The LIV has tournaments in the US, so they can't even say the Tour has a monopoly on US venues.

Based on track records, if you're thinking you can have both, remember you're following Norman and Mickelson, the two most self-centered players we've seen, not the ones most giving to others.

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And I love the well reasoned rebuttal. That's why I like hanging out here.

 

She's just happy she doesn't have to live on what her husband makes by being 127th on the money list.