28 July 2022
Reputations and Clubs overboard
by Paul Branch
Not to be put off by the short-lived splutter into life and almost instant demise of the European football super league, golf has actually gone and set up an exclusive by-invitation-only superstar club of some of the best players in the world, dragging them away from the cosy comfort of the US and European professional golf associations. Ostensibly they have chosen as their mission statement the need to improve the sport and the opportunities for those who play it, rather like their footballing counterparts. However, the suspicion is that, despite the grand words, the true objective is not quite what it seems, and the rest of the world (including those not in receipt of an invitation to join this elite band of brothers) is spitting blood.
Forty eight of professional golf’s finest have been lured away from the PGA and DP World Tour by LIV Golf, a venture bankrolled by the state-owned Saudi investment fund. In moving to another group these players have automatically disqualified themselves from their former association with the lucrative and prestigious US and European tours, and the four traditional major tournaments of the Masters, the US Open, the US PGA and of course The Open. – not to mention the opportunities to earn further eye-watering sums of prize money and public adulation in the US commercially sponsored competitions, the European national championships (which now include tournaments in South Africa and the Far East), and the end of season champion-of-champions Fedex Cup competition. Why on earth would anyone want to do that?
Let’s take a look at LIV’s Saudi sponsors … what’s in it for them? As an investment fund they’re not exactly short of money, and neither are the Saudi royals who govern them. What they seem to crave is better acceptance by the western world of their national characteristics and mode of government, which lead to a less than benign attitude towards human rights and a somewhat abrupt way of silencing their more dissident subjects such as Jamal Khashoggi. What better way then to associate themselves with the highly respected, highly civilised western pastime of golf? They’ve been quite successful with horse racing, but golf adds a whole new dimension to their endeavours. And they now have a very serious backer and tournament host – with his Bedminster US golf course as the next venue for the new Saudi Golf League, Donald Trump Himself has become a very vocal proponent of LIV’s mission, urging the top players to move away from the PGA. Nothing to do of course with the PGA having studiously ignored Trump’s multiple golf courses for their own tournaments, but The Donald has been known to bear a grudge. Another defector adding momentum to the Saudi cause is David Feherty, former prominent golf analyst with NBC and now providing commentary for LIV. Thus far the broadcasting and news media have remained somewhat aloof but who knows if/when even their heads will eventuality get turned by Saudi dollars.
Of the players, those 48 brave bandoleros riding into the rich sunlit uplands in pursuit of even more untold wealth with their reputations shredded, Sergio Garcia is close to top of the list LIV drew up to attract the best of the best. 2017 Masters champion and the Ryder Cup’s record points scorer, Sergio’s game has now probably levelled off so a few million bucks seems a comfortable way to move towards the end of a stellar career. On the other hand Bryson DeChambeau, the 2020 US Open winner, is still approaching his prime but has succumbed to a reputed guarantee of $80 million earnings …. but then who wouldn’t? Not Dustin Johnson, two-time major winner, who signed on for over $100 million. Nor Phil Mickelson, perhaps the biggest name to defect from the PGA for no less than $170 million …. but then he has won six Majors so probably deserves it. Of the European contingent, Paul Casey, Martin Kaymer, and English Ryder Cup Stalwarts Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and 2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell have all joined LIV. As have the Americans Brooks Koepke (four Majors) and Patrick Reed (2018 Masters), and South Africa’s Louis Oosterhuizen (2010 Open champion) and Charl Schwartzel (2011 Masters).
Head of recruitment and CEO at LIV is Australia’s veteran golf champion Greg “Shark” Norman (two Open victories, but famously blew the 1996 Masters with multiple shots into the water, of which more later). His reputation and slick PR must have been attractive to the likes of Johnson and Mickelson, but failed to persuade perhaps the biggest name of them all to join – the incomparable Tiger Woods, winner of 15 Majors, who to his credit has maintained his sporting dignity, even through the disappointment of his last appearance at the Open. And for Europeans perhaps the most recent and most disconcerting recruit has been Henrik Stenson, the Swedish winner of the 2016 Open and Ryder Cup captain for the 2023 tournament, now stood down as a result of his unexpected defection. Hopes of regaining the Ryder Cup are in ruins, but it looks as if the American team has also been decimated so all to play for.
Talk of multiple millions for knocking a little white ball into an only slightly bigger hole seems obscene when compared to the average salary of a Staff Nurse at less than £32,000 or a ward nurse on £20 an hour. It speaks volumes for how we treat people and value their talents. But on a brighter note to finish, and in memory of Greg Norman’s watery Masters grave, a little true story to pluck the heartstrings. It was last week on the 5th hole at my local Cotswolds golf club, a 500 yards par 5 with water on the approach to the green. I was playing very well, the best all summer, and over the water and near the green with my third shot. My playing partner on the other hand put his shot in the water. Ever solicitous, I wandered down to the pond’s edge for a half-hearted look into the murky depths, and as I was peering into the water I became aware out of the corner of my eye of something moving toward me. I turned in time to see my trolley plus golf bag hurtle past at speed, diving into the pond with enough momentum to take it into the middle. Whereupon it floated gracefully revealing only its rear end. After testing the water up to my knees with much more depth beyond, the ground keepers were summoned but initially could only conclude that it was too deep for easy retrieval, and that “someone” needed to go in, glancing meaningfully at me. As a fully paid up member and non-swimmer I demurred. Then a brainwave – one of the nearby lifebelts was unhooked and launched into the pond, landing over the still floating bag after a few attempts, and the bag was finally dragged to the shore. Though the trolley and all the irons were lost, along with my dignity, at least I got my woods and my wallet back, and the car keys still work. But golf can be a cruel game, especially if you’re not very good and not earning millions at it. And I’m not expecting a call from LIV* any time soon.
*If you’re wondering, LIV in Roman numerals is 54, or the promise of a birdie on every hole of a par-72 course.
tile photo: Steven Shircliff on Unsplash
