The arrival of the LIV Golf has been talked about for several weeks now.
Several big names have already joined this new competition:
- Henrik Stenson
- Bryson Dechambeau
- Sergio Garcia
- Martin Kaymer
- Phil Mickelson
- Dustin Johnson
- Lee Westwood
- Louis Oosthuizen
- and of course Cameron Smith, recent winner of the British Open, who will soon join the competition…
… all under the supervision of Greg Norman.
But what is this new competition? What are the differences between the LIV Golf League and the PGA Tour? Who finances this new league and above all, is it good or bad?
What is LIV Golf?
The LIV Golf is a new format of golf competition that competes with the PGA or the European Tour for example.
Funded by Saudi Arabia, their stated goal is to revitalize the image of pro golf as indicated by their slogan: “Golf, but louder”.
To achieve this, LIV Golf proposes a competition with a totally different format from the classic PGA competitions, as well as a cash prize and an organization that changes from the one we have always known in PGA events.
Why is the LIV Golf a problem?
Simply because the PGA (Professional Golfers Association) had a de facto monopoly on the organization of international golf competitions. The European Tour is in fact the EPGA (European PGA) and there are other competitions like the LPGA (Ladies PGA).
LIV Golf breaks this monopoly and this is a problem for the PGA.
Indeed, the PGA is not a voluntary association: with cash prizes of 9 million dollars per event, the PGA raises a lot of money.
Like any business, it has to have its back and the field is the best argument. When the best players in the world play in your competition, you know you’ll have the spectators with you. Brands follow and sponsor. The model is viable.
With competition, some sponsors could turn away and go sponsor the other event. This could jeopardize the global organization, especially since a petromonarchy (Saudi Arabia) is financing with millions without expecting any particular return… The competition is distorted.
What are the differences between LIV Golf and the PGA?
There are major differences between the two formats and each carries a different vision of golf.
No cut for the LIV Golf
In a classic PGA tournament, there is a cut at each round.
If you make more than a certain score, then you are eliminated from the competition.
You paid the same fee to play one course when the best will play four.
It also means that Saturday and Sunday are days when there are many spectators and viewers.
In addition…
The duration of the competition is different
On the PGA Tour, the competitions last 4 days while they last only 3 days for the LIV Golf.
This is where the name LIV Golf comes from. LIV is the number 54 in Roman numerals. 54 is 3 times 18 holes and also the score if you make birdie at each hole on a par 72.
As there is no cut, the players will all play the 3 days of competition, regardless of their score.
The LIV Golf is a shotgun start
On the PGA Tour, all tee times are on hole 1.
The interesting thing is that by staying at the start of 1 all day, you will be able to see all the games go by.
Very often, this is what most of the spectators do and then they will massively follow the last part.
As the players start in reverse order of ranking, this last game is where the best players of the previous days are, and on Sunday it is often the game where the winner of the competition is found.
The TV is not mistaken: the broadcasts do not usually start when the first start is given but on the last games.
Problem: few spectators are interested in the other parts.
LIV Golf has decided to make shotgun starts, which means that all the games start at the same time on different holes. For the moment, there are 48 players in total against 120 players in a PGA tournament, the first tee time is around 7.00 am and the last one around 1.30 pm and this round will finish around 7.30 pm/20.00 pm. With the shotgun start, a round of LIV lasts the time of a pro game, 5 hours.
An individual AND team format for LIV Golf
Another new feature is the individual/team mix.
In PGA, there are only rankings and individual cash prizes. It is your place that determines your winnings.
LIV Golf has added the team concept, there are 12 teams of 4 players. Not only will you get credit for your individual performance but also for the performance of your team, there is a team captain who will manage and motivate the team members.
Each team has its own name and logo.
Money… the nerve of the war
Of course, it’s all there.
The PGA offers a cash prize of approximately $9 million per event while LIV Golf offers $25 million ($20 million individual and $5 million team).
Most importantly, the payout pyramid is not the same: to enter a LIV event is to secure a payout of at least $120,000, so you can leave a PGA event in the negative (winning 0 and having paid an entry fee).
LIV Golf is funded by Saudi Arabia ($2 billion), while the PGA is more conventionally sponsored by major brands and player fees.
It’s a bit like a startup versus a traditional company.
But in the end, how do we rank golfers in the PGA? By money, as they say in the US, “nuf said”.
Greg Norman
The leader of all this is Greg Norman.
What can I say, he is a huge champion and his goal is to make golf more popular.
The atmosphere during the events
Bryson Dechambeau posted a video where he shows what a typical day at LIV Golf is like.
The atmosphere is more relaxed. There is music and entertainment.
More show, less ceremony.
Golf, but noisier.
The PGA’s reaction to LIV Golf
Obviously, the PGA is against this new competition.
The monopoly it had until now is being questioned and it is always a real danger for any company to lose this monopolistic status. Especially to be faced with a competitor whose funding is monstrous.
The PGA decided that players who join the LIV Golf are excluded from the PGA Tour and cannot participate in both leagues.
Some have lost more, such as Henrik Stenson who lost his captaincy of the European Ryder Cup team. The golf authorities are also considering the possibility of excluding LIV players from the golf opens.
LIV Golf : good or not ? My opinion…
I’m one of those people who think golf needs to be dusted off.
Not by making it easier but by making it more accessible and by taking it out of a certain elitist sclerosis in which it would like to lock itself (especially in France).
And I think that monopolies are never good in any field.
I like the formula
I find the LIV Golf format, with its shotgun start and 3 day duration, to be a much better format. I have watched several broadcasts and the format is much more dynamic, the shots, the players and the games follow one another at a frenetic pace. The PGA format always suffers from the fact that the morning games are of no interest to anyone and that the last games are alone on the course. This leads to a lot of “talk” and reruns.
The time I most enjoyed watching the PGA format was during an open where there was a choice of camera:
- the classic TV camera
- the camera that was following a game
- the camera following a hole.
With a shotgun start, you can choose to land on a hole, follow a round or just wander around. The overall duration of 5h30 allows you to see everything.
I also think that the fact of not having a cut and that all the participants are paid are good things. There are no more “stooges” even if there are still “second knives”.
Overall, it’s more respectful of the players.
Money… always money
There are many people who criticize the money involved. It’s true that thinking about “golf” and “Saudi Arabia” and “petrodollars” is a major ethical problem. But I don’t think the PGA is a philanthropic and environmental association either.
The players are pros and money has always been a part of the game. Without the money, players would be reluctant to leave the PGA behind.
Once again, we are dealing with a startup.
I understand the PGA’s need to guarantee a form of exclusivity to their tournaments. However, concerning the Ryder Cup and the International Opens, I find it totally abused. An Open is in essence “open to all”.
It’s all hypocritical.
The atmosphere
Well… I must admit that I am not a big fan of the festive side of golf.
It’s a transformation that I didn’t appreciate in tennis because I’m not a fan of these kinds of gatherings.
But the reality is there. People want to party around their passions.
And if it can be done without disturbing the players and without turning the golf courses into night clubs, I’m over it!
In conclusion
In the end, I find this format appealing.
On the one hand, it is new and on the other hand, it gives all the players and spectators a chance to participate.