The Absurdity of Men's Professional Golf

While this week was milder in comparison to the drama from the previous week, men’s professional golf remains in a state of chaos. Jon Rahm’s defection to LIV Golf was but another turning point in the future of the PGA TOUR and reignited the frustrations of whiny pro golfers everywhere.

When news broke that a cadre of PGA TOUR players (deemed the “mules” by golf media) sent a memo via legal representation to the PGA TOUR Policy Board, the jokes almost wrote themselves. The list of players included the likes of James Hahn, Grayson Murray, Lanto Griffin, and other barely recognizable names who you may have heard of only because of their propensity to complain. These players demanded more transparency in any ongoing negotiations by the TOUR with the Public Investment Fund (PIF), to which they felt entitled due to their membership status.

As much as I laugh at those names, they aren’t wrong.

These past fews months have felt like we all snuck into a corporation and managed to eavesdrop on water cooler conversations among dissatisfied employees. What we heard at TOUR player press conferences suddenly conflicted with decisions by that player later on, as was the case with Rahm. Clearly a star in every sense of the word, Rahm was made to look like a disgruntled staffer who accepted a job offer from a competitor just to “stick it to the man.” His pledges of fealty to Jay Monahan’s PGA TOUR up and vanished.

It’s difficult to not sit back and wonder who these players truly are despite the words they say. Is anything real anymore? Can anyone be believed?

The money involved in this whirlwind of activity is perhaps the most absurd. Amounts rumored to be in the high hundreds of millions of dollars are thrown around with ease, forcing fans of the sport to try and wrap our minds around their meaning. “If someone offered you $500 million to leave your job…” suddenly became a frequent talking point by supporters of LIV, knowing full well that none of us will ever be faced with that decision. These numbers are make-believe, figments of imagination and exaggeration regular folks toss around to make a point.

This is also true for the imaginary world in which Rahm now finds himself. Only in fiction could a world exist where his “star power” is worth anywhere close to the rumored $300-$600 million he’s to receive for joining LIV. Rahm is not this transcendent sports icon recognizable to the world. He knows this to be true, of course, which may have made LIV’s offer even more enticing. He took the money and ran before anyone else would catch on to the charade.

Perhaps the only aspect of men’s pro golf that is more absurd than the rest is our reaction to this mess. We have all naturally taken an “us versus them” stance on any new piece of information, whether it be players joining LIV, players demanding more transparency, or who is rumored to be running either TOUR. We all feel more knowledgable than the next person, ready to debate and poke holes in the opinions of others. To be a fan of pro golf right now is to agree to choosing sides and defending your choice no matter the cost.

I have not been shy to express my biases to any of this news, but what does it matter? It’s clear that these players have fans as an afterthought, making choices only for themselves and their families. This has always been the case and fans are just now catching on. This presents another layer of absurdity in that we should have realized this long ago.

LIV Golf Shows Us Its True Colors

When Henrik Stenson tapped in his final putt on the final day of the LIV Golf Tour’s Bedminster Invitational, it not only marked the conclusion of the fledgling and controversial tour’s third event, it also personified the nature of men’s pro golf in 2022. Stenson, who would later be greeted by former President and tournament host Donald Trump for a handshake, was stripped of his status as European Ryder Cup captain days prior.

Winning his debut appearance immediately following the loss of his captaincy was fitting for Stenson, but in a way that more closely resembles a bank robber winning the lottery after being arrested for burglary. There was an undertone of Stenson getting away with a decision that felt right to him despite how others might feel. It was the greatest of ironies, providing us a glimpse into what really drives the former Major-winner: money and self-aggrandization rather than loyalty and tradition. Deemed the ‘Ice Man’ for his cold demeanor and steady game on the course, the moniker took on new meaning as the New Jersey event concluded amid a chilly backdrop that included heavy politics, light galleries, and a glimpse into everything that’s wrong with pro golf.

Let’s be frank: professional golf has always carried with it a stigma of rich, white mean getting richer while playing a game originally meant for society’s elite. It’s a tired (although accurate) descriptor of golf, referred to more often now than ever before by opponents to LIV Golf and everything it stands for. Supporters of the upstart, Saudi-funded tour are of a certain class and mindset that — at least to me — could not be more unattractive.

LIV Golf is tribalism at its worst, feeding off the current zeitgeist that favors division more than unity, launching at the perfect time in the grand scheme of a shaky society. While American golfers make up only a percentage of LIV Golf’s full roster, they are by far the highest profile names in a subgroup of defectors from the very source that made them household names in the first place: the PGA TOUR.

There is nothing enjoyable about a LIV Golf livestream — the only fitting way to describe the “broadcast” due to its limited availability on YouTube, Facebook and the tour’s own website. Save for a few names like Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, and the aforementioned Stenson, the actual golf being played is of poor quality. Phil Mickelson, the default “face” of LIV Golf from a player’s standpoint, has played terribly and a far cry from the caliber that earned him six majors and over 40 professional wins. Pat Perez continues to suckle from the teet of other, more talented journeymen while his boisterous bride documents a pampered life from the comfort of her Instagram account.

All of this pales in comparison to the presence of the most controversial “Conservative Dream Team” hoodlums at Trump’s Bedminster safehouse, who at one point joined in the adorable “Let’s Go Brandon” chant started by fans who prefer to fit in than stand out.

To be clear: showmanship and political undertones have always been part of pro golf in some form or fashion. PGA TOUR events have long been held at Trump courses (until they weren’t), and former US Presidents have routinely appeared at events in the past. Pro golf has always leaned more conservative in terms of its fanbase, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

But today feels different, for all the reasons people either choose to ignore or acknowledge. LIV Golf is choosing to be a disruptor on every level, diving hard into the sensitivities and triggers that have littered social media and public discord in recent years. They are not scared, they are not hesitant, and they are not allowing a good crisis go to waste.

None of this, of course, is any good for the business of professional golf. Succumbing to and enabling behaviors that, domestically, are hotbeds for disagreement and PR disasters is both frightening and harmful. The desire to be new and different should not come at the expense of decency and professionalism: two terms that LIV Golf originally suggested they held in high regard.

LIV Golf, in its current form, is everything that is ugly about professional sports. It is a fantasyland devoid of rules or conformity that offers the harshest of alternatives, tempting onlookers to jump into the deep end. A pretentious lifestyle is documented for social followers to notice, “Like,” and drool over while tournaments that mean nothing are played by golfers who couldn’t care less about the entertainment they’re providing. They are men who have been purchased — not “signed” — whose very names are turned into promo codes for free tickets.

Despite these realities, perhaps the most depressing element is that the time in which we live is the perfect breeding ground for LIV Golf, created by our own division and extremism, playing out in front for all to see.

Is it Fun to Be a Golf Fan Right Now?

I had an interesting exchange with a Twitter follower this morning.

In response to a tweet I sent comparing LIV Golf, the Saudi-backed upstart professional golf tour, to that of an alternate dystopian reality where Tiger Woods did not exist and was therefore not entertaining, this user suggested that if I “love the sport [he couldn’t] see how [I] could objectively say it wasn’t entertaining.”

Hilarity ensued — as is the typical cadence on social media — where I pointed out his subjectivity on my objectivity was ironic… but the exchange made me think:

For the casual golf fan, is any of this LIV Tour vs PGA Tour stuff of any interest whatsoever? Is it actually fun to be a golf fan right now?

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Later this afternoon I am playing in a golf outing to celebrate the life of a family friend who tragically died last year in a freak medical emergency. Most of my wife’s family is playing in a field that, by last count, nears 140 players on a golf course our late friend/family member loved. My wife, who has her own medical struggles but still loves golf, is also playing today. Many others haven’t played golf once this year… or last year.

They are simply choosing to pay an entrance fee, scrounge up a few sets of golf clubs, and play awful golf for upwards of five hours on a day that calls for rain. All because they cared so much for our the event’s late honoree.

All of my family and friends know I run this website, which means that I will undoubtedly be asked my opinion about LIV Golf at some point. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if the topic never comes up, either.

In fact, in the days leading up to today’s outing, many of the aforementioned family and I prepared at Cog Hill’s driving range. While they toiled over ways to get a 7-iron airborne, question why they couldn’t use tees in the fairway and laugh at each other’s banana-slice drives, the topic of LIV or the PGA Tour never came up. Not once.

It was almost as if… shockingly… there was an aspect of golf that exists outside the headlines and social media. Weird!

It was in that moment I realized that I’m simply too wrapped up in my own head about all of this professional golf nonsense that I was completely missing the game of golf itself. In a way, it was passing by right before my eyes while I spent more time thinking of a lame joke to tweet than acknowledging something truly special:

This afternoon will mark the first time, in my 18-year relationship with my wife, that all of us will be on the same golf course at the same time.

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Is it fun to be a golf fan right now? The question is much simpler than any answer I can settle on.

As someone who writes and talks about all aspects of golf on a daily basis, I unabashedly believe that one aspect of the game — the professional side — is no fun at all. Professional sports are often sought out to distract us from the drama and nonsense in real life, yet one could argue that American society is so bad right now that divisiveness and arguments are unavoidable, even in pro golf. LIV Golf picked the perfect time to make its debut, because we have never been more primed to take sides and combat those who disagree with us.

On the other hand, the sport itself — the game that you and I can go play right now — is stronger than ever before. The initial COVID surge of new players is dwindling, but it also allowed more new players to catch the golf bug (pun intended). Metrics are normalizing as any normal bell curve does, but the game of golf is better off for it.

LIV Golf and the PGA Tour, with all of their faults and marketing campaigns, are not for the fans. We are secondary consumers of products that are going to happen anyway. In the case of the PGA Tour, fans are needed to attractive sponsorship dollars to increase the scale of the Tour’s product, but we are not the primary customer. The sponsors are.

LIV Golf? They are only appealing to the players themselves and nobody else. It’s a country club men’s league that allows us to watch (or not). That’s it.

But despite all of that nonsense, a game remains unfettered and willing to accept more fans and participants. We just have to open our eyes and realize it.

Will the PGA Tour suffer due to the LIV Golf Invitational Series?

The world of golf is seemingly at war. The LIV Golf Invitational Series has moved away from being the stuff of rumor and speculation to being very real, and it is something that will see some of the top names in golf play in one of the most controversial new tournaments created in decades. So, will the PGA Tour suffer? What will be the likely consequences?

The gambling industry’s continued growth helps to ensure that top sports continue to thrive. For instance, there are still more people looking for NFL betting odds, NBA form and golf betting markets than there have been before in the US, as more and more states have introduced sportsbook gambling. This could mean more revenue going into the sports and into local economies.

So, the PGA is not likely to find their tour short of spectators or short of money any time soon, but they have still gone to war with the Saudi-backed tournament.

What is the LIV Golf Invitational?

Recent episodes of the Golf Unfiltered podcast have focused more on answering some of the questions golf fans have after seeing more headlines about the LIV tournament.

LIV Golf is a new organization that is fronted by Greg Norman, former world number one golfer. The golfer is CEO of LIV Golf Investments, a company set up to build new sports events and Asian tour events in the world of golf.

The source of the funds is Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which is also where the money came from to fund the recent takeover of Newcastle football club.

They are putting billions of dollars into recruiting some of the best talent in the sport, and aim to create a calendar of 14 events in the next few years. This could be seen as being in direct competition to the PGA Tour.

The controversy attached to the series comes from the source of these funds, which is linked to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has been accused of being involved in the killing of a journalist who was in opposition to the regime.

Current players shifting to the sport

Bryson DeChambeau recently became one of the biggest names to move over to the sport, and is the most discussed player to move over and make a controversial decision to join the tour.

One of the reasons this is so controversial is that it is a divisive move. The PGA Tour has made its stance perfectly clear, dishing out suspensions to everyone who signs up to play at the tournament.

This means that a player at the top of his game, who won the Open back in 2020, is moving to become the poster boy of the Saudi-backed tournament rather than staying loyal to the PGA Tour.

Losing some of the biggest names to play in the sport will, of course, be a blow to the PGA Tour, but they have made their stance perfectly clear to the players.

Not everyone is in agreement with the decision to ban the players. Ian Poulter, one of the British golf stars to sign up to be involved, lamented the decision:

“I didn’t resign my membership because I don’t feel I have done anything wrong. I have played all over the world for 25 years. This is no different, I am committed to playing around the world like I have done for so many years so it is a shame if they view this as different.”

The money on offer for the players is undeniably one of the biggest attractions.

The series will have seven tournaments in the year, some in the US, but also one in Saudi Arabia and one in Thailand. All of them have a $25m purse to be split among the players who take part. Many players also have certain deals to guarantee them income during the time they are involved.

The $25m prize fund means that they will earn more than they would at any PGA Tour event.

The tournament is a little different, too, and it remains to be seen whether this might change the way that people see the sport. The players will tee off together at the same time, but on different holes, which is one of the ways the event is designed to be more exciting, and it also involves a team competition with captains.

It remains to be seen whether the event will have a huge impact on the PGA Tour, but it is clear that many of the players will have to choose where their allegiance is.