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.