I don't think anyone is rooting for the Saudis. More against the PGA Tour leadership since they have pretty much caused all this.
OT: PGA and LIV Golf to merge….
- Thread starter mikemarc1
- Start date
Bingo. If the PGA Tour leadership weren't such d-bags, none of this would have ever happened.
None attended. I’ve probably watched 80% of them…I’m not sure???
Don’t usually sit and watch golf…usuallly have on in background while doing other things.
that's probably true because Phil reminded the players what the Saudi government is all about and let golf fans everywhere that joining theLIV was more about the money they were paying than anything else.
But social awareness for golf fans wouldn't last long and the the fans view of LIV being a sportswahing venue became a mute point after awhile with many golf fans not caring about the Saudi's alleged involvement in 9/11 or how agents of that government tortured and killed a journilst based in the USA because they didn't like how he investigated their dealings and made the world aware of their human rights violations.
Those who didn't care started outnumbering those that did and the PGA was losing a lot of public support while bleeding money in their fight against the LIV.
Time and money (Saudi bucks) favored the LIV and the PGA didn't have enough money to continue the fight especially knowing its support was slowly eroding
That’s bs. The issue was simply money. The Tour and its sponsors couldn’t afford to increase purses and fund the legal battle against a foreign government that had unlimited funds. it was unsustainable. The PGA Tour generates between $1.5 and 2 billion a year from TV and sponsorships. The gates, for the most part, go to the charitable groups that operate the local events. The Saudis can put in a couple billion and get a seat at the table. To them it’s chump change and cheaper than, for example, buying an NFL franchise.
Depends. Would the PIF content with running a concurrent league that would likely have to work around the PGA schedules or did they really have their eye on a bigger prize (getting their foot into the PGAT office door) as some have suggested?
The whole DOJ/fed involvement here is going to be fascinating.
I am certainly not an anti-trust expert but to me, comparing LIV and the PGAT merging to Jet Blue and American merging would seem like a stretch. Jet Blue and American merging has a real cause and effect potential for customers. Less airlines, less price flexibility, customers end up paying.
Who exactly gets hurt if the PGAT and LIV merge?
Maybe but the reality is that despite all the bluster from the guys like Mickelson whining about how they were treated by the Tour, they all jumped for the cash. Mickelson wasn't likely jumping to LIV for a $5 million bonus. Koepka wasn't jumping for a $5 million bonus. These guys jumped for one reason - big money, disgustingly big money, guaranteed money. Varner was the most honest of the LIV guys when he said at the end of the day, I just play golf and if someone is going to give me life changing money, I am going to do it.
You really believe if Mickelson was "happy" with the Tour, he would have turned down the $150 million or whatever he got from LIV? Not sure I buy that.
Last edited:
could have been happy, but LIV money made them happier.
Let's see if they wind up happy now with the merger and what they might miss out on and price must pay to become PGA tour members again.
Don't think they'll pay a high price to get back, just have to put up with a little inconvenience.
On the equity front, I think LIV players will have a set number of years based on LIV signing bonus before they are allowed to participate
This just speeds up the timeline for Team Nike, Adidas, TaylorMade, Callaway, etc. if the team concept continues (and that is a big IF). Also I doubt the High Flyers have sold any merchandise to date so not much to sue for. PIF will make this go away.
It’s been pretty obvious over the course of Phil’s career that he is a gargantuan douchebag
Interesting quote from Rahm today:
Rahm: “No matter what happens, thanks to the PGA Tour, they gave me an opportunity to play golf. I’m in a very high state of privilege in this world. I can only be thankful. If things change, things change, I’ll have to adapt and make some decisions”
Next LIV event is at Valdaramma…..hmmm
Rahm: “No matter what happens, thanks to the PGA Tour, they gave me an opportunity to play golf. I’m in a very high state of privilege in this world. I can only be thankful. If things change, things change, I’ll have to adapt and make some decisions”
Next LIV event is at Valdaramma…..hmmm
Yeah if LIV is still going to throw around big signing bonuses, it would seem Rahm is likely the next to flip. If they are going to end up back on the PGAT in some capacity down the road, might as well grab the moolah.
Ooof, I just saw the quote where he said a lot of guys feel betrayed by management.
Yikes.
Brooks and Rory paired at the US Open. The biggest winner and loser from the LIV sweepstakes.
The letter Monahan wrote to Congress was a real doozy. I am not sure his latest medical issue is some sort of cover but I wonder if the Saudis and even Dunne realize that Monahan could be a real liability as Congress and the feds sniff around this thing.
People are focused on the players having issues with Monahan and wanting him out but pissing off Congress? PIF and others might see him as a liability in that battle.
People are focused on the players having issues with Monahan and wanting him out but pissing off Congress? PIF and others might see him as a liability in that battle.
Last edited:
A copy of the confidential deal memo got leaked. Based on the memo, seems the chatter of the PGA retaining substantial control/decision making seems to be accurate.
golf.com
The highlights:
- PGA seems to retain much of the control of the new entity
- LIV, as we know it, has an unclear future
- No LIV guys can come back to Tour in 2023 (and appears LIV won't try to poach any players)
- Good faith effort to accomodate LIV events for OWGR
- PIF will have a board member on the PGA Tour Policy Committee
7 things we learned from leaked PGA Tour-Saudi PIF agreement
The PGA Tour's shocking agreement with the Saudi Public Investment Fund was made public Monday night. Here's what it includes.
golf.com
The highlights:
- PGA seems to retain much of the control of the new entity
- LIV, as we know it, has an unclear future
- No LIV guys can come back to Tour in 2023 (and appears LIV won't try to poach any players)
- Good faith effort to accomodate LIV events for OWGR
- PIF will have a board member on the PGA Tour Policy Committee
From the little I read about what's going on it seems like the LIV will be going on in 2024 as team events.A copy of the confidential deal memo got leaked. Based on the memo, seems the chatter of the PGA retaining substantial control/decision making seems to be accurate.
7 things we learned from leaked PGA Tour-Saudi PIF agreement
The PGA Tour's shocking agreement with the Saudi Public Investment Fund was made public Monday night. Here's what it includes.
The highlights:
- PGA seems to retain much of the control of the new entity
- LIV, as we know it, has an unclear future
- No LIV guys can come back to Tour in 2023 (and appears LIV won't try to poach any players)
- Good faith effort to accomodate LIV events for OWGR
- PIF will have a board member on the PGA Tour Policy Committee
For a player to remain in the LIV Golf League in 2024, a top-24 finish in the season-long points race accomplishes that goal. Those who finish between 25 and 44 go into what LIV is calling its "transfer market," meaning they are available for other teams to grab.
All players from 45th and below on the points list will be relegated and will have to earn their way back on to the LIV Tour through a 72-hole stroke play relegation tournament to be held in late November after the final 2023 LIV event.
I belive those that signed multi year contracts are exempt and automatically
quilfied even if their point total doesn't qualify them
LIV will continue in 2024 in its current format but beyond that, it's anyone's guess. Relegation is going to interesting on how they handle that because it appears LIV won't be poaching any players from the PGAT, at least for now, if the agreement document leaked is accurate.
The main takeaways from the agreement seems to be LIV's future is unclear beyond 2024, the PGA does appear to have significant control of the new entity and that the Saudis will essentially become the new entity's prime sponsor.
‘It’s sportswashing’: John McEnroe and Chris Evert slam tennis Saudi talks
American tennis greats John McEnroe and Chris Evert are both deadset against Saudi Arabian investment in the sport, after reports both the men’s and women’s tour are considering it.
www.yahoo.com
Saudi want to get involved in professional tennis just like golf. The players will make more money.
Funny since the announcement and Monahan disappearing. You haven't heard nothing about the merger or Monahan status. Players are starting to get nervous.
‘It’s sportswashing’: John McEnroe and Chris Evert slam tennis Saudi talks
American tennis greats John McEnroe and Chris Evert are both deadset against Saudi Arabian investment in the sport, after reports both the men’s and women’s tour are considering it.
Saudi want to get involved in professional tennis just like golf. The players will make more money.
7 things we learned from leaked PGA Tour-Saudi PIF agreement
The PGA Tour's shocking agreement with the Saudi Public Investment Fund was made public Monday night. Here's what it includes.
golf.com
I heard this AM on SportsCenter he will returning soon. Been busy at work all day and haven’t kept up if anything changed.
Chrissy has an axe to grind against Norman so she would be against it regardless. It’s going to be tough to keep the Saudi’s out with all the $ they can put up.‘It’s sportswashing’: John McEnroe and Chris Evert slam tennis Saudi talks
American tennis greats John McEnroe and Chris Evert are both deadset against Saudi Arabian investment in the sport, after reports both the men’s and women’s tour are considering it.
Saudi want to get involved in professional tennis just like golf. The players will make more money.
7 things we learned from leaked PGA Tour-Saudi PIF agreement
The PGA Tour's shocking agreement with the Saudi Public Investment Fund was made public Monday night. Here's what it includes.
Again nothing is certain until final approvals and agreements are signed, but this again seems to indicate that despite what the pro-LIV crowd is saying, the PGAT will largely control the new entity. They will have the most board seats and they likely will have the largest equity stake in NewCo.
Not sure who ever said PGA Tour would not be in control. It’s been stated from the start. I think people are implying that since the PIF controls the money, they will have more say despite the PGA Tour heads being the “leadership”. Money always talks. Just like they negotiated a way for the LIV players to have a way back to the tour. Hell, even Rory and Sergio made up.
There's no doubt the PIF is going to have some say here but there are definitely pro-LIV people out there thinking the PIF is going to be calling all the shots. They will not be based on this agreement (and even the words of the PIF Governor).
PIF will invest cash but at the end of the day, the most valuable assets in the NewCo will be the PGAT assets - their media rights, their sponsors, their hard assets (the TPC Network), their licensing (such as PGA TOUR Superstores), etc.
Last edited:
You keep mixing LIV and PIF interchangeably. I don’t think LIV leadership will have any say in the new structure. Probably will go away. PIF leadership has the checkbook. If you don’t think the people writing the checks won’t have a say, I don’t know what to tell you. Monahan already said they couldn’t fund the new events on their own.
At the end of the day, we can only go by what's been said and what is in the agreement - and by the leaked agreement and the words of the PIF Governor, it appears the PGAT retains most of the control here in the new entity. Not that the PIF has no say, just that it appears the PGAT has overall control of the new entity.
Checks is one thing but at the end of the day, guess who lilkely contributes the most to the creation of the new entity? In other words, which entity is contributing the most value/equity into the new entity? It's not the PIF.
Plus, I wonder if this thing even gets off the ground. If Congress wants to muck this up, they are gonna muck it up good.
Last edited:
Latest posts
-
-
-
-
Football Rutgers Football Bowl Projections Following Week 13 of College Football- Latest: Luvscarletknights
