One of the biggest stories buzzing throughout the golf world in the recent months is the rise of the new Saudi Arabia Golf League called LIV. LIV and PGA rival each other for many different reasons, but a few that cause a lot of controversy are money and history. On the PGA Tour, players earn money from making the cut at tournaments and from sponsorship opportunities. Everything throughout the PGA is earned, not given. Whereas on LIV, everything is given, not earned. When players join LIV they are given a lump sum of money and then receive more money from winning tournaments. LIV goes away from the traditional golf tournament rules and plays their own style of golf, not seen before in the golf world. Three rounds instead of four. Pants are not required (players are allowed to wear shorts). Each player on LIV is put on a team. Tournaments are won two different ways. The first way to win a tournament is by having the lowest score, yet you can also win from your team having the lowest score. These are just some of the different rules LIV has that the PGA Tour doesn’t.
One of the biggest known players in the golf world and the face of the PGA Tour, Rory Mcllroy, was offered a reported $850 million and equity to leave the PGA and join LIV. While $850 million would be the highest contract on the LIV tour, almost every contract for players on LIV is in the millions. Reports of this came out before this weekend’s RBC Heritage PGA Tour tournament in Hilton Head, South Carolina, yet McIlroy immediately shot those rumors down saying he’s “never been offered a number from LIV and never contemplated going to LIV.” Since the day LIV became a golf league, McIlroy has been one of the most vocal leaders and critics about LIV and their team golf concept. “Again, I think I’ve made it clear over the past two years that I don’t think it’s something for me,” said McIlroy when he was asked about LIV at his RBC Heritage media day. He continues to discuss how it is the players decision to do what they want to do and he doesn’t judge anyone for going to LIV or staying with PGA because they are doing what is best for them. At the end of the day the LIV golf tour is growing and working to bring new players in, but it is not for everybody.
One of the biggest stories buzzing throughout the golf world in the recent months is the rise of the new Saudi Arabia Golf League called LIV. LIV and PGA rival each other for many different reasons, but a few that cause a lot of controversy are money and history. On the PGA Tour, players earn money from making the cut at tournaments and from sponsorship opportunities. Everything throughout the PGA is earned, not given. Whereas on LIV, everything is given, not earned. When players join LIV they are given a lump sum of money and then receive more money from winning tournaments. LIV goes away from the traditional golf tournament rules and plays their own style of golf, not seen before in the golf world. Three rounds instead of four. Pants are not required (players are allowed to wear shorts). Each player on LIV is put on a team. Tournaments are won two different ways. The first way to win a tournament is by having the lowest score, yet you can also win from your team having the lowest score. These are just some of the different rules LIV has that the PGA Tour doesn’t.
One of the biggest known players in the golf world and the face of the PGA Tour, Rory Mcllroy, was offered a reported $850 million and equity to leave the PGA and join LIV. While $850 million would be the highest contract on the LIV tour, almost every contract for players on LIV is in the millions. Reports of this came out before this weekend’s RBC Heritage PGA Tour tournament in Hilton Head, South Carolina, yet McIlroy immediately shot those rumors down saying he’s “never been offered a number from LIV and never contemplated going to LIV.” Since the day LIV became a golf league, McIlroy has been one of the most vocal leaders and critics about LIV and their team golf concept. “Again, I think I’ve made it clear over the past two years that I don’t think it’s something for me,” said McIlroy when he was asked about LIV at his RBC Heritage media day. He continues to discuss how it is the players decision to do what they want to do and he doesn’t judge anyone for going to LIV or staying with PGA because they are doing what is best for them. At the end of the day the LIV golf tour is growing and working to bring new players in, but it is not for everybody.
Reference:
https://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/39954802/agent-dismisses-report-rory-mcilroy-liv-golf-850m
Max Turndorf 
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