Don’t Be Surprised When No One Cares

[TM4me]

Once upon a time All-Star games mattered.  Who won and who lost mattered.  It mattered to the players and it mattered to the fans. Maybe they were different times then.  Maybe the difference between the winner’s and loser’s check mattered.  Whatever the reason All-Star games now are just exhibitions.  Players go through the motions, a little razzle dazzle, a little eye-candy, collect their check and get gone.

 

Now along comes the Super Golf League, or whatever they will call it - an All-Star golf exhibition.  Sure, players are excited (for now) to show up, play a little golf and collect a fat guaranteed check.   Do we expect them to grind the week(s) before a tournament (an exhibition) in preparation?  Do we expect them to show up days before to scout the course and play practice rounds? Do we expect them to dig deep to win one?  Will we remember who won the 2022 Dubai Invitational, the 2022 SGL Championship?  Don’t be surprised when no one cares, including the players.

[DON SVO]

NFL, NBA, NHL are high-speed contact sports, and all-star games are "exhibitions" now because there is so much money in those sports as opposed to several decades ago. You think Jerry Jones wants Dak Prescott to break his ankle again in a game that means absolutely nothing to their season? Golf doesn't involve getting plowed blindside by Myles Garrett or TJ Watt going full steam. 

[DavePelz4]

Sorry TM, read the title but don't care enough to read the posts.

[tw_focus]

I do remember that DJ won last year.

 

Don't be surprised if the PGA Tour becomes surpassed or even no longer exists during your lifetime.

[bobfoster]

I might be wrong about this (its been a while since I heard anything about SGL or PGL), but I thought the SGL wasn't just looking at a few exhibitions ... they are trying to put together a full 18 tournament schedule for 2023. It actually will be a "League".

 

If I remember right, they'll have to. Both the PGA and EU tours are taking the threat of alternate tours very seriously. In fact, I think the PGA Tour has said players will need to choose - they can either play the SGL, or the PGA, but not both. 

 

What the Saudis (that largely fund the SGL) are after is kind of interesting. It is by invitation ... but a golfer would (obviously) have to be part of the cream of the crop on the US or EU tour to get invited. In other words, the SGL needs the PGA Tour, but the PGA Tour does not need the SGL. SGL seems to be intending to use the PGA as a sort of feeder tour (like the KF is to the PGA). Wait until some excels on the PGA, then skim them off the top. It would turn the PGA Tour into the Junior Varsity. 

 

You can bet the PGA and EU Tours will do literally everything in their power to kill the idea.

[Chief Illiniwek]

Most people realize golf matters four times per year, and that’s it. The rest is just exhibitions for lots of money. They don’t move a players legacy much at all. The PGA Tour hates this, because they own none of those four weeks and never will.

 

Four weeks/year isn’t bad by the way. Most sports have one champion per year. Golf gives us four, and it’s borderline oversaturated as there’s a significant drop from the Masters to the PGA Championship.

[Ferguson]

Regular tour events lost their pizazz after Peter Kostis and his Konica Minolta Bizhub Swing Vision Camera were kicked to the curb.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[nsxguy]

2 hours ago, DavePelz4 said:

Sorry TM, read the title but don't care enough to read the posts.

 

Wonder if the OP cares ?

[bscinstnct]

27 minutes ago, nsxguy said:

 

Wonder if the OP cares ?

 

[gvogel]

4 hours ago, DON SVO said:

NFL, NBA, NHL are high-speed contact sports, and all-star games are "exhibitions" now because there is so much money in those sports as opposed to several decades ago. You think Jerry Jones wants Dak Prescott to break his ankle again in a game that means absolutely nothing to their season? Golf doesn't involve getting plowed blindside by Myles Garrett or TJ Watt going full steam. 

Ha!  I remember the days when the defending Stanley Cup Champs played against the all-stars from the other 5 teams.  That meant something!

[TM4me]

1 hour ago, Chief Illiniwek said:

Most people realize golf matters four times per year, and that’s it. The rest is just exhibitions for lots of money. They don’t move a players legacy much at all. The PGA Tour hates this, because they own none of those four weeks and never will.

 

Four weeks/year isn’t bad by the way. Most sports have one champion per year. Golf gives us four, and it’s borderline oversaturated as there’s a significant drop from the Masters to the PGA Championship.

 

I would add a few more tournaments in there that matter:

• The Players
• The Memorial to some degree
• Ryder Cup/Presidents Cup

But that was basically my point when the only thing on the line is the size of the check it's hard to get excited.  And after the top guys get even fatter on the guaranteed money how attractive will it be to keep flying back and forth to play in these SGL "tournaments"

[Pepperturbo]

@TM4me - You're onto something there. 

 

Yep, some will show up that need the appearance money, others will show up hoping to earn more money.  But the days will come quickly when "names" won't care, won't want to be away from the family, nor justify the flight/jet lag time days and costs, to get somewhere only to use the whatever funds to pay taxes.

 

Then there's this: How often have we heard touring pros don't do it for the money, only to win.  If that's the case, how many touring pros will assess the probability, costs and travel constraints, and just say no.

[jj9000]

1 hour ago, Chief Illiniwek said:

Most people realize golf matters four times per year, and that’s it. The rest is just exhibitions for lots of money.

 

I disagree.

 

Most people don't care about golf at all, inclusive of the four Majors.

 

Ask Average Joe Sports Fan what he/she thinks of Hideki Matsuyama...or...Jason Kokrak.

 

You might get a blank stare...followed by..."huh"?  Not to be confused with John Huh.

 

Golf fans...including the fanatics on sites like this...are a very very small percentage of the sports landscape.

 

 

 

[soregongolfer]

10 minutes ago, jj9000 said:

 

I disagree.

 

Most people don't care about golf at all, inclusive of the four Majors.

 

Ask Average Joe Sports Fan what he/she thinks of Hideki Matsuyama...or...Jason Kokrak.

 

You might get a blank stare...followed by..."huh"?  Not to be confused with John Huh.

 

Golf fans...including the fanatics on sites like this...are a very very small percentage of the sports landscape.

 

 

 

It's hard to argue that but networks have been showing live for decades.  Somebody is watching it.  

[jmck]

2 hours ago, Chief Illiniwek said:

Most people realize golf matters four times per year, and that’s it. The rest is just exhibitions for lots of money. They don’t move a players legacy much at all. The PGA Tour hates this, because they own none of those four weeks and never will.

 

Four weeks/year isn’t bad by the way. Most sports have one champion per year. Golf gives us four, and it’s borderline oversaturated as there’s a significant drop from the Masters to the PGA Championship.

To me this is why these alternative, only-in-it-for-the-money tours aren’t going to fly. What’s their plan here? Poach 30 or 40 or 50 big names? By offering them a ridiculous amount of money? And in exchange for that you’ll be more or less owned by the Saudis with all sorts of strings attached down the road…and disinvited from at least three if not all four of the majors plus forget about the Ryder Cup?
 

If I’m one of the big names that’s a hard pass. I’ve already got more in the bank than my grandkids could spend, and I’m out there playing for history, trying to win the four yearly events that actually matter.

 

The dudes most needed to make an alternative tour work are those to whom it appeals the least. 

[LeoLeo99]

42 minutes ago, soregongolfer said:

It's hard to argue that but networks have been showing live for decades.  Somebody is watching it.  

We have money and the advertisers like us.  

[Titleist99]

1 hour ago, soregongolfer said:

It's hard to argue that but networks have been showing live for decades.  Somebody is watching it.  

Agreed, plus Networks don't give out big TV contracts if nobody is watching.......

 

People need to speak for themselves and stop trying to speak for the masses....

[bscinstnct]

58 minutes ago, dmgiffen said:

I'm about 45 minutes into No Laying Up's podcast with Andy Gardiner (CEO of the PGL). I'd like to see what the PGL could do. It seems like they intend to produce a product that is geared toward entertaining the fans.

The Saudi-backed, Greg Norman (SGL/LIV) ran golf series doesn't seem as promising.

 

Did he say the have like, any players?

 

That makes it kinda tough 🤣

 

They should just do a

 

Video/Avatar league!

 

Like, have CGI Golfers with all kinds of super powers and the fans can participate and “build” golfers powers up. 
 

 

Edited November 17, 2021 by bscinstnct

[bladehunter]

I don’t care who you are. You need this right now.  Happy week before turkey day.  
 

 

 

 

[Qqq123xx]

6 hours ago, DavePelz4 said:

Sorry TM, read the title but don't care enough to read the posts.

Just here to help.....

 

 

 

[Abh159]

OP... Based on the fact that someone started a thread on this topic and that over 20 people have responded so far, I'd say it might be time to change the title of the thread to "Be Surprised, People Care". 🤣

[ThinkingPlus]

59 minutes ago, bladehunter said:

I don’t care who you are. You need this right now.  Happy week before turkey day.  
 

 

 

 

One of the all time funniest episodes in television history.

[bladehunter]

1 hour ago, ThinkingPlus said:

One of the all time funniest episodes in television history.

Yep.  I can remember watching my grandpa cry he laughed so hard the first time we saw that.  Then the last line from the big guy and herb.  “ as god as my witness.  I thought turkeys could fly “. Man. It’s pure genius.  

[jmck]

1 hour ago, Abh159 said:

OP... Based on the fact that someone started a thread on this topic and that over 20 people have responded so far, I'd say it might be time to change the title of the thread to "Be Surprised, People Care". 🤣

The old “I could care less” conundrum, eh?

[Loki]

1 hour ago, jmck said:

The old “I could care less” conundrum, eh?

I wish people would figure out this isn't correct.

[Loki]

4 hours ago, jmck said:

...and disinvited from at least three if not all four of the majors...

How would you be disinvited to the majors? I would imagine you could maintain your membership in the PGA for the PGA Championship, right? The other three if you are in the top 50 in the OWGR at a certain time you qualify, there is no "disinvited." Plus there are other criteria that would allow you to play.

[phizzy30]

7 hours ago, bobfoster said:

I might be wrong about this (its been a while since I heard anything about SGL or PGL), but I thought the SGL wasn't just looking at a few exhibitions ... they are trying to put together a full 18 tournament schedule for 2023. It actually will be a "League".

 

If I remember right, they'll have to. Both the PGA and EU tours are taking the threat of alternate tours very seriously. In fact, I think the PGA Tour has said players will need to choose - they can either play the SGL, or the PGA, but not both. 

 

What the Saudis (that largely fund the SGL) are after is kind of interesting. It is by invitation ... but a golfer would (obviously) have to be part of the cream of the crop on the US or EU tour to get invited. In other words, the SGL needs the PGA Tour, but the PGA Tour does not need the SGL. SGL seems to be intending to use the PGA as a sort of feeder tour (like the KF is to the PGA). Wait until some excels on the PGA, then skim them off the top. It would turn the PGA Tour into the Junior Varsity. 

 

You can bet the PGA and EU Tours will do literally everything in their power to kill the idea.

The Saudis have exorbitant amounts of money from their oil business which is probably what the PGA Tour is threatened by IMO.  They can afford to put up more money for purses than the PGA Tour could ever fathom.  In the end, money talks and that's what the guys on tour will gravitate towards.  I wouldn't be surprised if this SGL or whatever they decide to call it will surpass the PGA Tour within the next 20 years. 

[jmck]

1 hour ago, Loki said:

How would you be disinvited to the majors? I would imagine you could maintain your membership in the PGA for the PGA Championship, right? The other three if you are in the top 50 in the OWGR at a certain time you qualify, there is no "disinvited." Plus there are other criteria that would allow you to play.

The governing bodies that control the qualifications you’re describing can and will change those qualifications. The USGA/R&A can and will back the PGA/European Tour here, no question. 

[wobgon]

8 hours ago, gvogel said:

Ha!  I remember the days when the defending Stanley Cup Champs played against the all-stars from the other 5 teams.  That meant something!

And the super bowl champs played the college senior all stars.

[bobfoster]

49 minutes ago, phizzy30 said:

The Saudis have exorbitant amounts of money from their oil business which is probably what the PGA Tour is threatened by IMO.  They can afford to put up more money for purses than the PGA Tour could ever fathom.  In the end, money talks and that's what the guys on tour will gravitate towards.  I wouldn't be surprised if this SGL or whatever they decide to call it will surpass the PGA Tour within the next 20 years. 

 

Possibly, but I'm not really sure about that. Wouldn't underestimate the immense power of the PGA and EU Tours, and the USGA and R&A organizations (which have closed ranks), and their willingness to play hardball - that pretty much control global golf right now. And the force of tradition. 

 

Yes, in the short run the Saudis could put up huge purses - but over time, why? Status? The ego of the House of Saud? (I've done business there, status means a lot, and they have sick money ... a single one of their yachts could fund the entire KF tour for a year - but they also aren't stupid.) They'd lose money. A lot of money. Ego and status only go so far. The size of purses being talked about would never be paid for by broadcast rights - golf is just not that popular in the world. It isn't football or soccer. The numbers don't work.

 

And should the PGA/EU/USGA/R&A circle the wagons and say "choose - us or the Saudis, you play our tours, or theirs" ... yep, the top players could make more money with the SGL, but what if that came at the expense of not being permitted to play in the current majors, or the FEC? And even further, because players need to be invited to play the SGL, they can also be (on a whim, by bearded guys in mumus) disinvited if they have a couple bad years. 

 

Sorry, maybe they can make it work, but I'm just not seeing it. The best in the world have already been invited, but the current info is that all of them have listened, but (I might be wrong) none of them have actually committed.