LIV Tour Discussion Thread (*** NO POLITICS ***)

[jdl]

1 hour ago, Nic1972 said:

Just noticed that Livgolf+ is not available in the Netherlands (where I live). Probably in order to grow the game over here.

Apparently it's back on Youtube for free!

 

[BlackDiamondPar5]

4 hours ago, dropkicked said:

I see why some of you are upset, but as a father I can see why he made the choices he did. I commend him for his straight talk, non BS side stepping.
The loyalty to the PGAT drives your reasoning. I have no loyalty outside of my family.

 

Business is Business. Do the best for your own.

If this is about the Saudi dollars? well I hope you are all driving EV's...

 

 

So off the mark. 

[Nic1972]

1 hour ago, Louis_Posture said:

Seriously, why wouldn't LIV be available in the Netherlands? For example its broadcasts are available via the internet, correct?

Good question, but it says that it is not available in my country.

 

Edited February 8 by Nic1972

[Frankensteins Monster]

2 hours ago, Louis_Posture said:

Seriously, why wouldn't LIV be available in the Netherlands? For example its broadcasts are available via the internet, correct?

Netherlands doesn’t get their oil from them. 

[Noles]

7 hours ago, PedronNiall said:

If the PIF/LIV contingent stonewalls for too long you can guarantee the recommendation of the current investigating committee both publicly and behind closed doors to their friends in Justice is going to be to axe the merger. With the PGA already having proven they can get to the B numbers regarding outside investment they really no longer need PIF funds to infuse the dollars so many outspoken players were clamoring for. Given both of those items being the case, LIV players can kiss any potential return to the Tour goodbye. 

 

Honestly the worst part of however this turns out is that a handful of greedy players and the puppeteers behind them have managed to upend the entire state of professional golf and may not even be a part of it any longer in any appreciable way once is all said and done. PIF has created disruption in the PGA, LPGA, DP, LET, and other tour ranks and in no way has created a more enjoyable, more tenable, or more professional product than what existed before. Nothing they have done has furthered the game of golf. 

 

Nothing about how this was handled makes sense from a big picture perspective either. Being disruptive with no plan to take advantage of the chaos you cause or to present yourself as the answer to it is just bad business practice. LIV has no appreciable plan to become a relevant tour for those who want to play the biggest events in the world and the way it's being run has no means to truly capture a global audience. This is the kind of thing they show in business classes as a prime example of how wrong things can go when there's no strategy behind the money. 

 

Whatever happens, the world of golf is more divided than ever and it's going to be years after this upheaval is done before any kind of normality returns. What PIF has done to the game is why I'll never watch, attend, or support anything that has to do with LIV, its players included. 

This is one of the best posts I've read on this site.

[ewaldbeukes]

10 hours ago, Nic1972 said:

Just noticed that Livgolf+ is not available in the Netherlands (where I live). Probably in order to grow the game over here.

Try youtube... no local coverage on TV?

Edited February 9 by ewaldbeukes
.

[JungleJimbo]

9 hours ago, jdl said:

Apparently it's back on Youtube for free!

 

 

 

Did you manage to watch the Livestream for the full Round?

I only see the "Pre-Round Show" Links on YT. https://www.youtube.com/@LIVGolf/streams 

[shankz]

I seem to be more interested in Liv golf this season. I like that I can stream for free without commercials and I like the players. Of course majors are always top

[Nic1972]

7 hours ago, ewaldbeukes said:

Try youtube... no local coverage on TV?

Youtube did not work neither, had the same issue than JungleJimbo.

Regarding the local coverage, the Netherlands do not even appear in the list of countries under « Where to watch »… 

 

Edited February 9 by Nic1972

[idrive]

17 hours ago, PhilsFanDrew said:

Ah I see that it's back to free.  Last year they brought it back but it was pay by day.  

 

If it's free, guess who is spending even more money still... all this supposed great golf, publicity and the mainstream advertisers still won't/don't support it.

 

Side note: liv is (desperately) giving tickets away in Vegas. They gave away spots in their Pro-Am and still couldn't fill the slots.... now the banker threats... coming up on three billion and still spending. 🤣

 

I wonder when big Al will realize that this isn't going to fly on its own. 

[dropkicked]

18 hours ago, bladehunter said:

You know we can’t get into who and why we buy oil from outside sources. Its  a far cry from taking direct money from those who threaten 20 years in prison for speaking on certain topics , which amount to simply giving minutes at a board meeting.  
 

im a father too.  Handing your kids a bundle of cash makes them soft. Show them how to earn the cash.  But you have to think large picture anyway.  If you focus only on the micro , you’ll wake up one day with nowhere for the micro to spend that fortune.  Remember , you can’t eat money.   

You are making generalizations about affluent people. I grew up with many affluent kids and most of them are extremely successful in their adult lives and have only grown their families fortunes.. Conversely I also grew up with some kids with helicopter parents from places like the ME, Hong Kong and Singapore who are simply suckling from their parents fortunes..

 

You can't eat the money, but it can pay for those who wish to bring you food in return...

[SnowbirdTom]

1 hour ago, idrive said:

 

If it's free, guess who is spending even more money still... all this supposed great golf, publicity and the mainstream advertisers still won't/don't support it.

 

Side note: liv is (desperately) giving tickets away in Vegas. They gave away spots in their Pro-Am and still couldn't fill the slots.... now the banker threats... coming up on three billion and still spending. 🤣

 

I wonder when big Al will realize that this isn't going to fly on its own. 

 

 

[jdl]

12 hours ago, JungleJimbo said:

 

Did you manage to watch the Livestream for the full Round?

I only see the "Pre-Round Show" Links on YT. https://www.youtube.com/@LIVGolf/streams 

I watched for about 10 min, no way I could stand to watch an entire round. 🤣

[RobS]

4 hours ago, dropkicked said:

You are making generalizations about affluent people. I grew up with many affluent kids and most of them are extremely successful in their adult lives and have only grown their families fortunes.. Conversely I also grew up with some kids with helicopter parents from places like the ME, Hong Kong and Singapore who are simply suckling from their parents fortunes..

 

You can't eat the money, but it can pay for those who wish to bring you food in return...

No question.  Some trust fund kids will be encouraged to or simply find a meaningful life on their own and live like well adjusted humans but with a huge bank account.  Others will just have turbocharged entitlement.  I, as do many people, know both.  Some you would never know they had money if you didn't know their lineage.  Others work exceptionally hard in their profession to find their own success, albeit with a major leg up.  Some work hard in the community to give back and build.  The other side of the coin are the others that live in excess with no meaningful contribution to anything other than retailers and car dealers businesses.  

 

I do roll my eyes when Rahm and the others that have made well in excess of $100m, with plenty of earning power on the table, talk about taking care of their families.  That's a PR trained smoke screen in my opinion to create a safe space immune from criticism.  With even modest financial management success, Rahm's family is taken care of for multiple generations without the LIV money and Rahm is still living in excessive luxury.  I'm not saying he should or shouldn't have taken the money but no need to make an excuse beyond the face value of the offer.  Some people use money as a measuring stick, regardless of how much they already have, some don't.

[Barfolomew]

Digging the LIV leader boards so far this season 💪  I actually know who they are.... benefit of a small tour is you get to know everyone even the rooks like Caleb Surratt who's ballin out

[bcjim]

3 hours ago, Barfolomew said:

Digging the LIV leader boards so far this season 💪  I actually know who they are.... benefit of a small tour is you get to know everyone even the rooks like Caleb Surratt who's ballin out

Well, I guess if you like watching predetermined outcomes, liv is for you.  When you ain't playing anyone, its easy to be atop the leaderboard.

 

The WM has a pretty good leaderboard too, I count 4 major winners in the current top 20. Its a little tougher when you have hungry golfers gunning for you vs having Ian Poulter and other washed up pensioners as your main competition.

[geauxt]

I posted in the Vegas thread as well. Gave it a go today as I was bored and I enjoy watching golf on TV (and lo and behold it was actually on CW here - don’t know if that’s just today?). I also watched basically on mute because the last one I watched the broadcasters couldn’t go 15 seconds without mentioning the purse size, as if that matters to someone sitting at home just wanting to watch some good golf.
 

I can’t stand the leaderboard. It’s trying way too hard to be F1 and simply doesn’t work for golf, IMO.

 

I enjoyed the number of shots but it’s hard to follow along and really get stuck in with the lack of context immediately available as far as the hole, where the player is in their round, how far off they are from the leaders and what’s left for each. 

 

Maybe it’s just me, but the team goat(?) logo is an odd choice. 
 

At the end of the day, it’s golf on tv and if there’s nothing else on, I will probably tune in again but regardless of the hoo-ha nothing game changing about the broadcast stood out to me. 
 

As I said in the other thread, the oddities surrounding the tournaments will either grow on people or continue turning people off. All in all, unless they introduce something truly remarkable, I don’t see its popularity growing much.

[notsohard]

On 2/10/2024 at 1:24 AM, idrive said:

 

If it's free, guess who is spending even more money still... all this supposed great golf, publicity and the mainstream advertisers still won't/don't support it.

 

Side note: liv is (desperately) giving tickets away in Vegas. They gave away spots in their Pro-Am and still couldn't fill the slots.... now the banker threats... coming up on three billion and still spending. 🤣

 

I wonder when big Al will realize that this isn't going to fly on its own. 

LIV/PIF aren't desperate for anything.

They've decided to throw $1.1 billion to buy Roma, and another $325 million to build a new stadium in Rome.

Desperate? Nah.

Wait till this merger backfires. They'll buy the DPT, OWGR will start being awarded, and a couple more billion thrown at LIV to buy more top 20 players. 

They just won't stop.

[Ole3wiggle]

25 minutes ago, notsohard said:

LIV/PIF aren't desperate for anything.

They've decided to throw $1.1 billion to buy Roma, and another $325 million to build a new stadium in Rome.

Desperate? Nah.

Wait till this merger backfires. They'll buy the DPT, OWGR will start being awarded, and a couple more billion thrown at LIV to buy more top 20 players. 

They just won't stop.

Hate to agree cause I dont like the path myself but this is what its seemingly going to be evidently 

[bekgolf]

2 hours ago, notsohard said:

LIV/PIF aren't desperate for anything.

They've decided to throw $1.1 billion to buy Roma, and another $325 million to build a new stadium in Rome.

Desperate? Nah.

Wait till this merger backfires. They'll buy the DPT, OWGR will start being awarded, and a couple more billion thrown at LIV to buy more top 20 players. 

They just won't stop.

 

I'm sure that will endear them to golf fans.  What's the message, let us in or we destroy you?  What's the motivation to wreck something people get enjoyment from?

 

[DrunkCaddy]

I don't know if this has been covered here.  I don't think so, but if it has I apologize.

 

Just read an article on how the PGA plans to disperse the monies recently "donated" by the FSG.  It appears the top 36 golfers will on average get around $20M.  Next 64 golfers will receiver a little over $1M on average ... etc.  

 

I guess this money is an attempt to try an hold off the poaching via the PIF, but I really don't see how that will work.   It seems like the PIF is likely to offer at least 5X to 10X over the PGA compensation for a golfer it desires.   Kind of seems like a big waste of capital as it's not going to stop any poaching and of course it won't be used to help "grow the game."

 

Quote

 

There are four categories. In the first and most striking, 36 golfers will be given access to $750m according to “career performance, last five-year performance and player impact programme results”. In the player impact scheme, highly controversial in itself, golfers were effectively given bonuses worth tens of millions for bringing eyeballs to the PGA Tour. A number of the Tour’s rank and file have made plain their displeasure about how the riches are distributed; this top-heavy approach is unlikely to placate them despite the blunt reality that players such as Woods and McIlroy heavily drive interest in the sport.

Group two is for 64 players and $75m of equity, granted for performance over the last three years. Another 57 players will share $30m of equity if they have “earned certain PGA Tour fully exempt categories”. The final portion, worth $75m, is for 36 players who were “instrumental in building the modern PGA Tour based on career performance”. In ordinary times, Phil Mickelson would inevitably have earned via the last set of criteria but he is among those ostracised from the PGA Tour after joining LIV. The PGA Tour has been sure to stress the money is for “eligible” members. Players can only earn via one grouping.

 

 

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/feb/07/woods-and-mcilroy-among-pga-tour-cohort-to-share-750m-windfall

[Holy Moses]

I forgot that LIV wasn’t even on TV for their Friday rounds. They haven’t been able to find a TV partner yet, presumably because there aren’t enough viewers for a TV partner to want to put it on. There are better options for them.

 

https://golf.com/news/liv-golf-2024-broadcast-friday-hot-mic/?amp=1

[Holy Moses]

4 hours ago, notsohard said:

LIV/PIF aren't desperate for anything.

They've decided to throw $1.1 billion to buy Roma, and another $325 million to build a new stadium in Rome.

Desperate? Nah.

Wait till this merger backfires. They'll buy the DPT, OWGR will start being awarded, and a couple more billion thrown at LIV to buy more top 20 players. 

They just won't stop.

Their OWGR points awarded will still be very low. LIV players have lost points for so long and when you can only play majors and DP Tour events, it’s difficult to inch your way back up. LIV really needs to have their players play on the PGA Tour.

[ahenderX]

4 hours ago, notsohard said:

LIV/PIF aren't desperate for anything.

They've decided to throw $1.1 billion to buy Roma, and another $325 million to build a new stadium in Rome.

Desperate? Nah.

Wait till this merger backfires. They'll buy the DPT, OWGR will start being awarded, and a couple more billion thrown at LIV to buy more top 20 players. 

They just won't stop.

You are one serious PIF fanboy. 

[bscinstnct]

I see DJ won another $50MM, that’ll really  get people excited 

 

🤣

 

And $600MM dollar man Rahmalino of Legion XIII was felled in battle by mighty Matt Wolf and PUlein lol

 

Does BK even show up for these?

 

 

 

 

[Titleist99]

For those who still do not know how important Media rights are:

 

This is what Phil thought that the PGAT should hand right over.....

 

LIV Golf fails to land Friday TV partner in time for 2024 season (msn.com)

[Holy Moses]

6 minutes ago, bscinstnct said:

I see DJ won another $50MM, that’ll really  get people excited 

 

🤣

 

And $600MM dollar man Rahmalino of Legion XIII was felled in battle by mighty Matt Wolf and PUlein lol

 

Does BK even show up for these?

 

 

 

 

We all know Brooks hates this league and only cares about the majors

[woahnelly]

2 hours ago, bscinstnct said:

I see DJ won another $50MM, that’ll really  get people excited 

 

🤣

 

And $600MM dollar man Rahmalino of Legion XIII was felled in battle by mighty Matt Wolf and PUlein lol

 

Does BK even show up for these?

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to stalwarts Jason Kokrak and Grahme McDowell , Brooks added another 750K to his earnings this week 😂

[CDM]

3 hours ago, Holy Moses said:

I forgot that LIV wasn’t even on TV for their Friday rounds. They haven’t been able to find a TV partner yet, presumably because there aren’t enough viewers for a TV partner to want to put it on. There are better options for them.

 

https://golf.com/news/liv-golf-2024-broadcast-friday-hot-mic/?amp=1

 

???? Fridays round was on CW...it was at night so it was not live though.  Not sure why it was on at night?

[CDM]

2 hours ago, Holy Moses said:

We all know Brooks hates this league and only cares about the majors

 

Could say the same when he was on the PGAT