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

[pgapromex]

On 4/12/2024 at 10:35 PM, italianstallion said:

Augusta National gives special passes to past major winners…if Norman was wanted there he wouldn't have had to buy a ticket in the first place. ‘Banned’ are your words, not mine. My words are ‘he's clearly not welcome.’ The second part of my post refers to Augusta’s policy on reselling tickets: unless this ticket was magically sold at face value I can imagine they’d be able to find out real quick whose name was attached to the ticket he bought. 

Kind of pathetic that the Masters denied Norman the normal professional courtesy.  It's not like the good old boys who run the place can claim the moral high ground. I lost respect for them long ago when Billy Payne decided he needed to deliver a sermon rebuking Tiger for things that were not his business.

[idrive]

I thought Sergio said they were coming for the Green Jacket.

 

Is anyone really going to stand up and make excuses why they didn't?

 

Which liv players were sharp?

 

For Four days.

 

None of them. Their best players were at best, middle of the pack.

 

Their overall performance spoke volumes.

 

 

[Maine Golfer]

Nothing spell out professional courtesy like Greg Norman. The man is nothing put a professional....

 

ANYWAY

 

Scottie rocks and that was a good final 2 days. 

[Hawkeye77]

1 hour ago, pgapromex said:

Kind of pathetic that the Masters denied Norman the normal professional courtesy.  It's not like the good old boys who run the place can claim the moral high ground. I lost respect for them long ago when Billy Payne decided he needed to deliver a sermon rebuking Tiger for things that were not his business.

He’s been whining about this for going on two years now - he’s hardly bothered to show up when invited since the year he paraded Chrissy around the par 3 not all that long before he dumped her after the big media splash conquest. He’s said enough to insure they aren’t ever asking him back - he lives to play the victim. “Tiger wouldn’t come to the gate” “The Masters won’t invite me”. 
 

He has things just how he wants them.

[freddi22cl]

No threats at Augusta ....rahm turned into a whiner - be happy Rhambo ya made the cut!!!....DJ was on a  plane Friday evening  

[dashanks]

8 hours ago, geauxt said:

Nike

Wow.  I knew they didn't allow logos from other companies, but I thought that LIV might have insisted on the "uniform".    So all the other guys are wearing the LIV logos voluntarily?

[jdl]

2 hours ago, pgapromex said:

Kind of pathetic that the Masters denied Norman the normal professional courtesy.  It's not like the good old boys who run the place can claim the moral high ground. I lost respect for them long ago when Billy Payne decided he needed to deliver a sermon rebuking Tiger for things that were not his business.

 

Can't imagine why Greg isn't welcomed with open arms. 

 

Oh yeah...

 

https://golf.com/news/liv-golf-legal-target-augusta-national/#:~:text=The lawsuit is an antitrust,the USGA and the R%26A.

 

According to court documents released Monday, LIV Golf’s lawyers have served subpoenas to six current or former PGA Tour policy board directors as well as former commissioner Tim Finchem. Buried in a joint statement between LIV and those directors were allegations lobbed by LIV against various members of Augusta National, which seems to be one of LIV’s new focuses. One of the initial requests included in each subpoena to those members was an overarching demand: 

Please produce “All Communications between You and any member of Augusta National relating to a New Tour, including but not limited to LIV Golf.”

Much of the allegations in the statement remain confidential, but ANGC members Condoleezza Rice — the former Secretary of State — and Warren Stephens were listed by LIV as having “apparently attempted to influence the DOJ (Department of Justice) to not investigate the [PGA] Tour.” Whether or not that is true — the complaints flying back and forth are highly contested by each side — the DOJ has launched an investigation into the PGA Tour for potential anti-competitive practices, as it has also done with both the USGA and Augusta National. 

Edited April 15 by jdl

[Titleist99]

2 hours ago, jdl said:

 

Can't imagine why Greg isn't welcomed with open arms. 

 

Oh yeah...

 

https://golf.com/news/liv-golf-legal-target-augusta-national/#:~:text=The lawsuit is an antitrust,the USGA and the R%26A.

 

According to court documents released Monday, LIV Golf’s lawyers have served subpoenas to six current or former PGA Tour policy board directors as well as former commissioner Tim Finchem. Buried in a joint statement between LIV and those directors were allegations lobbed by LIV against various members of Augusta National, which seems to be one of LIV’s new focuses. One of the initial requests included in each subpoena to those members was an overarching demand: 

Please produce “All Communications between You and any member of Augusta National relating to a New Tour, including but not limited to LIV Golf.”

Much of the allegations in the statement remain confidential, but ANGC members Condoleezza Rice — the former Secretary of State — and Warren Stephens were listed by LIV as having “apparently attempted to influence the DOJ (Department of Justice) to not inAvestigate the [PGA] Tour.” Whether or not that is true — the complaints flying back and forth are highly contested by each side — the DOJ has launched an investigation into the PGA Tour for potential anti-competitive practices, as it has also done with both the USGA and Augusta National. 

After reading this, I would have had security escort Greg off the premises immediately.

[Holy Moses]

2 hours ago, dashanks said:

Wow.  I knew they didn't allow logos from other companies, but I thought that LIV might have insisted on the "uniform".    So all the other guys are wearing the LIV logos voluntarily?

Nike wouldn’t let Brooks out of his contract. The other LIV players were allowed to or maybe LIV bought them out. DJ had a TaylorMade hat on this week and Bubba had a Ping hat on, but I think that LIV normally wants LIV players wearing their team hats away from LIV events per their contracts.

[bobfoster]

Sorry, but it is going to be totally fun to read the justifications for the LIV Masters' performances here over the next couple days. 

[dalehead]

7 hours ago, pgapromex said:

Kind of pathetic that the Masters denied Norman the normal professional courtesy.  It's not like the good old boys who run the place can claim the moral high ground. I lost respect for them long ago when Billy Payne decided he needed to deliver a sermon rebuking Tiger for things that were not his business.

Fred Ridley’s reply to Greg’s ticket request:

 

Dear Greg

Professional ticket requests are handled at the club by Ms. Helen Waite. So as to your request please go to Helen Waite.

[Chopper Dave]

6 hours ago, idrive said:

I thought Sergio said they were coming for the Green Jacket.

 

Is anyone really going to stand up and make excuses why they didn't?

 

Which liv players were sharp?

 

For Four days.

 

None of them. Their best players were at best, middle of the pack.

 

Their overall performance spoke volumes.

 

 

 

Nobody other than Scottie and Åberg were close sharp for 4 days

[BlackDiamondPar5]

10 hours ago, jdl said:

 

Can't imagine why Greg isn't welcomed with open arms. 

 

Oh yeah...

 

https://golf.com/news/liv-golf-legal-target-augusta-national/#:~:text=The lawsuit is an antitrust,the USGA and the R%26A.

 

According to court documents released Monday, LIV Golf’s lawyers have served subpoenas to six current or former PGA Tour policy board directors as well as former commissioner Tim Finchem. Buried in a joint statement between LIV and those directors were allegations lobbed by LIV against various members of Augusta National, which seems to be one of LIV’s new focuses. One of the initial requests included in each subpoena to those members was an overarching demand: 

Please produce “All Communications between You and any member of Augusta National relating to a New Tour, including but not limited to LIV Golf.”

Much of the allegations in the statement remain confidential, but ANGC members Condoleezza Rice — the former Secretary of State — and Warren Stephens were listed by LIV as having “apparently attempted to influence the DOJ (Department of Justice) to not investigate the [PGA] Tour.” Whether or not that is true — the complaints flying back and forth are highly contested by each side — the DOJ has launched an investigation into the PGA Tour for potential anti-competitive practices, as it has also done with both the USGA and Augusta National. 

Exactly. In summary letting Greg in is like welcoming a fox into the hen house.

 

I would have had him removed by security. 

[idrive]

6 hours ago, Chopper Dave said:

 

Nobody other than Scottie and Åberg were close sharp for 4 days

 

They were beaten by the world's #1.

 

Bold talk (looking at the liv guys) doesn't win tournaments.

 

Motivation, drive, hard work and being the best you can be wins, which is just about how it landed.

 

 

 

.

Edited April 15 by idrive

[CDM]

13 hours ago, freddi22cl said:

DJ was on a  plane Friday evening  

 

So was Jordan, JT, Wyndham, Dunlap, Hovland, Burns, Garcia, Watson, etc....     29 players on a plane Friday evening.

 

As always the Masters, and maybe more so this year with the wind proved to why it is what it is.    Ball striking was so key with the wind and the best ball strikers lead the top of the board...! 

 

Scotty put on a clinic with his ball striking like always, flat out impressive...!  Well deserved....! 

[CDM]

10 hours ago, bobfoster said:

Sorry, but it is going to be totally fun to read the justifications for the LIV Masters' performances here over the next couple days. 

 

Not much to say by anyone really, from either side.  The course and conditions pretty much got all the players but Scotty. 

 

Scotty noting how hard it played is tribute to how great his ball striking is.  I thought he putted great given how much people talk about his putting aspects?  Scotty noted his driver and more so his wedge game saved him all weekend.  

 

Not sure anyone noticed but Scotty shot the second best round on Sunday....!  - * 4 was tied with Kitayama and only an excellent round of -6 by Tom Kim who was out of it as he was at 11 over starting his final round. 

 

Pretty hard to be beat a player who starts the day leading and shots one of the best rounds in tough conditions.  

[Pops99]

"wE'rE cOmInG fOr ThAt gReEn JaCkEt"

-Sergio

[Hawkeye77]

Should be golf but quieter for a week or two until the drunk fest in Australia. Then an event nobody will watch in Singapore and basically nothing until they try to get some US attention near the US Open. 
 

Happy to predict there won’t be anything detracting from the PGA Championship. 

[Hawkeye77]

Found the info I thought I'd seen once upon a time.

 

On Norman's absence last year from the Masters (and his whining about it a year ago), Fred Ridley mentioned that for the ten years prior to 2023, despite invitations, Norman had only shown up twice and once because he was working for Sirius XM.  He was actually given a grounds pass (which he complained about) in 2022 and . . . no show.  

 

Same with The Open a couple years ago.  He'd turned his back on going for years, even declaring so, and then whine, whine, whine about not getting a chance to actually play again, for heaven's sake.

 

Poor boy.

[dashanks]

I'm sure the LIV guys were trying their best, but you'd have to think that ultimately, when you are pretty much set for life the fire in the belly just doesn't burn as hot.

[betarhoalphadelta]

17 hours ago, bobfoster said:

Sorry, but it is going to be totally fun to read the justifications for the LIV Masters' performances here over the next couple days. 

 

Eh. I'm as anti-LIV as anyone, but they got three top-10 finishes and a T12. It's not like that's shabby. 30% of the top 10. 

 

I argued upthread that if the LIV guys won four majors or zero majors this year, it wouldn't be a meaningful stat about the relative quality of the two tours. They've got some good golfers over there--they deliberately tried to poach major winners, and succeeded. 

 

So as much as I'm glad the top 10 wasn't a LIV-fest (just because the LIV fanbois would be insufferable otherwise), I don't think we should start dunking on them just yet. There's a lot of randomness involved. 

[BlackDiamondPar5]

1 hour ago, Hawkeye77 said:

Found the info I thought I'd seen once upon a time.

 

On Norman's absence last year from the Masters (and his whining about it a year ago), Fred Ridley mentioned that for the ten years prior to 2023, despite invitations, Norman had only shown up twice and once because he was working for Sirius XM.  He was actually given a grounds pass (which he complained about) in 2022 and . . . no show.  

 

Same with The Open a couple years ago.  He'd turned his back on going for years, even declaring so, and then whine, whine, whine about not getting a chance to actually play again, for heaven's sake.

 

Poor boy.

Just following the victim script. 

[bladehunter]

So Rory IS going now ?   
 

 

https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/analysis-rory-mcilroy-close-joining-125720928.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAHNzHHDoXLpT6cYx8m-6Te-WXTNNd4VUEGmps7gQyoD_4WPoUsrL3Oi9sQzYuVcPxD17ojfQ3wIGy7LSu2fPAXt8K29AiTSaFNDcETEzl9LpjriuL0nyK0uddVkgl5R39ik-E75E0DHNzmUuiSokiP2XURRi0yEwFKeQYRg-yi_I 

Edited April 15 by bladehunter

[Short Pete]

Smith, Reed and BDC did quite well. Cchhoacco is not the best player in the world. DJ seems completely out of it, Koepka is not sharp. Doesn’t seem like the innovative format and beating Richard Bland makes them better players. Maybe Sharkie could insist that they play some Chainsmokers around Amen Corner. 

[geauxt]

14 minutes ago, bladehunter said:

So Rory IS going now ?   
 

 

https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/analysis-rory-mcilroy-close-joining-125720928.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAHNzHHDoXLpT6cYx8m-6Te-WXTNNd4VUEGmps7gQyoD_4WPoUsrL3Oi9sQzYuVcPxD17ojfQ3wIGy7LSu2fPAXt8K29AiTSaFNDcETEzl9LpjriuL0nyK0uddVkgl5R39ik-E75E0DHNzmUuiSokiP2XURRi0yEwFKeQYRg-yi_I 

$850 million. 
 

Honestly, you’d have to be insane to say no to that. 

[Shriner]

There are multiple reports about Rory.  This is insane.  If true, I may be done with sports.

[SilverBullets]

Being report by City AM and Brobible LOL  Seems legit 

[Titleist99]

43 minutes ago, Shriner said:

There are multiple reports about Rory.  This is insane.  If true, I may be done with sports.

Wouldn't surprise me at all. He's been talking up the 54 league lately and he's missing his RC teammates. Rory is also envious of Jon Rahm's massive payday.

 

Happy trails to Rory.

[Hawkeye77]

1 hour ago, bladehunter said:

So Rory IS going now ?   
 

 

https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/analysis-rory-mcilroy-close-joining-125720928.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAHNzHHDoXLpT6cYx8m-6Te-WXTNNd4VUEGmps7gQyoD_4WPoUsrL3Oi9sQzYuVcPxD17ojfQ3wIGy7LSu2fPAXt8K29AiTSaFNDcETEzl9LpjriuL0nyK0uddVkgl5R39ik-E75E0DHNzmUuiSokiP2XURRi0yEwFKeQYRg-yi_I 

We can’t talk about the aspects of this that should and need to be talked about but anyone seeing (if real and more so if he goes) almost a billion dollars being tossed about to buy one person can’t come to any other conclusion than they are true predators and out to destroy golf with no thought to the game all because “they can” and for other reasons.  Destructive and absolute greed. 

[Dicka]

1 hour ago, geauxt said:

$850 million. 
 

Honestly, you’d have to be insane to say no to that. 

 

Almost as insane as offering that to him. Imagine thinking paying Rory and Rahm close to a billion and a half dollars just to show up was a good investment.

 

At the rate they're going, they may get a return in what, 200, 300 years?

 

I'm already pretty much done watching anything outside the majors....so Rory leaving wouldn't make much difference to me.

 

And just on Rory...if he went to LIV, I can't imagine his exemptions into Majors would last long for him. He'd only be getting in on his OWGR and being reigning champion on some Tour events...that'll all disappear very quickly.