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

[Danielson]

49 minutes ago, Dutch1008 said:

 

The only way I could see a "home course" model working would be for the PIF/LIV to build high quality, affordable, public golf, that a community could rally behind. Something like Torrey or The Park West Palm. A place where residents get a screaming deal but the quality justifies non-residents paying through the nose. Something that builds some civic pride. Think of it as democratizing the pride that's felt by members of elite clubs when they host a US Open.     

 

At that point, it's no longer about the 4 interchangeable guys that make up the team, but pride in a community asset. In addition to hosting a LIV event, have the team conduct quarterly or annual clinics. Host the local high school championships. Steal an idea from the Evans Scholarship and fund a caddy program and provide an annual scholarship to a local kid. The players don't need to live there but they do need to make a mark on the community.  

 

Also, it'd be a pretty damn great way to actually "grow the game". But who am I kidding, since when has the PIF or Greg Norman ever operated w/ the public's interest in mind. If they go through w/ this, it will most certainly be a ridiculously gaudy country club with a $1m initiation fee or an over manicured $650/round resort course.

 

 

That model is similar to how people describe Scottish/Irish golf. Cheap memberships for locals, and subsidize it by making the course freely available for tourists at a higher rate. Feels like the best of all worlds.

[Archimedes65]

I think the home course/country club idea is perfect for LIV.  I mean they’re basically already just playing member-member tournaments anyway (54 holes, shorts, shotgun starts).  All they need now are the players riding in golf carts, and a beer cart roaming around the course.

 

 

Edited May 23 by Archimedes65

[NormanFan]

21 hours ago, bscinstnct said:

Google trends

 

Peaks and declines with each season Clearly show that 2024 has less fan interest than 2023….which had less interest than 2022.

 

600MM for Rahm has done nothing to stem the decline in popularity 

 

 

 

We all know that the only player that will move the needle is signing Tiger and he's not putting pen to paper on a contract.

[Titleist99]

On 5/22/2024 at 11:36 AM, NormanFan said:

I may have stated this elsewhere or another thread but why not take the PIF money and use that within the TOUR to create like 8 WGC-like events around the world?  Travel/scheduling could be a mess but if the TOUR would get off this FedEx Cup playoff nonsense and consider a year-long schedule that went back to a TOUR Championship in November I think it could be doable.

 

I know I'm oversimplifying a fix but just throwing something out there.

LOL! ........The DPWT now has playoffs similar to the FedEx playoffs. I think that the money grab playoffs are here to stay.🤣

[MrDC]

Bryson is obviously the most popular LIV player right now, maybe even among all golfers, and probably "moving the needle" more than any other player, his YouTube content is proving to be a huge success for him and I'm sure other guys are scrambling to catch up with their own channels.

But is it enough to get more eyes on LIV? possibly, we'll see but he's certainly not on Tiger's level and that's probably the level of popularity needed to save LIV right now.

Edited May 24 by MrDC

[jls667]

I find the apparent recent rise in popularity of Bryson to be weird. The dude was irrelevant until his recent showing at the PGA, which was a course that had his name written all over it between the length and soft conditions. But I don't know a single person in my own life who likes Bryson. That's not to say people don't think he's a great golfer, or respect his abilities, but I have yet to meet anyone in real life who actually likes him or roots for him. Bryson and Reed are two guys who I think go down as the most disliked professional golfers in recent history, and not in the bad-guy/anti-hero sense...more that they're just genuinely unlikable and off-putting.

[ThinkingPlus]

3 hours ago, Titleist99 said:

LOL! ........The DPWT now has playoffs similar to the FedEx playoffs. I think that the money grab playoffs are here to stay.🤣

The Race to Dubai predates the FedEx Cup if I remember correctly.

[hackeraz]

48 minutes ago, jls667 said:

I find the apparent recent rise in popularity of Bryson to be weird. The dude was irrelevant until his recent showing at the PGA, which was a course that had his name written all over it between the length and soft conditions. But I don't know a single person in my own life who likes Bryson. That's not to say people don't think he's a great golfer, or respect his abilities, but I have yet to meet anyone in real life who actually likes him or roots for him. Bryson and Reed are two guys who I think go down as the most disliked professional golfers in recent history, and not in the bad-guy/anti-hero sense...more that they're just genuinely unlikable and off-putting.

I actually don't quite get the Bryson hate. I've always enjoyed his oddities and quirkiness, and believe it or not, I've rooted for him for some time. Now I won't claim the same for PR. 

[dalehead]

Just wondering what Greg Norman’s sales pitch was to John Rahm, aside from several hundred million dollars.

 

” John, you’re the key to this whole deal. Once you sign the flood gates will open and other top players will be clamoring to join you. Your signing will be the beginning of reunifying the game.”

 

I only ask because Rahm seems surprised that he went out on a limb and is there by himself.

[Archimedes65]

LIV’s problem is not just the small number of top players that they have relative to the PGA Tour.  The bigger issue is the tournaments.  You’re not going to be able to convince a large number of fans to watch meaningless shotgun start tournaments at mostly non-descript courses.  Tournament and venue history is huge from a fan perspective.  If Bryson streamed his practice rounds, would a large number of people tune in to just watch him play golf?  These Rock-n-Golf tournaments they play in are basically just that.  He’s gonna drive eyeballs to big events that he’s playing in (ie the majors), but none of their players are going to materially move the needle on LIV.  They’ve made so many strategic mistakes already, even if they were to lure a few more top players, they’re still going to languish as the USFL of golf for a long time.

[dalehead]

On 5/22/2024 at 5:21 PM, tomjas said:

There’s land acquisition negotiations happening right now 

 

 

 
Can you cite one example?

[bekgolf]

2 hours ago, jls667 said:

I find the apparent recent rise in popularity of Bryson to be weird. The dude was irrelevant until his recent showing at the PGA, which was a course that had his name written all over it between the length and soft conditions. But I don't know a single person in my own life who likes Bryson. That's not to say people don't think he's a great golfer, or respect his abilities, but I have yet to meet anyone in real life who actually likes him or roots for him. Bryson and Reed are two guys who I think go down as the most disliked professional golfers in recent history, and not in the bad-guy/anti-hero sense...more that they're just genuinely unlikable and off-putting.

 

I'm someone who was sad to see Bryson go.  I enjoyed watching him play and especially liked how he tested other ways to get the ball in the hole.  He's very talented which makes it easy to look past the character defects he so readily displays.

[NormanFan]

5 hours ago, Titleist99 said:

LOL! ........The DPWT now has playoffs similar to the FedEx playoffs. I think that the money grab playoffs are here to stay.🤣

 

Probably, or until FedEx doesn't want to sponsor it anymore.  I just don't think playoffs work in golf and the playoffs as presently constructed are a joke IMO.

 

But when the TOUR compressed its schedule it just makes it tough for me to see how they can get LIV events embedded, especially if LIV wants them to be in international locales.  Something has to give there.

[Cactus Jack]

5 hours ago, jls667 said:

I find the apparent recent rise in popularity of Bryson to be weird. The dude was irrelevant until his recent showing at the PGA, which was a course that had his name written all over it between the length and soft conditions. But I don't know a single person in my own life who likes Bryson. That's not to say people don't think he's a great golfer, or respect his abilities, but I have yet to meet anyone in real life who actually likes him or roots for him. Bryson and Reed are two guys who I think go down as the most disliked professional golfers in recent history, and not in the bad-guy/anti-hero sense...more that they're just genuinely unlikable and off-putting.

You’re running in a different circle. Bryson’s social media following has him gaining a lot of attention and influence. His numbers don’t even include his collabs with Good Good and others. Adding to his YouTube success is what he’s doing on other platforms like Instagram and X. The guy is making a difference and likely the only true commercial star in professional golf. Others like Scottie are better, but lack Bryson’s polarizing impact. 

 

[tomjas]

6 hours ago, dalehead said:

 
Can you cite one example?

Not public but at least one agent is acting on their behalf in Australia 

[Hawkeye77]

6 hours ago, dalehead said:

Just wondering what Greg Norman’s sales pitch was to John Rahm, aside from several hundred million dollars.

 

” John, you’re the key to this whole deal. Once you sign the flood gates will open and other top players will be clamoring to join you. Your signing will be the beginning of reunifying the game.”

 

I only ask because Rahm seems surprised that he went out on a limb and is there by himself.

He can act all he wants - he took the money and don’t kid yourself into believing he has any real regrets. 

[leezer99]

1 hour ago, tomjas said:

Not public but at least one agent is acting on their behalf in Australia 

And let's not forget that buying property to grow the game of golf is nothing new. Rickie bought the range he grew up playing on to foster junior golf in the area.  And then there's Zac Blair who went and built his own course in South Carolina if I'm not mistaken. 

 

There's also the Bryan Bros that bought a course and are redoing it. I think they are going private but plan to use it for YouTube events and such. 

[Gregakin]

4 hours ago, Cactus Jack said:

You’re running in a different circle. Bryson’s social media following has him gaining a lot of attention and influence. His numbers don’t even include his collabs with Good Good and others. Adding to his YouTube success is what he’s doing on other platforms like Instagram and X. The guy is making a difference and likely the only true commercial star in professional golf. Others like Scottie are better, but lack Bryson’s polarizing impact. 

 

Obviously none of the other top players want this sort of attention. They want to play golf, appease their sponsors, make their money, and go home.  

 

"Commercial Star"? And just what is he selling?

 

I think he's just having fun with it, but let's not pretend fellow professional players are jealous of his 'Likes'. 

[tomjas]

42 minutes ago, leezer99 said:

And let's not forget that buying property to grow the game of golf is nothing new. Rickie bought the range he grew up playing on to foster junior golf in the area.  And then there's Zac Blair who went and built his own course in South Carolina if I'm not mistaken. 

 

There's also the Bryan Bros that bought a course and are redoing it. I think they are going private but plan to use it for YouTube events and such. 

It’s also a money making exercise 

 

Keep in mind that Norman has been as successful as anyone with golf course development 

[Shilgy]

10 hours ago, dalehead said:

 
Can you cite one example?

I asked him the same thing Wednesday….he must be related to Greg….just spews whatever sounds good for their exhibition “tour”.

[Shilgy]

6 hours ago, Cactus Jack said:

You’re running in a different circle. Bryson’s social media following has him gaining a lot of attention and influence. His numbers don’t even include his collabs with Good Good and others. Adding to his YouTube success is what he’s doing on other platforms like Instagram and X. The guy is making a difference and likely the only true commercial star in professional golf. Others like Scottie are better, but lack Bryson’s polarizing impact. 

 

As long as it’s clicks that seem to matter…now do Paige and tell me how popular Bryson is.

[dalehead]

5 hours ago, tomjas said:

Not public but at least one agent is acting on their behalf in Australia 

Australia? Thats the example you come up with?😂

[Archimedes65]

6 hours ago, tomjas said:

Not public but at least one agent is acting on their behalf in Australia 

 

😂  Brilliant!

[Archimedes65]

7 hours ago, Cactus Jack said:

You’re running in a different circle. Bryson’s social media following has him gaining a lot of attention and influence. His numbers don’t even include his collabs with Good Good and others. Adding to his YouTube success is what he’s doing on other platforms like Instagram and X. The guy is making a difference and likely the only true commercial star in professional golf. Others like Scottie are better, but lack Bryson’s polarizing impact. 

 

 

So he’s an influencer?  😂  Fits perfectly in the LIV model of form over substance.

[scotee]

I'm not sure what a transfer window is but.......

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/golf/blockbuster-this-is-a-farce-fans-mock-liv-golf-s-failed-transfer-window-after-teams-make-zero-deals/ar-BB1mSmBN#:~:text=LIV Golf launched its,no trade has taken place.&text=This did not go unnoticed,varied reactions on social media.

 

 

[ahenderX]

19 hours ago, ThinkingPlus said:

The Race to Dubai predates the FedEx Cup if I remember correctly.

FedEx Cup started in 2007. Race to Dubai started in 2009. Source: Internet.

[idrive]

12 hours ago, tomjas said:

It’s also a money making exercise 

 

Keep in mind that Norman has been as successful as anyone with golf course development 

 

If liv is an example of Gregs money making exercises, I'd say someone else is running is other businesses.

[idrive]

14 hours ago, Hawkeye77 said:

He can act all he wants - he took the money and don’t kid yourself into believing he has any real regrets. 

 

This is potentially the only time I'm not quite sure I fully agree with you. 😎

 

IMO - Jon is not nearly as happy now as he was before. This is one time when money has not brought happiness. I really think he would unwind this deal, go back in time if it was possible.

 

Sure the money is great and all that, but he has less than more after padding the back account. Other than a bunch of servants he could have had anyway should he have wanted, I believe JR is a bit more of a legacy guy than not. I think he thought this would enhance his legacy by reuniting the golf world and would be playing when and where he wanted to. 

 

At least that's what Greggy told him...

[leezer99]

12 hours ago, tomjas said:

It’s also a money making exercise 

 

Keep in mind that Norman has been as successful as anyone with golf course development 

 

Yes, and that's why they play a few of his courses. 

 

Mayakoba - GN Course

Grange - GN Course

The Grove - GN Course

 

 

[Hawkeye77]

1 hour ago, idrive said:

 

This is potentially the only time I'm not quite sure I fully agree with you. 😎

 

IMO - Jon is not nearly as happy now as he was before. This is one time when money has not brought happiness. I really think he would unwind this deal, go back in time if it was possible.

 

Sure the money is great and all that, but he has less than more after padding the back account. Other than a bunch of servants he could have had anyway should he have wanted, I believe JR is a bit more of a legacy guy than not. I think he thought this would enhance his legacy by reuniting the golf world and would be playing when and where he wanted to. 

 

At least that's what Greggy told him...

Yeah, but at his personal gain of over 1/2 billion smackaroos! Could have worked for reunification on the other side of the fence and just been less rich! He’s good at looking sorrowful, but I admit I don’t know his true feelings. When he’s Tony Montana sitting in the ruins of his empire I’ll buy it!