It wasn’t that long ago when Phil Mickelson barfed all over himself in the court of public opinion and started the wheels in motion for his eventual departure to the land of guaranteed money, no cuts, no stress. Play crappy and you still get a hundred grand.
In a move that came as no surprise on Monday, Lefty pledged his allegiance to the Saudi-backed LIV Series that begins on Thursday at the Centurion Club outside London. The Lamest Commissioner In The Land (aka Greg Norman) left the light on for Phil and Lefty will be showing up on the doorstep Thursday for the shotgun start and a guaranteed pay day.
Mickelson put out a carefully worded apology on Monday in which he cow-towed to the Saudis asked for forgiveness and basically said he was sorry for referring to them as, you know, “scary mother-fuckers.” Lefty says he’s been in therapy but now he’s ready for the therapy he loves the most — serious financial therapy in the form of a big fat pile of stinking Saudi cash. Forget the fact that an American citizen (Jamal Khashoggi) was killed and dismembered by “The Regime” — it’s okay, as The Lamest Commission In The Land was dumb enough to declare: “Everyone makes mistakes.”
Phil may be making a big one but at least he’ll be getting paid handsomely and this move/decision by Lefty surprises absolutely no one. Truth be known, Lefty needs a big payday to support his famous gambling habit (he termed it “reckless and embarrassing”) and this 48-man deal in London fills the bill. There’s $20 million to be had, four-million to the winner. Just imagine the Tour Championship, with more money and a less skilled field.
Last week Kevin Na resigned his PGA Tour membership and this week, Sergio Garcia, Louie Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel and Branden Grace joined him in the resignation club. Dustin Johnson confirmed his resignation on Tuesday at an LIV presser.
Now all eyes are turning to Ponte Vedra Beach where Tour Commish Jay Monahan (aka The Sheriff Of Nottingham) is no doubt gathering with his inner circle to figure out two big words — What’s Next? As in what’s next for Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and the guys who choose to defect to the rival league.
So far, there’s nothing but dead silence from Tour headquarters. Truth be known, they’re no doubt waiting to see if those 48 guys, including D.J. and Phil, do indeed show up for the big money grab.
There’s been other runoff from the mess as well.
The Lamest Commissioner In The Land (Greg Norman) basically called Jack Nicklaus a liar in an interview with the Washington Post. You may or may not recall that Nicklaus had gone on the record and said he met with LIV officials but had no interest at all in the $100 million they were offering him to be the face of the LIV Series.
Norman disputed that.
“One hundred percent truth? Jack’s a hypocrite,’’ Norman told the Washington Post.
“When he (Nicklaus) came out with those comments, I’m thinking: Jack must have a short memory,” Norman declared in the interview.
Norman also said that Nicklaus attended a LIV golf presentation and later wrote in an email that the new league has his blessing.
“Quote-unquote, he said: “This is good for our game. If it’s good for the game of golf, it’s good by me,’’’ Norman said. “So you want the facts? You’ve got the facts. Know what you said before you open your mouth.’’
Of course, considering the source, well, fellow Australians have already told us what Norman is all about — Greg’s all about Greg.
So now it all begins.
The landscape of professional golf is changing. Norman is claiming its all for the good of the game.
If you believe that, Phil Mickelson has a hot tip for you in the third race at Santa Anita.
Even better, London is the land of betting storefronts on every corner — will Lefty bet on himself to NOT WIN at Centurion?
That would be the safest bet of all.
Phil Mickelson’s (self-serving) statement:
“First and foremost, I want to again apologize to the many people I offended and hurt with my comments a few months ago. I have made mistakes in my career in some of the things I have said and done. Taking time away and self-reflecting has been very humbling. I need to start prioritizing the people that I love the most and work on becoming a better version of myself.
“I am ready to come back to play the game I love but after 32 years this new path is a fresh start, one that is exciting for me at this stage of my career and is clearly transformative, not just for myself, but ideally for the game and my peers — I am incredibly grateful for what this game and the PGA Tour has given me. I would like to think that I have given back as well but now I am excited about this new opportunity.”
BREAKING NEWS:
Forbes is reporting that it has confirmed with Bryson DeChambeau’s agent that Bryson will be joining the LIV Series. Reports also have Patrick Reed leaving for the LIV.
10 Comments
forky76
Whether you like it or not, LIV is here to stay. The Saudis have very very very deep pockets and LIV has got more attention than anyone thought they would, especially if the stories today about reed dechambeau and Fowler signing on are true. Players may as well get paid now, because the 48th big name to sign isn’t getting $200m. All the big names will be playing these events for the prize money alone soon enough.
The players are all being branded rats, but the point I find amusing is jack took the meeting with the Saudis because he’s getting paid millions to design some courses for them. Yet no one calls him a rat for taking the saudi money. I guess some people are untouchable.
All the arguments against this league are full of hypocrisy. I’m looking forward to Friday to see how this all plays out.
Tom Edrington
It will all depend, eventually on where the governing bodies of golf weight in; For now, the USGA will allow the LIV players who are qualified to play in the US Open, the R&A hasn’t said anything yet. BUT, after this year’s Open Championship, that could all change. IF the PGA of America, the USGA and the R&A decide to ban them from those three major championships they own/run, it could change a lot of the dynamics of the current situation.
Friday will happen but no one will be watching; There were already problems in the LIV press conferences with an AP reporter “ushered” out for asking the tough questions. Remember, there’s no such thing as free speech in Saudi Arabia, just ask the ghost of Jamal Khashoggi.
baxter cepeda
Tom my friend All 4 majors will allow the players to play. This isn’t their battle.
2 of them are Opens.
1 of them lost tournament golf to the pga tour.
The other is the Masters; which means the best of the best. They can’t be the Masters with a bunch of past champions or potential champions not there.
The leaders of these majors are never going to say never, but they are clearly looking at LIv like just any other tour.
In time LIv will get world rank points. They have to be getting close to some love from Rolex based on the pga tour names we have heard so far. More are coming.
Meanwhile what will happen to pga tour world rank points? The answer is pretty obvious.
To mitigate in time even the pga tour will have to allow Liv players. It’s really that simple.
Of course the hiding in Sherwood Forest commissioner of the pga tour, who has officially dropped the ball of golf domination by officially having guys throwing pga tour badges in his face, may never get this, which is why he may have to be replaced soon, so someone can get these big names back on the PGA Tour.
Regardless of what happens legally—both sides have compelling arguments according to everyone involved—monahan is shooting itself in the foot not letting top players play. Players are resigning Tom. Aside from AK, that’s quite unprecedented. Especially in droves like this. Monahan has let the pga tour become not worth the legal trouble. Others haven’t turned in their wings yet because they feel they can and will still be able to play.
Have I mentioned the pga tour desperately needs someone whom can handle this situation properly so they can remain some semblance of themselves.
As For the tough questions, AP or not, trolls eventually lose privileges. There are majors which control the newsroom even more than LIv, usually in the name of basic comportment. And you can’t blame them. These are professional sports tours. Businesses. They work with reporters to grow their business; understanding some criticism comes with the territory. But Once reporters get too confrontational to their business, especially based on polarizing politics, it’s out the door.
Of course that’s better than disappearing behind the door.
But Tom LIv is not disappearing anytime soon. This tour is now officially bringing a lot of legal money into golf as it pursues its goals,
Whatever they may be.
The US does business with this country. Everyone does really. Golfers are just the latest. Some may argue they are late to the party.
LIv players will be at majors.
The pga tour will not be able to count on that strategy, which is exactly as it should be. Let the best tour, or hopefully the best strategic compromise, win.
Tom Edrington
Baxter: In case you missed it, major companies now support/sponsor the bodies that own/stage the majors; As you saw in the Women’s US Open, a company stepped up to jack up that purse to $10 million; Now if those companies don’t support having players who are soaking in the Saudi bath-tub of cash playing in a tournament they are backing, well, you’re thesis would fold; We don’t know what the Tour has been doing the past year to prepare for this but it has been preparing; Baxter, seriously, a couple of guys and you call it “In Droves”…..come on, you’re better than that. I’m with Scottie Scheffler — he looked around at the Canadian and said “I’m not missing anyone, outside of D.J.; None of the guys who have left will make a difference; DJ is on the decline; Phil and the rest are well, well past their primes on the very tail end of their careers; LIV is anti-competition because everyone gets paid regardless, no cuts, no pressure, it’s like Little League baseball where everyone has to play and everyone gets a trophy….will be interesting to see how Mickelson actually plays in this pseudo-league.
baxter cepeda
I’m over this disparaging players who are going. They are some of the biggest stars in the sport. More are on the way.
The sponsor situations will sort out. Yes the Saudis have some serious issues but People around the world work with them and so will many sponsors. You see no shortage of sponsors in the sporting events the Saudis run. Companies want to sell to the Rich Saudis. It’s a trickle more than a drive but big sponsors and players are going to LIv.
Meanwhile your boo Monahan is telling some of its biggest stars to stay away. He is telling young stars like Gooch to stay away. He is telling future stars he won’t throw them any exemption bones. He is letting the tour get diminished by the day by being vindictive.
Once the collin morikawas of the word take a dip, where will Monahans tour be?
All I can say is my opinion doesn’t matter. But I’ve been telling you this is happening. And it’s happening. And I keep telling you Monahan is not the man to handle this. He just keep making things worse for the pga tour. The pga tour tries to say it’s in the best position it’s been. Laughable. Monahan has the a tour in the worst position it’s ever been. This morning. Right now. Worst position ever. And only getting worse.
Tom Edrington
I’m with Scottie Scheffler, I’m not seeing anyone I’m missing; I think it’s easy to see why certain guys went, they’re skills are eroding…..would like to show you the scoreboard from the LIV but as The Telegraph said: They really don’t have one…..Hey, it’s a free market, pick your Tour, you just can’t choose both! And the announcing for the LIV, pure trash, laughable, I listened for about 15 minutes, it was embarrassing…..I need them to commentate my shots when I play so that when I hit a 9-iron 30 feet from the hole, they will say “Beautiful!” that’s what they were doing out there…..rofl
Andrew Finlayson
Back in the 1980s, the world of International Cricket went into uproar when World Series Cricket was announced. A rival to the series of Test Matches run by International Cricket Committee, a LOT of people announced that either,
a) traditional cricket was DEAD, or
b) traditional cricket would trounce these new interlopers
What happened? Well WSC introduced new forms of the game that made cricket available to more new players and spectators. The players got a substantial pay increase, but the public got something back too.
Perhaps the LIV will be the same? Night tournaments perhaps, so that more fans can get to come watch the game, get interested in the game, then get hooked by the game.
Tom Edrington
Problem is world-wide perception of the Saudi Regime. An AP reporter was removed from the LIV press conference for asking the “tough” questions….keep in mind the Saudis do not believe in free speech — just ask the ghost of Jamal Khashoggi; The poop won’t really hit the fan until this moves to American soil. Ultimately, it will depend on acceptance by the governing bodies — the USGA and R&A along with the two entities that run their own majors — the PGA Of America and The Masters.
baxter cepeda
I found the LIv leaderboard no problem Tom.
A lot of people are reporting about it; the new tour is well known thanks in part to its spat with Monahan.
FYI Masters champ charl shwartzel leads at -5. Phil and DJ -1.
I’m about to click to watch highlights. Eventually I will find myself watching the coverage.
I’m watching the rbc coverage now, and all I can think about is:
Who’s next?
Watching Varner 3 hit a drive as I type…hmm?
Maybe Cam smith?
Scottie may not notice anyone missing just yet. He seems like a in his cacoon shell kinda guy, so no surprise there. But despite the denial from people like Scottie, and like my friend Tom here, it’s become evident that very noticeable people will be missing from pga tour events moving forward.
As Tiger would say: it is what it is.
Tom Edrington
see tomorrow’s feature…..LIV is a joke!