If you don’t believe the LIV is out to be a totally disruptive force in the world of golf — simply look at the latest accomplishment by the 54-hole, filthy Saudi money-backed exhibition series.
Henrik Stenson can now boast the shortest tenure in the history of Ryder Cup captaincy. He’s done, kaput — over as the European Ryder Cup captain for the 2023 matches in Italy.
Stenson had signed a contract for the captaincy. He ignored that contract and joined the retirement community known as the LIV exhibition series — the result, the Ryder Cup Europe officials were short and to the point:
Stenson’s tenure, per Ryder Cup Europe: “has been brought to an end with immediate effect.”
So it’s over for Stennie it lasted somewhere in the neighborhood of 120 days, give or take a few. Basically Henrik signed a contract as the European captain and within said contract was language that he could not support or promote “other properties” and that definition includes other tours, leagues or series of competitions.
No surprise, Stennie was ripe for the picking by the citizen-beheading Saudis. He’s 46, long past his prime, has made a shade north of $180k this year and that won’t even pay for his private jet fuel.
Stenson avoided the issue at last week’s Open Championship but now he’s in the field for the 54-hole exhibition next week.
Now on to more silly LIV business and rumors.
There was talk that the LIV was courting Charles Barkley to join its fantastic U-Tube broadcast team where he can literally be heard by thousands, rather than the millions of NBA fans who love to listen to his takes on TNT.
Dan Patrick spoke about Barkley on his ESPN radio show:
“He’s the most valuable voice in sports media,” said Patrick. “You throw in all the commercials, because he may lose those endorsements, a lot of these players who joined the LIV tour lost endorsements. Charles knows that he may lose those. So if you’re gonna go after Charles Barkley, you don’t have a TV deal and you have David Feherty, what are you gonna give Charles Barkley? And Charles says he’s going to listen to them, I believe tomorrow night and decide what he’s going to do, and he might have to leave TNT. That’s why this is a huge deal. And Charles knows that he may have to leave TNT to do this.”
There’s only one huge problem. Charles Barkley likes to tell it like it is and that’s a no-no with the LIV.
You have to be constantly praising and selling the product. Jerry Foltz offered this vomit-inducing declaration in the first broadcast:
“As Greg (Norman) says — it’s good for the players, it’s good for the fans, it’s good for the game.”
Poor Jerry. Look how money made him lie out loud.
Barkley was a voice during that Phil Mickelson/Tom Brady vs. Tiger Woods/Peyton Manning match a few years ago and Barkley made this point when things weren’t going really well for any of the four: “This is some really crappy golf.”
And when you look at Mickelson’s 75-plus scoring average, the guys shooting in the high 70s and 80s on the LIV (and that’s a bunch of them), well, Sir Charles might be prone to point out that it is indeed “some really crappy golf.”
And at that point someone would have to remind Barkley that the Saudis are particularly fond of assassination and dismemberment.
Then there was the rumor that Hideki Matsuyama was offered north of $300 million to defect. He may have made three times that in Japan after his Masters win. Not sure Hideki wants to take them up on that offer. Besides, he’s not nearly old enough.
Charles Howell III signed up and since he’s well into his 40s, he’s the Saudis kinda guy. Good for Charlie, no one’s going to miss him on the PGA Tour.
Jason Kokrak’s on board. No surprise, you would expect a guy with “Saudi Golf” on his shirt sleeve to go that way. No loss there.
So the Saudi Circus goes on with Norman as the ringmaster.
There’s nothing real about it aside from the money.
And that’s all this is about — that and disrupting the world landscape.
So don’t look for Barkley to show up either, he’s not really the type of guy who wants the LIV producers telling him what he can and cannot say.
Besides, it is, as Barkley once said — really crappy golf.
7 Comments
JimmyD5cc
If you are in your 40’s and your game is on the down slide, the money LIV is offering is too much to pass up. Guys like Rory and JT don’t need their money, but others are tempted.
Tom Edrington
Simply a glorified version of the Champions Tour……there’s no business model there, just overpay for players who are going to under-deliver.
baxter cepeda
Some younger superstars have already made the leap and many more will follow.
Guys like Rory and jT — all the young guns are a bunch of scardy cats— but eventually even those type of guys will have to make the leap as more and more of their contemporaries make the leap.
In the end this will cost the JT and rorys hundreds of millions as they are the last to realize this is inevitable.
I mean I’m sorry but how dumb can these people be scoffing at literally billions of legal dollars that are inevitably going to enter the sport with or without you?
And the worst part is the LIv guys wanted to work with the pga tour, even naming it pga tour super league.
Players like JT and Rory should want to punch Monahan in the face rather than remain loyal to a fault.
#only a matter of time.
#money talks.
# be smart.
# just getting started.
# lost opportunities.
# your loss.
# wake up already.
Tom Edrington
Baxter: You need to speak with families who had their loved ones be-headed in Saudi Arabia.
baxter cepeda
Lot to digest.
Stenson had to do this. If there’s one thing pro players don’t love about the Ryder cup is not getting paid so a bunch of suits can stuff their pockets; because then those same suits charge kids 4-5 different times—each between 250-500$ for junior league. But for stenson leaving near 50 million on the table for a diminishing volunteer event would be downright stupid.
The Ryder cup is dying. I don’t even think I’m watching it. I like watching sports at the highest level and a Ryder cup sans many of the best players on both sides is simply not worth watching; certainly not in great detail where I won’t miss watching a shot.
I would absolutely expect Barkley to join LIv. And he won’t even have to kill his own brother to get the astronomical amount of cash he is going to get. I do not believe Barkley will be censored as happens here and there at DLN. I also think LIv will do whatever it can to allow Barkley to fulfill his tnt work.
I’m seriously hoping they bring in Gary McCord to go along with chuck and David. Seriously at that point I’m never looking back. I wouldn’t even need the golf. Fehrity, McCord and Barkley…what else do you need for entertainment?
LIv are fast learners and one of their first lessons was people want to hear that a mediocre shot was a crappy shot more than that a mediocre shot was a great shot. But who says it is important. Hence these boys are coming in. We already saw that trend change in Portland and will continue to as these superstars of criticism settle in.
Then there’s the endorsement issue. Companies don’t give players as much as people believe, and LIv more than makes up for any potential sponsor losses. And then it’s only a matter of time before those sponsors come back or new ones fill in.
Especially chuck, everyone Livs Chuck so much I’m betting no one Livs him.
Tom Edrington
Baxter: A. You’ve obviously not been to a Ryder Cup — Dying?? Crowds bigger than ever, interest bigger than ever. Having a 22-handicapper as an “analyst” is a total joke…note: Chuck hasn’t signed yet…..Chuck disappears from relevance if he’s not on the TNT NBA lineup….
baxter cepeda
There’s never been a Ryder cup post LIv v Monahan. There’s hasn’t even been a presidents cup.
People will care a lot less about a tour vs tour Ryder cup; especially now that the pga tour owns half of the euro tour and the euro tour has basically become a feeder tour to the pga tour.
People want and expect to see the best Americans battle the best 12 euros.
If that doesn’t happen…trust me it will start to diminish more and more. I mean many people in and around the Ryder cup have said just that; and not just the guys going to Liv.
Chuck will not leave tnt. But chuck transcends that show. Chuck could do morning shows. He could do whatever he wants at this point and be extremely relevant. He’s one of the biggest celebrities in America.
And reports are chuck will be a Jack of all trades for the Liv coverage; not a traditional analyst. Chuck is huge on tnt for his entertainment value much more than his analyst value, although to his credit that is pretty great as well.