- Oct 23, 2014
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Certainly the more interesting personalities are on LIV, among top players. You'd think maybe Hideki could get another look at jumping ship now, too. Just overall a tough scene this week. Jon Rahm announces he's with LIV, and the player announcing they're with the PGA Tour is Adrian Meronk.I was starting to wonder if LIV now has equal star power. The depth isn't as good because poaching 3-4 guys per year at most that are decent isn't going to get you that far, but true star power:
LIV:
Mickelson
DeChambeau
Johnson
Rahm
Koepka
Smith
Garcia
Reed
? (Cantlay)
? (Schauffele)
PGA Tour:
Woods
McIlroy
Spieth
Scheffler
Thomas
Hovland
Morikawa
Fitzpatrick
Aberg
Kim
I think it's legitimately close. If LIV can add the expected additions of Cantlay and Schauffele, you can start making a real argument for LIV.
There's no way to accurately measure it. LIV probably has 1/3 of the top 30 players in the world.Certainly the more interesting personalities are on LIV, among top players. You'd think maybe Hideki could get another look at jumping ship now, too. Just overall a tough scene this week. Jon Rahm announces he's with LIV, and the player announcing they're with the PGA Tour is Adrian Meronk.
A real first world problem here, but I'm annoyed that there still isn't a great ranking system in place after two years of LIV. The OWGR is mucho not good now. I like Data Golf a lot but the highest LIVer (not counting Rahm) is Bryson at 28, which can't be right either. The sketchy TUGR dudes have the highest LIVer at 22, again Bryson. In some cases I think it can be chalked up to the LIV schedule being a lot lighter, and thus there's fewer chances to play well. But there's a disconnect somewhere.
Nah.There's no way to accurately measure it. LIV probably has 1/3 of the top 30 players in the world.
I disageee. Niemann would likely be top 30. Gooch was just starting to break out when he left for LIV. Those two I am pretty confident would be top 30. Then I wouldn’t rule out a younger upstart like Varner, Ancer, or Pereira, or an older guy like Casey, Garcia, or Westwood. I wouldn’t even rule out mid-aged players like Bubba, Na, or Oosthuizen.Nah.
Rahm
Cam Smith
Brooks
Bryson
DJ (maybe but he has been bad since leaving)
Reed (reaching a bit but maybe)
Thats the end of list.
That being said, those are some big f***ing names and have fractured professional golf to the point that only the majors are going to be worth watching.
Fair point about Kitiyama but Fox had a legit good year in majros and big events. Plus if you add the 5/6 guys from LIV that we conceded I doubt Kit/Fox stay in the top 30.I disageee. Niemann would likely be top 30. Gooch was just starting to break out when he left for LIV. Those two I am pretty confident would be top 30. Then I wouldn’t rule out a younger upstart like Varner, Ancer, or Pereira, or an older guy like Casey, Garcia, or Westwood. I wouldn’t even rule out mid-aged players like Bubba, Na, or Oosthuizen.
Look at the top 30. Kurt Kitayama and Ryan Fox are both top 30. It’s very watered down without the LIV players.
Cantlay apparently is now a major power broker along with Woods and Spieth, running the PGA tour behind the scenes (source: NLU podcast). Gross. So he ain't going to LIV (wish he would, though, so I would never have to see him play again).I was starting to wonder if LIV now has equal star power. The depth isn't as good because poaching 3-4 guys per year at most that are decent isn't going to get you that far, but true star power:
LIV:
Mickelson
DeChambeau
Johnson
Rahm
Koepka
Smith
Garcia
Reed
? (Cantlay)
? (Schauffele)
PGA Tour:
Woods
McIlroy
Spieth
Scheffler
Thomas
Hovland
Morikawa
Fitzpatrick
Aberg
Kim
I think it's legitimately close. If LIV can add the expected additions of Cantlay and Schauffele, you can start making a real argument for LIV.
I think they are trying to make sure the mules don’t try to strong-arm the money makers of the tour.Cantlay apparently is now a major power broker along with Woods and Spieth, running the PGA tour behind the scenes (source: NLU podcast). Gross. So he ain't going to LIV (wish he would, though, so I would never have to see him play again).
I do think it's hard to compete with an irrational actor that can throw billions and billions of dollars out the window with absolutely no need or desire to ever make a penny back. However, I think Monahan and Jimmy Dunne and the boys got absolutely and thoroughly dominated in all of this.I think they are trying to make sure the mules don’t try to strong-arm the money makers of the tour.
This is almost getting pathetic how bad the PGA Tour is getting owned. PGA Tour must be begging PIF for a deal now.
They should probably say they can’t make a deal, and collapse the PGA Tour.I do think it's hard to compete with an irrational actor that can throw billions and billions of dollars out the window with absolutely no need or desire to ever make a penny back. However, I think Monahan and Jimmy Dunne and the boys got absolutely and thoroughly dominated in all of this.
The real loser in this is the fans.
Also, the days of the mules like Chris Stroud making $14 million dollars in their career are over. Only top players will make the big money going forward.
I think you're absolutely on to something here. The current/old model just does not work for this modern golfer/LIV throwing guaranteed unlimited money at golfers.They should probably say they can’t make a deal, and collapse the PGA Tour.
All the best players in the world get in a room and agree to a world tour that doesn’t involve LIV or PGA Tour.
LIV and PGA Tour can make their own deal and tour for Chris Stroud and Chase Koepka’s. Everyone wins.