Tiger Woods turns down 700-800 million to join LIV golf

Tabascocat

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It’s easy to have integrity when you’re worth is more than the 800 million. Kudos to him but I would bet that we see a different outcome if his name wasn’t Tiger Woods………..:huh:
 

ghst187

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It’s easy to have integrity when you’re worth is more than the 800 million. Kudos to him but I would bet that we see a different outcome if his name wasn’t Tiger Woods………..:huh:

i think some of the lower and mid level guys have some legit gripes with the PGA…I don’t blame them for bolting…
 

terra

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I guess its clear money is not that important to him; or he would have taken it. As has been pointed out he is really rich anyway; but still how many no matter what could say no to three quarters of a BILLION DOLLARS?
 

atlantacowboy

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Well, if Tiger left, the PGA tour would be forced to look at greatly altering its position on LIV golf. They should anyway but Tiger leaving would force the issue.

The PGA needs to stop trying to convince golfers to stay by taking this faux moral stand against Saudi money. Nobody cares and it was a terrible attempt to guilt players into staying. Saudi money is everywhere and touches all sports. The Tour needs to compete in the payout department.

Its almost at a tipping point where there is more talent in the LIV golf fields than in a typical PGA TOUR event. The next domino to fall are TV contracts which will soon be chasing LIV golf. When that happens, the PGA Tour will become the new Korn-Ferry Tour, and they will have nobody to blame but themselves.
 

terra

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Well, if Tiger left, the PGA tour would be forced to look at greatly altering its position on LIV golf. They should anyway but Tiger leaving would force the issue.

The PGA needs to stop trying to convince golfers to stay by taking this faux moral stand against Saudi money. Nobody cares and it was a terrible attempt to guilt players into staying. Saudi money is everywhere and touches all sports. The Tour needs to compete in the payout department.

Its almost at a tipping point where there is more talent in the LIV golf fields than in a typical PGA TOUR event. The next domino to fall are TV contracts which will soon be chasing LIV golf. When that happens, the PGA Tour will become the new Korn-Ferry Tour, and they will have nobody to blame but themselves.
The PGA is really stupid on this; which means they are scared. So they will do more stupid stuff.
and frankly I hope they do; actually competition would be good.
And that BS about it being because of dirty Saudi money? I would love for some reporter to actually do real reporting and expose some of the past dirty money that the PGA has had no problems with.
Dictators, corrupt oil sheiks, dirty billionaires, etc
 

JIMMYBUFFETT

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Easy decision for Tiger. Why tarnish your image by joining a Saudi backed Pro-Am with a weak field, no galleries to speak of, no TV contracts, and lose your sponsors? Rocket Mortgage, Royal Bank Of Canada, Callaway Golf, Heinekin, Workday, KPMG, and UPS just to name a few have dropped their sponsorship with all golfers who joined LIV. A judge ruled just last week that the LIV golfers would not be eligible to play in any of the FedEx Cup events, so the law agrees with the PGA.

Their field is weak at best with Branden Grace who has a grand total of 2 PGA tour wins as their #1 ranked golfer. They play a 3 day format like you were playing at a local Country Club tournament while riding in golf carts with their wives and music blasting. They sold tickets as cheap as $3 for the last LIV in Bedminster and still couldn't field a gallery. The top 20 players currently on the PGA tour and also Tiger Woods are all gathering this week before the BMW Championship as a sign of unity for the PGA tour. On the first hole at Bedminster a heckler yelled at Mickelson "Do it for the Saudi Royal Family". All this crap and people actually think that the Golf Channel, NBC, ABC, and CBS of the world are going to be bringing you that mess on Sundays? LIV is nothing more than the golf equivalent of the USFL and just looking for a place to die.
 

Sydla

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Well, if Tiger left, the PGA tour would be forced to look at greatly altering its position on LIV golf. They should anyway but Tiger leaving would force the issue.

The PGA needs to stop trying to convince golfers to stay by taking this faux moral stand against Saudi money. Nobody cares and it was a terrible attempt to guilt players into staying. Saudi money is everywhere and touches all sports. The Tour needs to compete in the payout department.

Its almost at a tipping point where there is more talent in the LIV golf fields than in a typical PGA TOUR event. The next domino to fall are TV contracts which will soon be chasing LIV golf. When that happens, the PGA Tour will become the new Korn-Ferry Tour, and they will have nobody to blame but themselves.

It appears that the networks have no real interest in chasing LIV at this point. Kushner had to try to arrange a meeting with Paramount, the CBS streaming service to see if they could figure out a way to get LIV on that platform. They are likely going to have to pluck a lot more top talent to get the networks to buckle and think about carrying them.

It will be interesting to see if there is a run on some of the top players once the Tour Championship is over. Cam Smith is probably jumping, too much fire there. But who else? Most the top guys wanted to play in the Tour Championship and wouldn't risk it by joining LIV. But once the Tour Championship is over? If LIV doesn't peel off more top names post Tour Championship, they might be stuck in limbo on this.

And there won't be any closure with regards to the lawsuit filed by some of the LIV golfers. That trial isn't likely happening until late 2023, early 2024.
 

atlantacowboy

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It appears that the networks have no real interest in chasing LIV at this point. Kushner had to try to arrange a meeting with Paramount, the CBS streaming service to see if they could figure out a way to get LIV on that platform. They are likely going to have to pluck a lot more top talent to get the networks to buckle and think about carrying them.

It will be interesting to see if there is a run on some of the top players once the Tour Championship is over. Cam Smith is probably jumping, too much fire there. But who else? Most the top guys wanted to play in the Tour Championship and wouldn't risk it by joining LIV. But once the Tour Championship is over? If LIV doesn't peel off more top names post Tour Championship, they might be stuck in limbo on this.

And there won't be any closure with regards to the lawsuit filed by some of the LIV golfers. That trial isn't likely happening until late 2023, early 2024.

Cam Smith wasn't allowed to play the BMW last week b/c him leaving is a certainty. The PGA tour didn't want the potential embarrassment of the FED EX Cup winner bolting to LIV immediately after winning. I think Rahm is also a good bet to jump. Zalatoris is also a possibility. He apparently has a bad back and might decide to cash in now rather than wait to see if he can regain his form on the PGA tour. The only guys solidly remaining on tour are Morikawa, Spieth, Thomas, and Rory..... and Tiger once in a while. Everyone else is a possibility.

I read something yesterday that the PGA tour is considering dropping its non-profit status to attract hedge fund money that could put them on equal footing financially with LIV. This BS stance about Saudi money isn't resonating anymore b/c Saudi money is already in every sport. Heck, Saudis own Man City, Liverpool, and invest their money everywhere. Its almost unavoidable.

I think LIV will be televised or on an app soon. Trial or no trial, at some point, its going to be in the PGA tours interest to drop the player suspensions and let guys play where they want to play. Masters week next year should be interesting! :popcorn:
 
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Sydla

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Cam Smith wasn't allowed to play the BMW last week b/c him leaving is a certainty. The PGA tour didn't want the potential embarrassment of the FED EX Cup winner bolting to LIV immediately after winning. I think Rahm is also a good bet to jump. Zalatoris is also a possibility. He apparently has a bad back and might decide to cash in now rather than wait to see if he can regain his form on the PGA tour. The only guys solidly remaining on tour are Morikawa, Spieth, Thomas, and Rory..... and Tiger once in a while. Everyone else is a possibility.

I read something yesterday that the PGA tour is considering dropping its non-profit status to attract hedge fund money that could put them on equal footing financially with LIV. This BS stance about Saudi money isn't resonating anymore b/c Saudi money is already in every sport. Heck, Saudis own Man City, Liverpool, and invest their money everywhere. Its almost unavoidable.

I think LIV will be televised or on an app soon. Trial or no trial, at some point, its going to be in the PGA tours interest to drop the player suspensions and let guys play where they want to play. Masters week next year should be interesting! :popcorn:

Rahm and Zalatoris aren't bolting. They were part of the group of 23 that met with Woods last week in meeting. Rahm has also publicly stated he's staying with the Tour. The two big names that likely will jump are Smith and Matsuyama - neither showed up at the Woods meeting where most of the other Top 20 players showed up to.

Smith is playing in the Tour Championship. He sat out last week with a hip injury. There's little to no chance Smith could have quietly gotten suspended for the BMW and no one knew about it. The Tour has been quite vocal when they have suspended players. Makes no sense they would suspend him one week, let him play the next and do it all very quietly.
 

JIMMYBUFFETT

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Rahm and Zalatoris aren't bolting. They were part of the group of 23 that met with Woods last week in meeting. Rahm has also publicly stated he's staying with the Tour. The two big names that likely will jump are Smith and Matsuyama - neither showed up at the Woods meeting where most of the other Top 20 players showed up to.

Smith is playing in the Tour Championship. He sat out last week with a hip injury. There's little to no chance Smith could have quietly gotten suspended for the BMW and no one knew about it. The Tour has been quite vocal when they have suspended players. Makes no sense they would suspend him one week, let him play the next and do it all very quietly.

I think all the Aussies are gone. C. Smith (will be the biggest loss to the tour so far), M. Leishman (who cares), and A. Scott (good player and a loss). After that I'd guess H. Matsuyama ( a loss) and R. Fowelr (who cares). Might be a couple more mid level or end of their career names added and then I expect it will taper off until next season. I think a lot of these players who left thought they'd still be able to play the majors. Make big $$$ playing LIV and then just show up to play the 4 majors each season. When Augusta announced earlier this month they would likely ban LIV golfers I think it probably changed some minds. You can make all the money in the world as a professional golfer but if you aren't competing in the majors your a nobody, and if the 4 majors don't allow LIV players then LIV is doomed.
 

Sydla

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I think all the Aussies are gone. C. Smith (will be the biggest loss to the tour so far), M. Leishman (who cares), and A. Scott (good player and a loss). After that I'd guess H. Matsuyama ( a loss) and R. Fowelr (who cares). Might be a couple more mid level or end of their career names added and then I expect it will taper off until next season. I think a lot of these players who left thought they'd still be able to play the majors. Make big $$$ playing LIV and then just show up to play the 4 majors each season. When Augusta announced earlier this month they would likely ban LIV golfers I think it probably changed some minds. You can make all the money in the world as a professional golfer but if you aren't competing in the majors your a nobody, and if the 4 majors don't allow LIV players then LIV is doomed.

Fowler was with Woods and came in with Woods on his private plane for the meeting last week of all the PGA Top players still on tour. Would be weird if he showed up at a meeting to move the Tour forward and then bolted for LIV. He's close to Tiger so I really have my doubts he's one at this point. A few months ago, I thought he might bolt but now........... would be an odd situation if he was with Woods at the meeting and then gave Woods the bird.

Also, apparently Adam Scott was also at the meeting per the leaked list. I kind of thought he would be part of the Aussie movement but if he really was at that meeting, seems odd again, that he would then bolt to LIV.
 

JIMMYBUFFETT

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Fowler was with Woods and came in with Woods on his private plane for the meeting last week of all the PGA Top players still on tour. Would be weird if he showed up at a meeting to move the Tour forward and then bolted for LIV. He's close to Tiger so I really have my doubts he's one at this point. A few months ago, I thought he might bolt but now........... would be an odd situation if he was with Woods at the meeting and then gave Woods the bird.

Also, apparently Adam Scott was also at the meeting per the leaked list. I kind of thought he would be part of the Aussie movement but if he really was at that meeting, seems odd again, that he would then bolt to LIV.

I haven't seen the leaked list and didn't realize Fowler and Scott were at the meeting. Even though I brought his name up, I'm also not so sure Matsuyama will leave. He WD from the 3M due to an injured wrist and I've heard mixed rumors he's committed to the PGA. A. Scott and G. Norman are close friends so I just assumed he'd tag along. Again both Matsuyama and Scott are both past Master's champions and the news that they would no longer be allowed to play in a tournament that means so much to both may have swayed them a little. Money talks but you can't really consider yourself amongst the best in the world if you're not playing the majors.
 

Sydla

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I haven't seen the leaked list and didn't realize Fowler and Scott were at the meeting. Even though I brought his name up, I'm also not so sure Matsuyama will leave. He WD from the 3M due to an injured wrist and I've heard mixed rumors he's committed to the PGA. A. Scott and G. Norman are close friends so I just assumed he'd tag along. Again both Matsuyama and Scott are both past Master's champions and the news that they would no longer be allowed to play in a tournament that means so much to both may have swayed them a little. Money talks but you can't really consider yourself amongst the best in the world if you're not playing the majors.

The initial report came from No Laying Up, a popular golf blog/news site. Other outlets have seemingly confirmed it. Hovland is another name linked to LIV in the past that was at the meeting as well.

The rumored offer to Matsuyama is apparently massive. LIV wants to tap into the Japanese market which is growing and thinks that might be the way to eventually getting a TV deal.

https://nolayingup.com/blog/rory-tiger-top-players-agree-on-vision-for-pga-tour-changes
 

atlantacowboy

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The initial report came from No Laying Up, a popular golf blog/news site. Other outlets have seemingly confirmed it. Hovland is another name linked to LIV in the past that was at the meeting as well.

The rumored offer to Matsuyama is apparently massive. LIV wants to tap into the Japanese market which is growing and thinks that might be the way to eventually getting a TV deal.

https://nolayingup.com/blog/rory-tiger-top-players-agree-on-vision-for-pga-tour-changes

The meeting with Tiger wasn't a pep rally for the PGA tour. I'm sure many of the guys are frustrated behind the scenes with the PGA Tour b/c they haven't come up with a creative solution to counter the LIV golf offers most of them have on the table. The fields are getting watered down , viewership is down, and that will eventually affect their pockets. Money eventually wins out. This is less than one year. Imagine the attrition after 5 years if the PGA Tour does nothing but harken back to tradition. If the PGA tour can't come up with a way to pay players a lot more money, unless they have lucrative corporate sponsorships tied to their PGA tour standing, why would they stay? I don't care what they say now. It appears Tiger Woods is single handedly preventing the tour from becoming second fiddle.
 

Sydla

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The meeting with Tiger wasn't a pep rally for the PGA tour. I'm sure many of the guys are frustrated behind the scenes with the PGA Tour b/c they haven't come up with a creative solution to counter the LIV golf offers most of them have on the table. The fields are getting watered down , viewership is down, and that will eventually affect their pockets. Money eventually wins out. This is less than one year. Imagine the attrition after 5 years if the PGA Tour does nothing but harken back to tradition. If the PGA tour can't come up with a way to pay players a lot more money, unless they have lucrative corporate sponsorships tied to their PGA tour standing, why would they stay? I don't care what they say now. It appears Tiger Woods is single handedly preventing the tour from becoming second fiddle.

Well the PGA Tour has already come up with increased purses, etc. There is also talk of minimum "salaries" for all tour qualified players. So they are adjusting and it appears most of the Top 20 are listening.

At some point, and the LIV COO admitted this a few weeks ago, LIV needs to be somewhat self sufficient and needs a TV deal. So it's not like LIV doesn't have it's own issues. Further, as reporters start digging into LIV they are finding it's not quite as "free" a tour as people think.

And if they can't figure out a way to get OWGR and see their chances at majors slip away, LIV is going to have another problem. They can't be banking on the anti-trust lawsuit because that is more than a year away from even starting and that thing could get tied up in courts for years.
 

atlantacowboy

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Well the PGA Tour has already come up with increased purses, etc. There is also talk of minimum "salaries" for all tour qualified players. So they are adjusting and it appears most of the Top 20 are listening.

At some point, and the LIV COO admitted this a few weeks ago, LIV needs to be somewhat self sufficient and needs a TV deal. So it's not like LIV doesn't have it's own issues. Further, as reporters start digging into LIV they are finding it's not quite as "free" a tour as people think.

And if they can't figure out a way to get OWGR and see their chances at majors slip away, LIV is going to have another problem. They can't be banking on the anti-trust lawsuit because that is more than a year away from even starting and that thing could get tied up in courts for years.

LIV is actually self sufficient for the foreseeable future. You think the Saudis who launched this are going to drop it now that its taking off? Coup after coup plucking top players off the PGA Tour.........and they would just walk away bc they can't get on TV? No way. Those guys don't care about money. They throw it around like there is an endless supply of it..........and there pretty much is. They are kinda like The Masters which doesn't need TV money either.

The lawsuit is about allowing golfers to play where they want. LIV is perfectly fine with its players going back and forth. They want golfers to have a choice. LIV wants to be the cherry on top of the cake, not the cake.

The only major LIV golfers can't play is the PGA Championship.... which is a distant 4th to the other 3 in terms of prestige. It appears to be no deterrent. I think if the Masters, US Open, and British Open blocked them, it would end LIV golf. I don't think top players would live with that trade off.
 

Sydla

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LIV is actually self sufficient for the foreseeable future. You think the Saudis who launched this are going to drop it now that its taking off? Coup after coup plucking top players off the PGA Tour.........and they would just walk away bc they can't get on TV? No way. Those guys don't care about money. They throw it around like there is an endless supply of it..........and there pretty much is. They are kinda like The Masters which doesn't need TV money either.

The lawsuit is about allowing golfers to play where they want. LIV is perfectly fine with its players going back and forth. They want golfers to have a choice. LIV wants to be the cherry on top of the cake, not the cake.

The only major LIV golfers can't play is the PGA Championship.... which is a distant 4th to the other 3 in terms of prestige. It appears to be no deterrent. I think if the Masters, US Open, and British Open blocked them, it would end LIV golf. I don't think top players would live with that trade off.

Oh the Saudis aren't gonna pull the plug in a year or two but they could revisit where this is heading in 3-4 years. As I said, the LIV Golf COO admitted in an interview that they need to act like a real tour at some point with real sponsors and some sort of broadcast deal. He wouldn't be saying that if the Saudis were gonna just throw hundreds of millions at the tour each year for eternity.

Coup after coup? They pulled a small handful of bigger names - Johnson, Koepka, DeChambeau and some aging guys like Mickelson and Garcia looking to cash those last big checks. But the vast majority of the Top 20 in golf, Top 30 are still with the PGA Tour. Even if Cam Smith bolts, which would be a coup for sure, the majority of the world's best players are still with the PGA, not LIV. And as I said, if LIV doesn't peel off a bunch of top names after the Tour Championship, it seems unlikely they will be able to do it in the future as the PGA begins to pay more, etc.

And the Masters could follow the PGA Championship. In the lawsuit filed by Mickelson and others, they claimed that Masters officials tried to talk golfers out of joining LIV. So if that's true, it could be a sign the Masters might be leaning towards limiting LIV golfers. Further, the other big factor here is Official World Golf Rankings. If LIV doesn't quality for OGWR points, it might be tough for some of the LIV golfers to even qualify for the majors.
 
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