Upcoming LIV Golf Event and Major Competition
For many American golf enthusiasts, this weekend will mark their first chance to witness a LIV Golf event as the league competes at the Blue Monster in Doral, Miami.
Participation in The Masters Tournament
Following the LIV Golf event, twelve of its players, including Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, and Bryson DeChambeau, will travel to Augusta National the following week for The Masters Tournament. While players from LIV Golf and the PGA Tour only meet at the four major championships, discussions about unifying professional golf are ongoing.
Continued Separation According to Nick Faldo
Nonetheless, Sir Nick Faldo believes LIV Golf should keep functioning independently. He expressed to talkSPORT that he thinks the league should continue to operate separately, stating: “LIV is LIV. Go and play the tour.”
Financial Backing of LIV Golf
LIV Golf is financially supported by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), which has over $700 billion in reserves. The PIF has invested upward of $5 billion into LIV Golf, with a significant portion allocated for signing bonuses for former PGA Tour stars. Reports suggest Rahm received over $450 million to join LIV Golf in preparation for the 2024 season, with other players also benefiting from substantial payouts.
PGA Tour’s Response to LIV Golf
Additionally, LIV Golf offers $20 million purses for its 54-man fields, a sum that the PGA Tour initially could not match. To enhance its offerings, the PGA Tour secured a $1.5 billion investment from the Strategic Sports Group (SSG) and introduced Signature Events to attract top players to compete alongside each other in high-stakes contests outside of majors.
Concerns Over Tournament Structure
Faldo highlighted that LIV Golf’s unique structure—54 holes without a cut—ensures that every participant is guaranteed payment, contrasting the PGA Tour where those who do not make the cut leave empty-handed. He criticized this model, stating, “It’s not sport,” and arguing that the lack of pressure to succeed could lead to complacency among players.
Criticism of LIV’s Economic Model
Faldo also expressed doubts about LIV Golf’s financial viability, stating, “It’s the one and only business model in the world where the money’s going out the window and very little’s coming in.” He noted how players, including lesser-known individuals, are securing large earnings, receiving ten times what they might earn on the PGA Tour, while the economic foundations of the league remain questionable.
Jack Milko is a golf writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Follow him on X @jack_milko.
