⛳ Brooks Koepka is the latest golfer to defect from the PGA Tour to the LIV Golf

[RTB X Bot]

 

[It Takes Eleven]

Interesting how PGA will respond. Major sports who have operated without any competition have a way of going overboard when they are threatened. Even components of a sport (think Hoosier vs. Goodyear) can get hairy. PGA first tried to quash player involvement with a whack-a-mole approach, then they tried to money-whip the headliners, and now they'll ride the anti-Saudi court of public opinion.

 

[TerryP]

Interesting how PGA will respond.

and now they'll ride the anti-Saudi court of public opinion.

They're blowing a lot of hot air. DJ's situation is a little different due to his exemption as are any major event winners.

But, here's the key.

It's written in the by-laws of the PGA if a player chooses to resign and plays in competing events he's eligible to return to the tour after sitting out a year. Very specific language, "shall be entitled to..."

So with DJ he's got his five year exemption from winning at Augusta. After that he'd have to sit a year but then it entitled to rejoin the tour.

All of this "we'll ban them from playing" is bullshit. It's a direct contradiction to their own bylaws.

 

[BamaFan334]

They're blowing a lot of hot air. DJ's situation is a little different due to his exemption as are any major event winners.

But, here's the key.

It's written in the by-laws of the PGA if a player chooses to resign and plays in competing events he's eligible to return to the tour after sitting out a year. Very specific language, "shall be entitled to..."

So with DJ he's got his five year exemption from winning at Augusta. After that he'd have to sit a year but then it entitled to rejoin the tour.

All of this "we'll ban them from playing" is bullshit. It's a direct contradiction to their own bylaws.

Do we think he really cares anymore at this point to participate? The Masters would be the only tournament I would ever care about. He's played it many times, won it, and can play it outside of tournament golf anytime he wants I would assume. I just don't see the draw for him even caring to be honest. He's walking on glass initially to be sympathetic and it's his demeanor to be softer spoken, but he's attempting to be respectful is my take.

 

[RTB X Bot]

 

[BamaFan334]

I read this morning DeChambeau and Patrick Reed are joining. I also heard Rickie Fowler was on the cusp as well. Doesn't surprise me with Reed and Fowler. Fowler due to needing a change of scenery and to resurrect his game. Reed I would imagine due to all of the snafus he's been a part of with the rules and the PGA, but also after winning his green jacket already as well. DeChambeau was a surprise. Wasn't expecting that from a guy that can still compete at a higher level than everyone that has left, outside of Dustin Johnson. I know folks are tired of his song and dance, but he could still compete with the best.

 

[PurlJam]

"I'm a journeyman." That's how I read his decision. He's in the same world as Ricky Fowler.

It's my view that a lot of people look at the PGA through the lens of who won the majors while the majority of the tour consists of these "journeymen." They know they aren't good enough to contend to play, and win, the major tournaments (including those tournaments that aren't major's, but huge tournaments in their own rights—like the RBC Heritage in Hilton Head.) But they know they're good enough to make the cut's consistently; good enough to bring home good paychecks each week.

That's Na.

What I find here that I've not seen many mention is this will have its effect on the majors. By resigning from the PGA Tour these players will no longer have OWGR points awarded each week. They'll get paid well but won't be factors in major tournaments—they'll have no way to qualify.

That said...does a player like Na go through US Open Qualifying like you and I could?

Ricky who?

 

[ElephantStomp]

I read this morning DeChambeau and Patrick Reed are joining. I also heard Rickie Fowler was on the cusp as well. Doesn't surprise me with Reed and Fowler. Fowler due to needing a change of scenery and to resurrect his game. Reed I would imagine due to all of the snafus he's been a part of with the rules and the PGA, but also after winning his green jacket already as well. DeChambeau was a surprise. Wasn't expecting that from a guy that can still compete at a higher level than everyone that has left, outside of Dustin Johnson. I know folks are tired of his song and dance, but he could still compete with the best.

DeChambeau hasn’t done anything in awhile (injuries have played a part), so really outside of DJ nobody that has chosen to join LIV is a consistent player.

I knew Reed would probably jump because he’s not a very well liked guy by fans and players alike.

 

[Rolltide24]

. Reed I would imagine due to all of the snafus he's been a part of with the rules and the PGA, but also after winning his green jacket already as well. .

What Reed needs to worry about, is what might happen if he tries to pull any of his shenanigans. He could wind up losing his head! And I don’t mean the one at the end of his driver…

 

[RTB X Bot]

 

[RTB X Bot]

 

[TerryP]

 

[BamaFan334]

If I had to guess, the PGA is quietly paying Justin Thomas and Rory McElroy for how outspoken they have been against LIV. Willing to bet if each had won at Augusta already they would consider playing LIV.

Thomas is a little more tied due to his dad and grandfather, so he would be a tougher pull, but I have no doubt Rory would if he had his jacket.

 

[TerryP]

Addition by subtraction?

I'm reminded of two occasions where volunteers had their "ass cut" verbally. I'm reminded of an adult pitching a fit because being on camera might damage "his brand." That's understandable when you're berating a volunteer, it would expose how damaged he is as a person. While somewhat complicated, the rules of golf are cut and dry. Calling correct rulings and officials "bullshit" on the tour ...

Can someone tell me why I might miss DeChambeau?

The rules are cut and dry, remember?

I never saw him cheat at Georgia. It's hard for me not to believe he wasn't when he was kicked off their team for a year for cheating and stealing. I did see him cheat, on live TV, when he was playing a tournament. One of the things about golf I enjoy is how the game is self-officiated but my god there was a rules official close by. Even amatuers know you can't pick up your ball and place it where you want to...

Can anyone tell me why I shouldn't be happy to see Patrick Reed leave? It pisses me off a bit thinking about his win at Augusta and its lifetime exemption.

(I'll admit I've been amused at his wife's rants on Twitter under a burner account but I can't say I'll miss her.)

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Did you guys catch Rory's quip? Decisions made purely on money usually don't end well? (sic)

 

[TerryP]

Do we think he really cares anymore at this point to participate? The Masters would be the only tournament I would ever care about. He's played it many times, won it, and can play it outside of tournament golf anytime he wants I would assume. I just don't see the draw for him even caring to be honest. He's walking on glass initially to be sympathetic and it's his demeanor to be softer spoken, but he's attempting to be respectful is my take.

If I'm a professional golfer I don't know that I'd rank the Masters higher than the US Open, but I get your point. When polled a few years ago PGA professionals said they considered The Masters to be the most prestigious major.

It wouldn't be my only thought. The three we're talking about here are all former Ryder Cup members. They'll no longer be able to compete.

On the same note because these guys—the entire group joining the LIV—are playing in the LIV, eventually they won't be able to play in the PGA Championship.

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If Greg Norman hadn't choked in the two majors where he was leading going into Sunday would he still be supporting/launching this tour?

 

[TerryP]

Note to Phil:

Gambling is punishable by canning in Saudi Arabia.

 

[TerryP]

Rumored (along with Matthew Wolff) to be headed to the LIV.

 

[Rolltide24]

Anybody think the PGA will make some changes? I think they will and I also think they will try to play it off as not being linked to what’s happening with LIV, it will “something we’ve been working on for a while” and the timing “coincidental”. There's a number of players that have not been too happy with the PGA in recent years, and that’s just the ones that have been vocal about it. You can’t convince me that for every one that is vocal, there are not 3-4 others who bite their tongue or don’t have the audience to speak up. All just my opinions, but will be fun to sit back and watch.

 

[TerryP]

@BamaFan334 Ask yourself this question.

Have the members of Augusta National discussed the LIV as well as following decisions made by the PGA Tour? More specifically, have they discussed going as far as banning player from The Masters for playing in these events.

Being a private club they can set their own rules.

 

[TerryP]

Anybody think the PGA will make some changes?

I believe we'll see suspension, likely for years instead of a season, announced soon after the first round tees off.

There used to be a bar here called Divots. It attracted just what the name implies, a golf crowd. It's funny who you meet. One day it'll be your average Joe who just played The Ocean Course and across the bar you'll see the greens keeper from the same course. Golf pro's frequented the place as well as caddie's from quite a few of the courses. You get the picture, right?

I was talking with the guy who owned Divots just a few days ago and he said he'd heard Augusta was giving serious consideration into banning LIV players. Even past champions.

I tend to believe that's the truth; it's been discussed seriously. Whether they go that far? They still have a dress code for caddies, ya know?