The world’s major tournaments are organized under the aegis of the PGA (Professional Golf Organization), which manages the ranking of professionals and their earnings on international circuits. However, in June 2022, Greg Norman launched a “dissident circuit”, backed by millions of dollars from Saudi Arabia’s public investment fund, boasting “new” events played with more “televisual” formulas. In return for astronomical fees, some of the players lined up to join the LIV TOUR, turning their backs on the organization that has run their sport and supported them for decades.
The golf world is going through a cataclysm!
The departures of these players, described as “mercenaries”, disrupted the official PGA TOUR circuit; the lure of easy money, without selection to events and regardless of the result, was stronger than the sporting ranking! Unable to ensure their presence at just a few tournaments – an impossible task for the PGA – players joining the LIV TOUR were banned from playing anywhere else, and banned from the official world rankings.
However, many of the world’s greatest players refuse the advances of the private circuit and remain loyal to the official PGA; Tiger Woods, for example, turned down an offer of $800 million.
Many organizers are on trial with wealthy Saudi sponsors who are delighted to buy golf… after F1 or the World Cup! The latest episode in this bitter struggle was played out at the prestigious Augusta Masters, which for the first time brought together professional golfers from the LIV TOUR and the PGA TOUR. PGA player Jon Rahm came out on top on April 10… When will the next confrontation take place?
