LIV Improvements, TPC Sawgrass Fees, Golfer Inconveniences

Check out unfiltered insights from our writers and editors each week covering the hottest topics in sports, and join the conversation by tweeting us at @golf.com. This week we discuss LIV Golf’s second season and promotional events, a new DP World Tour eligibility category, and TPC Sawgrass green fees.

1. LIV Golf officially ended its season with its Team Championship last Sunday. Our James Colgan recently broke down, after the second year, what LIV has and hasn’t accomplished so far. As LIV Golf enters year three, what do you think it needs to do to make the necessary progress next season? And how does it do that?

Jessica Marksbury, editor-in-chief (@jess_marksbury): It seems that money alone is not enough to attract viewers. To me, golf is more interesting and more entertaining when there is something other than money at stake. LIV should probably do everything in its power to meet the OWGR eligibility criteria so that ‘there may be something else to play for, like a spot on a major, that would be accessible to the general public.

Alan Bastable, editor-in-chief (@alan_bastable): There’s a reason why LIV and the PGA Tour are at the negotiating table. The Tour badly needs investment and LIV badly needs competitive credibility. Yes, the OWGR board’s decision to deny points to LIV was a blow, but the league has much bigger problems to solve, including getting fans to care about LIV’s results. their events. Two years later, tournaments remain mostly inaccessible and devoid of any sense of gravity. Players will tell you they’re competing for much more than money and champagne showers after winning putts, but as a golf fan, I struggle to see that, or, more accurately, feel he. The team names must also disappear. No matter how much talent LIV attracts, fans will never be drawn to the Crushers, Cleeks, or Fireballs. Name team captains – Mickelson, DeChambeau, Sergio et al. – would instantly give teams more identity and help attract fans. I have no idea how a Tour-LIV partnership could solve LIV’s woes, but mixing Tour players into LIV events and vice versa would be a good start.

Dylan Dethier, senior editor (@dylan_dethier): That is well said. I think the simple answer is that there is no simple answer. One potential approach would be to shorten the schedule, rely on teamwork, abandon stroke play and accept whatever drama might inevitably stir up. I don’t know. LIV is currently a big news player and intriguing as a disruptor, but golf itself hasn’t attracted much viewership, given its budget.

2. Speaking of LIV, it announced a “Promotions” event, a three-day, four-round shootout in December in which a group of players will fight for three guaranteed spots on LIV 2024 rosters. Expect Do any well-known names fall into the scope (if they are eligible)? What do you think of the new event?

Marksbury: Q-School where there is guaranteed money if you pass? This must appeal to a certain subset of golfers. I’d be really surprised if big names who have held out this long would jump at an opportunity like this, although I’m sure it’s an intriguing offer for players who don’t have status elsewhere.

Bastable: Yeah, it’ll be fascinating to see who shows up. There seems to be quite a bit of discontent from the “working class” of the Tour (i.e. players who don’t appreciate the benefits of flagship events), so it wouldn’t surprise me to see at least a few familiar names speaking. LIV execution. Here’s the problem though: what happens if you’re a Tour player who tries to qualify but can’t? The jury is still out on whether the Tour would allow these players to return, and, if it did, that would cause some inconvenience to players’ meals, right?

Déthier: It’s a fascinating high-stakes tournament and there are plenty of guys from the lower circuits who would crawl over each other to play. But I doubt we’ll see any big names; if they wanted to go to LIV, they would jump into free agency, when more money is theoretically up for grabs. I am, however, intrigued by which current LIV guys won’t be re-signed and will end up in the mix.

3. The PGA Tour and DP World Tour announced a new eligibility category on Monday for PGA Tour players who might otherwise lose their full cards, as players who finish at numbers 126-200 in the FedEx Cup can now claim membership in the DP World Tour (although the number of players who can start per week via this category is somewhat limited). Why, or why shouldn’t he, pros are considering this option?

Marksbury: From a US professional perspective, the only downsides I can see here are that the DP World Tour doesn’t make as much money as the PGA Tour and the tournament schedule is obviously international, which makes it a bit more difficult for US-based pros. and families. But for someone who narrowly missed out on a PGA Tour card and is looking for tour status and a place to play every week, this is a pretty excellent development and one I’m sure a lot of guys will be happy to see. enjoy.

Bastable: I love this option! This is not based on any empirical data, but I have always believed that players with extensive international experience have more complete games because they compete on a wider variety of courses (links, parks, desert, mountains, etc.) and often in more trying conditions. Exhibit A is Brooks Koepka, who has often spoken about how his time in Europe was essential to his development. Like any good symbiotic relationship, this deal is also a victory for the beleaguered DP World Tour. Including more American players might irritate European dreamers, but it will only help make this circuit more competitive.

Déthier: If I were a PGA Tour pro, I would be excited to play on the DP Tour – but I would be worried that it wouldn’t help me get back on the PGA Tour. Related: I had a half-baked idea that the PGA and DP World Tours should have a “study abroad” program where pros who reach a certain status on their respective tours can spend a year with a full status on the other tour. . Great way to mix things up, strengthen bonds, build trust in the strategic alliance, and get some guys to play at other events. (There are plenty of reasons why that won’t happen, but bear with me.) The simple truth is that the current system sends the best players from Europe to the United States and now allows the bottom players on the PGA Tour to participate in PD events. I understand why the DP guys wouldn’t like the reinforcement of being on a feeder tour.

4. The peak rate to play the famous TPC Sawgrass Stadium course has increased again, as the maximum rate recently increased to $900 for a game at the Players Championship home. Just for fun, instead of splurging on this one bucket list, how would you split that $900 into green fees in a destination or region of the United States? (i.e. — 120 Lawsonia, 350 Erin Hills, 500 Whistles, etc.)

Marksbury: Confession: I STILL haven’t been to Bandon Dunes, so that’s exactly where I’m headed with this $900. The green fee to play Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes, Bandon Trails, Old Macdonald and Sheep Ranch is $175 for resort guests as of March 2024, so I’d be happy to play all five for the price of one round at TPC Saw Grass.

Bastable: The economy of Sawgrass is wild. But it’s hard to hit them. Clearly, the demand is there. We wonder what the Augusta National tee times would be on Golf Now. I invest my $900 in the par 3 course at the muni down the street, where the fee is $9. Give me 100 balls over there. That should cover me for the next two decades.

Déthier: I buy a flight to Ireland and check off a few bucket listers. Book a ticket at the right time and you’ll get transportation and golf for that price…plus, leave a few bucks for the pints.

5. We asked our loyal readers to name the most annoying things golfers do on the course. They had strong opinions. What’s the #1 thing golfers do that gets under your skin?

Marksbury: I like to play fast, so my pet peeve is hanging around too much on the tee. Since I often play from the front tees, I usually have to wait for my playing partners to hit first, which means I’m forced to stand even when I’m ready to roll. Maybe I just need to work on my patience.

Bastable: There’s a special place near the River Styx reserved for golfers who want to regale you with hole-by-hole details of their rounds.

Déthier: I’m pretty anti-swing, so my pet peeve would probably be people who waste time, energy, and concentration going through a few. But I would say my biggest message to golfers would be: don’t be rude! Especially for people who don’t know what they’re doing. Golf is an intimidating enough place for beginners without feeling like an outsider. I know, the start sheets are crowded. But we are in the same boat.