To be completely honest, LIV Golf has never appealed to me.
Who can predict how the men’s game will change in a decade, five years, or even twenty years?
However, as long as LIV is involved, I will always connect the league with avarice and conceit. Daggers and cloaks. Mirrors and smoke. Phil Mickelson.
I vividly recall how shocked I was to learn Mickelson’s genuine thoughts about LIV in the FirePit story.
Unforgiveable? Not exactly, but it was undoubtedly memorable.
The lies spread by some of the celebrities who took the leap will always be in my memory.
I won’t mention them because you are already familiar with them all.
Just consider this: before LIV’s arrival, how many players were begging for team golf?
How many people were saying that their schedules were too demanding? How many people said the world ranking system wasn’t appropriate for its intended use?
For all those involved, regardless of their stance, this was primarily about the money, and it’s acceptable to acknowledge that.
Please feel free to accuse me of belonging to the Corrupt Golf MediaTM, but that is simply how I feel.
That being said, I am prepared to admit that in order for the men’s game to truly sort itself out, there simply has to be room for life.
But let’s switch things up a bit.
Allow me to clarify…
LIV maintained an “individual element” in their tournaments because they wanted to be recognized by the Official World Golf Ranking as one of their accreditation sources.
By moving to a standard 72-hole stroke play format with a cut, LIV may demonstrate tomorrow that there is a vast conspiracy by the establishment to keep them out of the picture.
However, that is not going to occur, and LIV’s present format makes it impossible for them to receive OWGR points.
It’s also unfair.
There have been suggestions, such as offering spots in the major championships of the next year to the top 10 players at the end of the season.
However, I firmly believe that everyone should be playing from the same sheet of music.
To put it another way, professional golfers who wish to improve their global ranking should participate in events recognized by the OWGR.
Let’s make LIV about team golf if that is its intended purpose.
Ignore the individual component and concentrate just on the impact of individual scores on the teams.
The season-ending team titles seem to be the most popular LIV events to date.
Critics of LIV, like the people on the No Laying Up podcast, also contended that this was the case.
Prominent players like Rory McIlroy have also expressed confusion over LIV’s present offering.
“Team competition in golf has a chance if it is done like the IPL cricket model,” McIlroy said in a recent interview with Sky Sports.
“I’ve stated my thoughts regarding LIV. It is still a strange product, in my opinion. Thus, they should put more emphasis on teamwork.
“Invest heavily in team golf if you want to add value to your team franchises, particularly if you won’t be earning points for the World Ranking.
Eight events were scheduled, four in the spring and four in the fall, as far as I could see.
“I would love it if it was a team event similar to the Indian Premier League. There’s a chance to contribute more to the larger environment there.”
There are, in my opinion, more ways for LIV to become more reputable.
But let’s start by focusing entirely on team golf and doing away with the individual component.
