19 OCTOBER, 2023 - SHANK, BY MATT HOOPER: WITH LIV GOLF SET TO COMPLETE ITS FIRST FULL SEASON THIS WEEK IN MIAMI, THOUGHTS TURN TO 2024 AND THE FUTURE OF THE LEAGUE, AND WORLD GOLF. JUNE'S SHOCK ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE PROPOSED MERGER OF THE PGA TOUR, DP WORLD TOUR AND LIV GOLF LED MANY TO BELIEVE THAT LIV'S DAYS WERE NUMBERED, AND SOME OF THE PGA TOUR'S BIGGEST STARS OPENLY CELEBRATED THIS BEING THE END OF LIV GOLF. RORY MCILROY SAID "I HATE LIV, I HOPE AND BELIEVE THAT LIV WILL GO AWAY NOW".
EVER SINCE THE MERGER ANNOUNCEMENT IT HAS SEEMED UNLIKELY THAT IT WILL ACTUALLY COME TO PASS, AND REPORTS OF LIV GOLF'S DEMISE SEEM TO HAVE BEEN VERY MUCH OVERBLOWN. YES, THE GOVERNOR OF THE PIF, YASIR AL RUMAYYAN HAS PLAYED IN THE ALFRED DUNHILL LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP AND CLEARLY BEEN DISCUSSING THE FUTURE OF LIV GOLF, AND INVESTMENT INTO GOLF, WITH THE POWERS THAT BE. BUT ITS ALSO CLEAR THAT LIV GOLF HAS HAD A TREMENDOUSLY SUCCESSFUL FIRST FULL SEASON, AND ITS PLAYERS SEEM TO BE MORE COMMITTED TO IT THAN EVER BEFORE.
ON WEDNESDAY MICKELSON WAS ASKED ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF MORE TOP PLAYERS JOINING LIV GOLF FROM THE PGA TOUR AND DP WORLD TOUR, HIS ANSWER WAS UNEQUIVOCAL - "Do I think that? No. I know that's going to happen. When players look at LIV, they are wanting to be a part of it. Everybody here is happy and enjoying what we are doing and enjoying the team aspect of it and enjoying each other and the camaraderie and enjoying playing golf
globally and all the benefits that come with playing this tour. So there's a lot of players that see that and want to be a part of it. The question is, you know, how many spots are available. There's a lot more players that want to come than there are spots."
globally and all the benefits that come with playing this tour. So there's a lot of players that see that and want to be a part of it. The question is, you know, how many spots are available. There's a lot more players that want to come than there are spots."
LAST WEEK LIV GOLF WAS DEALT A BLOW WITH THE REJECTION OF ITS APPLICATION FOR OFFICIAL WORLD GOLF RANKING POINTS, AND RIGHT NOW THE STATUS OF RELEGATED GOLFERS FROM THE LEAGUE IS SOMEWHAT UP IN THE AIR, SO LIV NEEDS TO FIND A RESOLUTION TO THESE ISSUES. OF COURSE, LIV COULD EITHER CONTINUE ON ITS CURRENT TRACK, NOT CHANGE ANYTHING AND JUST ACCEPT THE DECISION NOT TO AWARD THEM OWGR POINTS, BUT THAT IS SURELY NOT SUSTAINABLE LONG TERM IF IT WANTS TO GROW AND FULFIL ITS POTENTIAL. LIV COULD ALSO MAKE SIGNIFICANT AMENDMENTS TO ITS FORMAT AND RESUBMIT ITS APPLICATION TO THE OWGR BOARD, BUT THERE DOESN'T SEEM ANY DESIRE AMONG ITS MANAGEMENT OR PLAYERS TO DO THAT, AND IT WOULD THREATEN RUINING WHAT THEY HAVE NOW, AND IT MAY NOT SUCCEED IN ANY CASE.
SO WHAT NEXT FOR LIV GOLF?
THE 2023 WORLD AMATEUR TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS ARE BEING PLAYED AT ABU DHABI GOLF CLUB IMAGE IGF GOLF
THE LIV GOLF PROMOTIONS EVENT (STILL TO BE FORMALLY CONFIRMED BY LIV GOLF) WILL TAKE PLACE IN DECEMBER AT ABU DHABI GOLF CLUB, WITH A UNIQUE FORMAT, WHICH IT COULD BE SAID IS A SHORTER FORM OF QUALIFYING SCHOOL. THE TOURNAMENT, IT IS REPORTED, WILL BE PLAYED OVER 72 HOLES, BUT WITH EACH ROUND SEPARATE AS EXPLAINED BELOW:
ENTRANTS IN ROUND ONE:
PLAYERS RANKED 6-32 ON THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES, US AMATEUR CHAMPION, THE AMATEUR CHAMPION, EUROPEAN AMATEUR CHAMPION, LATIN AMERICA AMATEUR CHAMPION, ASIA-PACIFIC AMATEUR CHAMPION, TOP 200 OWGR, TOP 20 WAGR
ENTRANTS INTO ROUND ONE WILL PLAY 18 HOLES OF THE ABU DHABI GOLF CLUB NATIONAL COURSE, THE LEADING 20 PLAYERS WILL PROGRESS TO ROUND TWO.
ENTRANTS IN ROUND TWO:
TOP 20 AND TIES FROM ROUND ONE, RELEGATED LIV GOLF 2023 PLAYERS, 2023 DP WORLD TOUR AND PGA TOUR WINNERS, MAJOR CHAMPIONS SINCE 2018, RYDER CUP AND PRESIDENTS CUP PLAYERS, PLAYERS RANKED 2-5 ON THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES
ENTRANTS IN ROUND TWO WILL PLAY 18 HOLES OF THE ABU DHABI GOLF CLUB NATIONAL COURSE, THE LEADING 16 PLAYERS WILL PROGRESS TO THE FINALS.
ENTRANTS IN THE FINALS: TOP 16 FROM ROUND TWO
THE FINALS WILL BE A 36-HOLE SHOOTOUT OVER THE ABU DHABI GOLF CLUB NATIONAL COURSE, WITH THE LEADING 3 PLAYERS EARNING A SPOT IN THE 2024 LIV GOLF LEAGUE.
THE 2023 LIV GOLF LEAGUE HAS BEEN A GLOBAL ODYSSEY, AND BROUGHT GOLF SOMEWHERE NEAR TOWARDS HAVING A TRUE WORLD TOUR. MEXICO, AUSTRALIA, SINGAPORE, SPAIN, ENGLAND AND SAUDI ARABIA HAVE EACH STAGED TOURNAMENTS THIS SEASON, AND ITS CLEAR FROM SOURCES AROUND THE WORLD THAT IN 2024 ADDITIONAL NEW NATIONS WILL BE HOSTING LIV GOLF, INCLUDING POTENTIALLY HONG KONG AND KOREA.
ALL OF LIV GOLF'S MEMBERS HAVE EMBRACED THE GLOBAL VISION OF GREG NORMAN, AND SEEM TO BE ENJOYING PLAYING IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE GLOBE. LIV GOLF HAS STAGED 20 INDIVIDUAL EVENTS SINCE JUNE 2022, IN USA, MEXICO, SPAIN, ENGLAND, THAILAND, SINGAPORE, AUSTRALIA AND SAUDI ARABIA, AND PLAYERS FROM USA, SWEDEN, SPAIN, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND AND SOUTH AFRICA HAVE WON TOURNAMENTS. SAY WHAT YOU WANT ABOUT THE CONCEPT, AND CRITICISE THE MORALS OF THOSE WHO HAVE JOINED, BUT YOU CANNOT CRITICISE THE VISION, TO GET THE BEST GOLFERS IN THE WORLD TO PLAY AGAINST EACH OTHER ON A SCHEDULE WHICH PLAYS ON A GLOBAL SCALE.
LIV GOLF ADELAIDE CROWDS AROUND THE 18TH GREEN. IMAGE LIV GOLF.
THE MASS GOLF MEDIA, PARTICULARLY THOSE BASED IN THE UNITED STATES, WILL ACT AS THOUGH THE WORLD OF GOLF CENTRES ON THE USA, AND NOT MUCH ELSE MATTERS OUTSIDE. OF COURSE, MANY OF US KNOW DIFFERENTLY, AND MANY OF US HAVE WANTED OUR SPORT TO MOVE AWAY FROM BEING SO US-CENTRIC. FEBRUARY 2022 SAW THE FIRST STEPS TAKEN TOWARDS CHANGING THE LANDSCAPE OF MEN'S PROFESSIONAL GOLF, AND THE ASIAN TOUR WAS AT THE HEART OF IT.
THE MODERN ASIAN TOUR AS WE KNOW IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1994, with the first season taking place in 1995. THAT FIRST SEASON SAW THE TOUR STAGE 18 EVENTS IN KOREA, PHILIPPINES, HONG KONG, MYANMAR, VIETNAM, INDIA, SINGAPORE, UAE, MALAYSIA AND THAILAND AND OVER ITS FIRST DECADE THE ASIAN TOUR WAS A TOUR ON THE RISE. SPANNING THE WORLD'S MOST POPULOUS CONTINENT, THE TOUR VISITED SOME OF THE GREAT EMERGING CITIES OF THE WORLD, AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE EUROPEAN TOUR IT STAGED SOME HUGE EVENTS.
THE TOTAL PRIZE FUND FOR THE 1995 ASIAN TOUR WAS JUST $4.01MILLION, BY 2005 THAT HAD INCREASED TO MORE THAN $24MILLION.
IN 2005 THE ASIAN TOUR AND THE EUROPEAN TOUR CO-SANCTIONED THE CALTEX MASTERS, CARLSBERG MALAYSIAN OPEN, QATAR MASTERS, TCL CLASSIC, JOHNNIE WALKER CLASSIC, BMW ASIAN OPEN, HSBC CHAMPIONS, VOLVO CHINA OPEN AND UBS HONG KONG OPEN.
9 TOURNAMENTS IN 5 COUNTRIES ACROSS THE CONTINENT FROM THE FAR EAST TO THE MIDDLE EAST.
THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO TOURS WAS SO DEEP THAT MANY SPECULATED THEY WOULD MERGE TO FORM A SUPER TOUR TO TAKE ON THE PGA TOUR, AND ALLIED WITH THEIR PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE SUNSHINE TOUR, PGA TOUR OF AUSTRALASIA AND JAPAN GOLF TOUR, THAT WAS A VERY GENUINE POSSIBILITY.
THIS SEEMED EVEN MORE LIKELY WITH THE ADVENT OF THE ROYAL TROPHY, WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY THE EURASIA CUP. THE RYDER CUP STYLE MATCH BETWEEN EUROPE AND ASIA WAS A FIXTURE ON THE TWO TOURS FROM 2006 TO 2018, WITH EUROPE WINNING 7 OF THE 10 EDITIONS PLAYED.
THEN IN 2010 THE ASIAN TOUR CO-SANCTIONED ITS FIRST EVER EVENT WITH THE PGA TOUR - THE CIMB CLASSIC IN MALAYSIA RAN UNTIL 2018, AND FEATURED THE 10 BEST PLAYERS ON THE ASIAN TOUR IN A FIELD DOMINATED BY PGA TOUR PLAYERS. ASIA WAS COVETED BY BOTH THE PGA TOUR AND EUROPEAN TOUR, AND THE WGC-HSBC CHAMPIONS WAS ARGUABLY THE NUMBER ONE EVENT IN THAT SERIES FOR A DECADE UNTIL 2019.
JUST A FEW WEEKS AFTER RORY MCILROY HOISTED THE TROPHY AT SHESHAN INTERNATIONAL IN SHANGHAI, NEWS WOULD BREAK WHICH WOULD CHANGE THE WORLD. 800KM WEST OF SHESHAN INTERNATIONAL THE LITTLE KNOWN CITY OF WUHAN BECAME THE CENTRE OF THE WORLD, WITH THE FIRST CASE OF COVID19 RECORDED ON 17 NOVEMBER, JUST 2 WEEKS AFTER THE WGC-HSBC CHAMPIONS CONCLUDED. WITHIN 5 MONTHS COVID19 BECAME A PANDEMIC AND THE WORLD SHUT DOWN.
ALL GOLF TOURS PAUSED. FOR THE EUROPEAN TOUR AND ASIAN TOUR THIS WAS A DISASTER, LEAVING THEM BOTH IN A PRECARIOUS FINANCIAL POSITION. WHEN WE LOOK BACK ON HOW THE LANDSCAPE OF MEN'S PROFESSIONAL GOLF CHANGED, THIS MOMENT IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL TO IT. JAY MONAHAN AND KIETH PELLEY WERE KEY FIGURES IN RE-STARTING PROFESSIONAL GOLF IN JUNE 2020, AFTER 3 MONTHS OF LOCKDOWN, AND IN NOVEMBER OF 2020 THE TWO WERE ABSOLUTELY FRONT AND CENTRE OF AN ANNOUNCEMENT WHICH WOULD CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF BOTH THE EUROPEAN TOUR, AND ASIAN TOUR.
"The European Tour and PGA TOUR today heralded a significant new era for global golf with an historic announcement of a Strategic Alliance.
The landmark agreement will see golf’s two major Tours explore all facets of collaboration, working together on strategic commercial opportunities including collaborating on global media rights in certain territories.
This will come through part of the agreement which sees the PGA TOUR acquire a minority investment stake in European Tour Productions (ETP), the European Tour’s Media Production company, which produces and distributes content internationally.
The Tours will also work in partnership on a number of other areas including global scheduling, prize funds and playing opportunities for the respective memberships. Further details of these areas will be announced in due course.
One element of the partnership which can be confirmed today is the fact that PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan will take a seat on the Board of the European Tour." 27 NOVEMBER 2020 (EUROPEANTOUR.COM)
WHILST THE PGA TOUR AND EUROPEAN TOUR WERE UP AND RUNNING WITH THEIR SEASONS, MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIPS RESCHEDULED AND STRATEGIC ALLIANCES ANNOUNCED, THE ASIAN TOUR REMAINED IN LOCKDOWN. IN FACT, THE ASIAN TOUR STOPPED ON MARCH 8, 2020 AND DID NOT RESUME UNTIL NOVEMBER 25, 2021.
627 days, 0 TOURNAMENTS.
IN THAT TIME THE PGA TOUR PLAYED 67 TOURNAMENTS, AND THE EUROPEAN TOUR PLAYED 56 TOURNAMENTS, AND THERE WERE 6 MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIPS AND A RYDER CUP.
THE ASIAN TOUR WAS ISOLATED, AND ON THE BRINK OF COLLAPSE.
THE TOUR MANAGED TO RESTART IN NOVEMBER 2021, BUT ITS FUTURE SEEMED BLEAK.
THE HONG KONG OPEN WILL BE PART OF THE 2023 INTERNATIONAL SERIES ON THE ASIAN TOUR 06/10/2023. Ladies European Tour. Aramco Team Series Presented by Public Investment Fund - Hong Kong, Hong Kong Golf Club. 6-8 October. A view of the 3rd hole during the first round. Credit: Tristan Jones / LET
30 YEARS AGO GREG NORMAN DEVISED A PLAN FOR A WORLD TOUR, TO BE BROADCAST ON FOX IN THE US, CONSISTING OF 8 EVENTS AROUND THE WORLD FEATURING FIELDS OF 40 PLAYERS. A FIERCE BACKLASH FROM THE PGA TOUR EVENTUALLY SAW IT COLLAPSE BEFORE IT GOT OFF THE GROUND. SINCE THEN THERE HAS BEEN MANY IDEAS FOR A WORLD TOUR, INCLUDING THE PREMIER GOLF LEAGUE BACKED BY THE WORLD GOLF GROUP OF INVESTORS. THEN IN THE SPRING OF 2021 THERE WAS MUCH SPECULATION ABOUT A 'BREAKAWAY' SUPER GOLF LEAGUE, BACKED BY THE PUBLIC INVESTMENT FUND OF SAUDI ARABIA. SEVERAL OF THE WORLD'S STAR GOLFERS WERE RUMOURED TO BE APPROACHED, AND SOON IT BECAME CLEAR THAT GREG NORMAN WAS HEADING UP THE NEW ENTITY.
LIV GOLF INVESTMENTS WAS ESTABLISHED, AND FOLLOWING A FAILED BID TO TURN THE EUROPEAN TOUR INTO THIS NEW LEAGUE, THE STARTUP BEGAN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE ASIAN TOUR, WHICH LED TO THE SAUDI INTERNATIONAL BECOMING THE NEW FLAGSHIP EVENT OF THE ASIAN TOUR FROM 2O22. AT THE 2022 EVENT GREG NORMAN, ALONGSIDE ASIAN TOUR COMMISSIONER
Cho Minn Thant, UNVEILED THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES, A 10-EVENT SERIES OF PREMIER EVENTS ACROSS ASIA-PACIFIC, THE MIDDLE EAST AND EUROPE. WHEN ASKED ABOUT LIV GOLF'S PLANS FOR A LEAGUE, THE ASIAN TOUR COMMISSIONER CONFIRMED THAT HE BELIEVED IT WAS THEIR PLAN TO LAUNCH A NEW LEAGUE. WITHIN A MONTH THE LIV GOLF INVITATIONAL SERIES WAS LAUNCHED, AND THE FIERCE BATTLE BETWEEN THE PGA TOUR, EUROPEAN TOUR AND LIV GOLF BEGAN. THE ASIAN TOUR, NOW IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LIV, WERE SEEN AS A RIVAL, NOT THE PARTNER THEY HAD BEEN FOR MANY YEARS.
DESPITE THE PROTESTATIONS AND CRITICISM FROM MANY OF THE PGA TOUR PLAYERS AND THE MEDIA, THE LIV GOLF INVITATIONAL SERIES GOT UNDERWAY AT CENTURION CLUB IN JUNE 2022, AND COMPLETED ITS FIRST SEASON AT THE END OF OCTOBER. THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SERIES EVENT TOOK PLACE IN THAILAND AT THE END OF MARCH 2022, AND ADDITIONAL EVENTS WERE PLAYED IN ENGLAND, SINGAPORE, KOREA, MOROCCO, EGYPT AND INDONESIA BEFORE THE END OF 2022. THE EVENTS CARRIED SIGNIFICANTLY MORE PRIZE MONEY THAN REGULAR ASIAN TOUR EVENTS, BUT IT WAS NOT UNTIL 2023 THAT THE SERIES REALLY ATTRACTED STRONGER FIELDS, HELPING TO ELEVATE THE ASIAN TOUR.
IN FEBRUARY THE EVENTS IN OMAN AND QATAR SAW BROOKS KOEPKA, SERGIO GARCIA, JOAQUIN NIEMANN, LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN, JASON KOKRAK, GRAEME MCDOWELL, JED MORGAN, MATT JONES, SCOTT VINCENT, CHARL SCHWARTZEL, BRANDEN GRACE, PETER UIHLEIN, CARLOS ORTIZ AND CHASE KOEPKA ENTER. WITH LIV GOLF NOT YET ELIGIBLE FOR OFFICIAL WORLD GOLF RANKING POINTS IT BECAME CRUCIAL FOR ALL OF THEM TO PLAY IN THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES TO MAINTAIN A RESPECTABLE RANKING, IF THEY HAD HOPES OF QUALIFYING FOR THE MAJORS.
EVENTS IN THAILAND AND VIETNAM ALSO ATTRACTED A SMATTERING OF LIV GOLF PLAYERS, BUT LAST WEEK AND THIS WEEK IN THE UK HAVE SEEN THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES ATTRACT ITS STRONGEST FIELDS YET. THIS WEEK SOME 16 LIV GOLF PLAYERS (A THIRD OF ITS MEMBERSHIP) WILL TEE IT UP ON THE TORRANCE COURSE, PRODUCING ITS JOINT HIGHEST NUMBER OF OWGR POINTS, CRUCIAL NOT ONLY FOR THE LIV GOLFERS, BUT PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY TO THE WIDER ASIAN TOUR MEMBERSHIP.
SO IN THE ABSENCE OF THE PGA TOUR OR DP WORLD TOUR COMING TO THE RESCUE, THE ASIAN TOUR IS NOT LIKELY TO REGRET ITS DECISION TO FORM AN ALLIANCE WITH LIV GOLF. ITS TOTAL PRIZE MONEY NOW STANDS AT MORE THAN $28MILLION, LESS THAN 2 YEARS AFTER IT DIDN'T PLAY A SINGLE TOURNAMENT FOR 18 MONTHS.
WHATEVER YOUR THOUGHTS ON LIV GOLF, ITS LEAGUE AND THE WAY IT HAS GONE ABOUT RECRUITING GOLFERS FROM THE ESTABLISHED MAJOR TOURS, YOU CANNOT CRITICISE THEM FOR SAVING THE ASIAN TOUR. YES, GREG NORMAN AND THE SAUDI'S SHOULD BE APPLAUDED FOR THEIR CRUCIAL INVESTMENT INTO THE TOUR WHICH SPANS THE WORLD'S MOST POPULOUS CONTINENT. THE WORLD OF MEN'S PROFESSIONAL GOLF IS CHANGING, AND ASIA IS GOING TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF IT, AGAIN.
IT IS TIME FOR LIV GOLF AND THE ASIAN TOUR TO FULLY MERGE AND CHANGE THE SPORT FOREVER.
THE ST ANDREWS BAY CHAMPIONSHIP WAS PART OF THE 2023 INTERNATIONAL SERIES ON THE ASIAN TOUR. IMAGE MATT HOOPER.
POTENTIAL LOGO AND NAME FOR THE NEW LEAGUE.
HOW COULD IT WORK?
CURRENTLY LIV GOLF INVESTS IN THE ASIAN TOUR, FUNDING THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES WHICH PROVIDES A PATHWAY TO THE LIV GOLF LEAGUE, AND THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT TOUR AND MENA TOUR ARE TO MERGE AT THE END OF 2023, SO THE OUTLINE OF A FULL MERGER IS THERE ALREADY. BETWEEN THEM LIV GOLF, THE ASIAN TOUR, ASIAN DEVELOPMENT TOUR AND MENA TOUR SANCTION APPROXIMATELY 54 TOURNAMENTS ACROSS ASIA, AUSTRALASIA, THE MIDDLE EAST, NORTH AFRICA, EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES. THESE EVENTS COULD BE RESTRUCTURED INTO TIERED SERIES OF TOURNAMENTS, SIMILARLY TO THE WORLD SURF LEAGUE OR ATP TOUR IN TENNIS.
AT THE MOMENT LIV GOLF LEAGUE EVENTS ARE LIMITED TO 48 PLAYERS, BUT A TRUE SHOTGUN START DOES PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND THE FIELD TO 54, 64 OR 72 PLAYERS, AND EXPANDING THE FIELD TO ANY OF THESE NUMBERS COULD BE KEY IN SECURING OWGR POINTS FOR THE LEAGUE. SO WITH THE LIV GOLF LEAGUE EMBEDDED WITHIN A NEW WORLD GOLF LEAGUE, IT COULD OFFER ADDITIONAL SPOTS TO THE TOP FINISHERS FROM THE MOST RECENT INTERNATIONAL SERIES EVENT, AND SPONSORS INVITES.
CURRENTLY THE LIV GOLF LEAGUE WORKS BY GROUPING THE 48 PLAYERS IN 16 GROUPS OF 3 GOLFERS, BUT SIMPLY ADDING ONE PLAYER PER GROUP WOULD NOT WORK AS IT WOULD CREATE AN IMBALANCE WITH THE TEAMS. SO EXPANDING EACH TOURNAMENT TO 72 PLAYERS WOULD AGAIN HELP LIV GOLF FULFIL MORE CRITERIA TO ACHIEVE OWGR POINTS. EACH TEAM WOULD HAVE 6 PLAYERS PER WEEK, WITH A DRAFT DONE AT THE START OF EACH EVENT, AS IT WAS IN LONDON, TO DETERMINE WHICH 2 PLAYERS WOULD JOIN THE 4 ESTABLISHED MEMBERS OF EACH TEAM. THE 24 EXTRA GOLFERS PLAYING EACH WEEK WOULD COME FROM A COMBINATION OF EVENTS ON THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES AND AFRASIAPACIFIC SERIES, AS WELL AS SPONSORS INVITES.
A TOP 10 FINISH WOULD ALSO GUARANTEE A START IN THE NEXT CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES EVENT, SATISFYING THE REQUIREMENT FOR 'CHURN' IN THE FIELD REQUESTED BY THE OWGR, AND GIVING EMERGING TALENTS THE CHANCE TO EARN THEIR PLACE ALONGSIDE THE ELITE PLAYERS AND BIG NAMES IN THE WORLD GOLF LEAGUE.
THE MERGER OF LIV GOLF AND THE ASIAN TOUR COULD ALSO PROVIDE A WAY FOR THE WORLD GOLF LEAGUE TO ESTABLISH A SET OF EXEMPTION CRITERIA, SIMILAR TO THAT USED BY THE ASIAN TOUR AND THE DP WORLD TOUR AT EACH EVENT. THIS WOULD AGAIN KICK BACK AT THOSE WHO SCOFF AT THE LIKES OF MARTIN KAYMER AND LEE WESTWOOD MAINTAINING THEIR STATUS IN THE LIV GOLF LEAGUE, DESPITE FINISHING IN THE RELEGATION ZONE. EVERY TOUR HAS EXEMPT PLAYERS, AND A SINGLE BAD SEASON DOES NOT RESULT IN THEM LOSING THEIR STATUS ON THE TOUR, FOR EXAMPLE, PHIL MICKELSON WAS A LIFE-MEMBER OF THE PGA TOUR DUE TO WINNING MORE THAN 20 TOURNAMENTS AND BEING AGED OVER 35.
THE WORLD GOLF LEAGUE COULD CREATE ITS OWN EXEMPTION CRITERIA, BRINGING IT IN LINE WITH THE OTHER TOURS OF THE WORLD. THERE WOULD BE CLEAR PATHWAYS FROM QUALIFYING SCHOOL THROUGH TO THE BIG LEAGUE, AND WITH LESS PLAYERS EARNING THEIR SPOT IN THE LEADING SERIES THERE WOULD BE EVEN MORE COMPETITION TO PRESERVE YOUR STATUS.
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 11: Justin Rose of Great Britain hits a putt on the 16th hole during the first round of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Golf Course on August 11, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Stan Badz/PGA TOUR/IGF)
IMPORTANTLY, THE WORLD GOLF LEAGUE WOULD BE DIFFERENT TO EVERY OTHER TOUR IN GOLF. THE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES OF THE WORLD GOLF LEAGUE WOULD VISIT EVERY CORNER OF THE GLOBE AND WOULD SHOWCASE GOLF IN A DIFFERENT FORMAT TO HOW IT HAS BEEN PRESENTED BY THE ESTABLISHMENT. LIV GOLF CURRENTLY HAS GOLFERS FROM EVERY CONTINENT IN ITS PLAYING MEMBERSHIP, YET THE SCHEDULE DOES NOT INCLUDE EVENTS IN SOUTH AMERICA OR AFRICA. THIS HAS TO CHANGE.
THE WORLD GOLF LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES WOULD STAGE 4 EVENTS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, SCHEDULED AROUND THE MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIPS (MASTERS, PGA, US OPEN) TO GIVE MEMBERS THE BEST CHANCE TO PREPARE FOR THREE OF GOLF'S MOST IMPORTANT EVENTS. 4 EVENTS WOULD BE GUARANTEED TO BE STAGED IN ASIA EVERY SEASON, RECOGNISING THE IMPORTANCE OF GROWING THE GAME IN ASIA, AND THE FACT ITS A MERGER WITH THE ASIAN TOUR (1 OF THESE WOULD BE IN SAUDI ARABIA, WITH 3 OTHERS PLAYED ACROSS THE CONTINENT.)
THE REMAINING 6 EVENTS WOULD BE STAGED ACROSS EUROPE, AFRICA, AUSTRALASIA AND SOUTH AMERICA.
GOLF'S BID TO RETURN TO THE OLYMPIC GAMES MADE MUCH OF THE POTENTIAL LEGACY OF ITS INCLUSION, BUT BEFORE AND SINCE RIO 2016 GOLF HAS NEGLECTED THE CONTINENT WHICH SAW ITS TRIUMPHANT RETURN. THE RIO 2016 OLYMPIC GOLF TOURNAMENTS WERE FANTASTIC, AND WELL-SUPPORTED, WITH JUSTIN ROSE AND INBEE PARK COMING OUT ON TOP WITH THE GOLD MEDAL. THE COURSE WAS PURPOSE-BUILT BY GIL HANSE, AND WAS GUARANTEED TO BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AS A PUBLIC ACCESS COURSE FOR A MINIMUM OF 20 YEARS. BUT THAT OLYMPIC GAMES IS NOW A DISTANT MEMORY, SO WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO SPARK INTEREST IN OUR WONDERFUL GAME IN A NATION OF MORE THAN 300 MILLION PEOPLE?
GOLF HAD THE WORLD CUP OF GOLF, WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN PLAYED ON THE RIO DE JANEIRO OLYMPIC GOLF COURSE BEFORE OR SINCE THE OLYMPICS, INSTEAD IT WAS PLAYED IN 2013, 2016 AND 2018 IN AUSTRALIA. NO WORLD GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP WAS EVER CONSIDERED FOR THE COURSE, DESPITE HAVING THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY WHEN IT LEFT DORAL IN 2016 IT WAS STAGE IN MEXICO INSTEAD, AND NOW THE SERIES DOESN'T EXIST. THE PRESIDENTS CUP COULD HAVE BEEN STAGED THERE AS A HOME GAME FOR THE INTERNATIONAL TEAM, BUT INSTEAD THE EVENT HAS BEEN HOSTED BY SOUTH KOREA AND AUSTRALIA, AND WILL BE HOSTED BY CANADA FOR THE SECOND TIME IN 2024.
SO LIV GOLF, OR THE WORLD GOLF LEAGUE, AS IT WOULD BE KNOWN IN A MERGER, HAS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY. PLAY AN EVENT ON THE RIO DE JANEIRO OLYMPIC GOLF COURSE, AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE MISTAKE BY THE ESTABLISHMENT TO NOT NURTURE THIS SPORT IN THIS SPORTS CRAZY NATION.
NO MAJOR INTERNATIONAL GOLF EVENT HAS RETURNED TO RIO SINCE THE 2016 OLYMPIC GAMES RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 12: Spectators walk the course during the third round of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Golf Course on August 12, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Chris Condon/PGA TOUR/IGF)
THE WORLD GOLF LEAGUE COULD USE VENUES WHICH ARE NO LONGER USED BY THE DP WORLD TOUR AND PGA TOUR GLOBALLY
GLENEAGLES WAS A FIXTURE ON THE DP WORLD TOUR FROM 1986 TO 1994 WHEN IT HOSTED THE BELL'S SCOTTISH OPEN ON THE KINGS COURSE, AND FROM 1999 TO 2013 WHEN IT HOSTED THE JOHNNIE WALKER CHAMPIONSHIP ON ITS PGA CENTENARY COURSE. IN RECENT YEARS IT HAS FOCUSED ON STAGING SIGNIFICANT ONE-OFF EVENTS LIKE THE RYDER CUP IN 2014, THE EUROPEAN TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS IN 2018, THE SOLHEIM CUP IN 2019 AND THE SENIOR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2022. BUT A VENUE AS ICONIC AS THIS SHOULD BE ON THE WORLD STAGE, EVERY YEAR.
GLENEAGLES IS A TOURNAMENT VENUE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY, DESPITE BEING ONE STEEPED IN TRADITION AND CELEBRATING ITS 100TH BIRTHDAY IN 2024. IT HAS ONE OF THE WORLD'S LEADING HOTELS, AND IT HAS ALMOST UNRIVALLED FACILITIES TO STAGE A MAJOR GOLF EVENT, WITH VAST SPACE TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THE NEEDS OF ANY EVENT NO MATTER ITS SIZE. IT IS ALSO VERY EASILY ACCESSIBLE, DESPITE ITS LOCATION IN RURAL PERTHSHIRE, SERVED BY THE TRAIN WHICH STOPS AT GLENEAGLES STATION, AND THE A9, ONE OF SCOTLAND'S MAJOR ROADS.
GLENEAGLES HAS HOSTED THE 2014 RYDER CUP AND 2019 SOLHEIM CUP (PICTURED). IMAGE MATT HOOPER.
THE USE OF VISUALLY STRIKING, CHALLENGING AND DRAMATIC COURSES IS A MUST FOR LIV GOLF OR A WORLD GOLF LEAGUE IN THE FUTURE, AS IT MUST SEPARATE ITSELF FROM THE MONOTONY SERVED UP BY THE PGA TOUR ON A WEEKLY BASIS. FROM GLENEAGLES IN THE PERTHSHIRE COUNTRYSIDE TO VALDERRAMA IN SOUTHERN SPAIN, THESE VENUES OOZE HISTORY AND TRADITION, BUT THEY ARE ALSO ICONIC COURSES WHICH HAVE HOSTED SOME OF THE BIGGEST EVENTS IN GOLF, AS WELL AS BEING VISUALLY STUNNING.
OTHER COURSES GLOBALLY WHICH HAVE BEEN USED BY THE DP WORLD TOUR OR PGA TOUR IN THE PAST INCLUDE THE JAYPEE GREENS GOLF CLUB IN INDIA. THE COURSE HAS BEEN A HOST OF THE AVANTHA MASTERS, AN EVENT WHICH WAS PART OF THE DP WORLD TOUR UNTIL 2013 BEFORE IT WAS REPLACED BY THE HERO INDIAN OPEN. AT THE MOMENT THE HERO INDIAN OPEN DOES NOT SHOW ON THE 2024 DP WORLD TOUR SCHEDULE. THIS COULD MEAN THE EVENT IS SET FOR A RETURN TO THE ASIAN TOUR SCHEDULE NEXT SEASON. WITH ANIRBAN LAHIRI A CONSISTENT PERFORMER THIS SEASON, IT IS SURELY SEEN AS AN IMPORTANT STEP FOR THE LEAGUE TO STAGE AN EVENT IN INDIA. THE WORLD'S AND ASIA'S SECOND MOST POPULOUS NATION IS SPORTS MAD, MAINLY FOR CRICKET, BUT FOR A LEAGUE WHICH CITES THE IPL AS INSPIRATION, THIS WOULD BE A HUGE MOVE, AND HAS THE POTENTIAL TO UNLOCK COMMERCIAL REVENUES FOR A WORLD GOLF LEAGUE.
HERO MOTORCORP HAS AND CONTINUES TO BE A MAJOR SUPPORTER OF THE DP WORLD TOUR, AS TITLE SPONSOR OF THE HERO DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC, HERO OPEN, HERO CUP AND HERO INDIAN OPEN, AS WELL AS THE HERO CHALLENGE (AN EXHIBITION SERIES AROUND THE ROLEX SERIES EVENTS). HERO ALSO IS A MAJOR PARTNER OF THE TIGER WOODS FOUNDATION AND SPONSORS THE END OF YEAR EXHIBITION EVENT - THE HERO WORLD CHALLENGE. YOU WOULD IMAGINE THAT IN THE FUTURE HERO MOTORCORP WOULD HAVE A VISION TO BRING THE BEST GOLFERS IN THE WORLD TO INDIA, SOMETHING THE DP WORLD TOUR HAS ABSOLUTELY FAILED TO DO, DESPITE HOLDING A TOURNAMENT IN INDIA IN 11 OF THE LAST 15 YEARS.
JAYPEE GREENS IS ALSO, CONVENIENTLY, DESIGNED BY GREG NORMAN.
JAYPEE GREENS, DESIGNED BY GREG NORMAN. IMAGE GNDC.COM
THROUGH THE MERGER OF THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT TOUR AND MENA TOUR, THE ASIAN TOUR, AND THE POTENTIAL FUTURE WORLD GOLF LEAGUE WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY DEVELOP TOURNAMENT GOLF ACROSS NORTH AFRICA, AS WELL AS OF COURSE, ASIA. IN 2022 THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES INCLUDED 2 TOURNAMENTS IN MOROCCO AND EGYPT, AND PERHAPS THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES AND AFRASIAPACIFIC SERIES, UNDER THE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES, TO DEVELOP TOURNAMENT GOLF IN THIS REGION. SOUTHERN AFRICA IS WELL SERVED BY THE SUNSHINE TOUR, WHICH STAGES EVENTS IN SOUTH AFRICA, ZIMBABWE, SWAZILAND, NAMIBIA, BOTSWANA AND ZIMBABWE.
THE FORMER SAFARI CIRCUIT USED TO INCLUDE EVENTS IN NIGERIA AND IVORY COAST (AS WELL AS ZAMBIA, ZIMBABWE, BOTSWANA AND KENYA), AND THE DP WORLD TOUR AND CHALLENGE TOUR HAVE STAGED EVENTS IN TUNISIA, EGYPT AND MOROCCO BEFORE. A MERGER OF LIV GOLF AND THE ASIAN TOUR HAS THE POTENTIAL TO EXPLOIT THIS FORGOTTEN GOLFING REGION, AND UNEARTH NEW TALENT.
WITH THE CURRENT LIV GOLF ROSTER INCLUDED A TEAM OF FOUR SOUTH AFRICANS AND 1 OTHER MEMBER FROM ZIMBABWE, ITS CLEAR THAT A WORLD GOLF LEAGUE SHOULD STAGE AN EVENT IN SOUTH AFRICA, AND IN TIME, THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES AND AFRASIAPACIFIC SERIES, NORTHERN AND WESTERN AFRICA COULD ALSO BE A CONTENDER TO STAGE ONE OF THE BIG EVENTS.
A SOUTH AFRICAN VENUE WHICH WAS FORMERLY USED BY THE DP WORLD TOUR AND IS IN AN ICONIC WORLD CITY IS ERINVALE GOLF CLUB. THE CAPE TOWN COURSE HOSTED THE SOUTH AFRICAN OPEN IN 2003 AND 2004, AS WELL AS THE 1996 WORLD CUP OF GOLF. THE COURSE IS DESIGNED BY GARY PLAYER AND OPENED IN 1995, IT IS LOCATED AN HOUR FROM DOWNTOWN CAPE TOWN AND Surrounded by the majestic Helderberg and Hottentots Holland Mountains.
VIEW FROM ERINVALE GOLF CLUB. IMAGE RICH SMITH 2007.
TWO OTHER COURSES FORMERLY USED BY THE PGA TOUR ARE THE GOLF CLUB AT NINE BRIDGES, JEJU ISLAND IN KOREA, AND SHESHAN INTERNATIONAL IN SHANGHAI, CHINA. KOREA HAS A PRESENCE ON THE CURRENT LIV GOLF ROSTER IN THE FORM OF KEVIN NA, SIHWAN KIM AND DANNY LEE - ALL OF WHOM WERE BORN IN KOREA, BUT CURRENTLY HOLD AMERICAN (NA, KIM) AND NEW ZEALAND CITIZENSHIPS RESPECTIVELY (LEE). THE CLUB AT NINE BRIDGES HOSTED THE CJ CUP ON THE PGA TOUR IN 2017, 2018 AND 2019, LIV GOLF STAR BROOKS KOEPKA WON IN 2018 TO RETURN TO WORLD NUMBER ONE AND FELLOW LIV GOLF PLAYERS DANNY LEE AND MARC LEISHMAN FINISHED AS RUNNERS-UP ON THE SAME COURSE.
SHESHAN INTERNATIONAL GOLF CLUB HOSTED THE WGC-HSBC CHAMPIONS FROM 2005 TO 2019, PRIOR TO THE COVID19 PANDEMIC, AND THE PGA TOUR HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THEY DON'T INTEND TO RETURN TO CHINA IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. THE VENUE STAGED MANY COMPELLING EDITIONS OF THE HSBC CHAMPIONS, AN EVENT WHICH FEATURED THE WINNERS OF TOURNAMENTS ACROSS THE WORLD'S MAJOR TOURS. CURRENT LIV GOLF MEMBERS PHIL MICKELSON, MARTIN KAYMER, BUBBA WATSON, SERGIO GARCIA AND DUSTIN JOHNSON ALL WON ON THE COURSE.
SHESHAN INTERNATIONAL GOLF CLUB, CHINA. IMAGE MIMICPS/FLICKR.COM
FOR THE WORLD GOLF LEAGUE TO STAGE EVENTS IN THE WORLD'S TWO MOST POPULOUS NATIONS, AND ARGUABLY ASIA'S SECOND MOST PASSIONATE GOLFING NATION (AFTER JAPAN), WOULD BE TREMENDOUS, AND IT WOULD PROVE ITS GLOBAL INTENT. ALL 48 MEMBERS OF THE LIV GOLF ROSTER HAVE ENJOYED PLAYING AROUND THE WORLD, NONE MORE SO THAN TALOR GOOCH, WHO WON IN AUSTRALIA, SINGAPORE AND SPAIN THIS SEASON. THE STRATEGIC ALLIANCE BETWEEN THE PGA TOUR AND DP WORLD TOUR GOT MANY OF US EXCITED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A NEW WORLD TOUR FOR GOLF. THAT, UNFORTUNATELY, IS NOT HOW THIS ALLIANCE IS WORKING. IT IS A TALENT DRAIN ON EUROPE AND THE DP WORLD TOUR, AND EVENTS OUTSIDE OF THE USA ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE OF IT. SO IN THE CLEAR ABSENCE OF A GLOBAL VISION FROM THE ESTABLISHMENT IT FALLS TO GREG NORMAN, LIV GOLF AND THE ASIAN TOUR TO FUFIL ITS UNDOUBTED POTENTIAL.
IF IT SUCCEEDS THEN DO NOT BE SURPRISED IF THE PGA TOUR OF AUSTRALASIA, SUNSHINE TOUR AND JAPAN GOLF TOUR GET BEHIND IT, LEAVING THE DP WORLD TOUR AND PGA TOUR ISOLATED AND SURELY CONVINCE THEM TO STOP WITH THE ATTITUDE AND COME TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF THE GAME.
THE WORLD GOLF LEAGUE IS A DREAM, BUT MAYBE, JUST MAYBE WE WILL GET CLOSE TO DREAMS COMING TRUE OVER THE COMING MONTHS.
