LIV Tour golf 2023

"knew what they were striving for" is silly..... Tiger Woods changed that whole business forever just like Michael Jordan did for basketball.

At the end of the day it's a business. All the 'golfing' boils down to just an entertainment product that is sold to sponsors and fans. That's it. And the super-stars drive the audience.

All businesses evolve. Especially as the money grows.

The PGA Tour operating as a non-profit holding events that all are their own independent charity organizations... with golfers that are all independent contractors. Silly and broken.

Also, the PGA Tour doesn't own The Masters, The US Open, The PGA Championship, or The Open Championship (R&A)...... imagine if the NFL didn't own the Superbowl????

So true! The NBA paying guys to not even play is insane.

That Kyrie Irving stuff was insane. What James Harden is doing now also.

But at the end of the day, the NBA recognizes that the stars ARE the product. They lose their audience if it's a bunch of no-names on the court.

Same for golf. The big name players that draw the fans should never have to show up to an event and risk making nothing.

 

Well Ethan, here is what I meant by my silly comment. Perhaps you have never played golf. My comment, if read in entirety, referred back to junior golf. "Making the Cut" is ingrained and essential part of golf. Want to make your junior club team? Beat your competitors and make the cut. Qualify for your High School team? Make the cut. College team the same. Want to play mini-tours? Qualify and make the cut. It is the promise of achievement and prospect of earning a living that drives the golfer. We all know going in if you do not have superior results, you will not make a living with golf. And do not forget, tons of guys never make it into a tournament. Ever heard of Q-school? I used to be a member of a CC in Florida that hosted a PGA event. The weekend prior to the tourney, scores of guys would show up for practice rounds. Why? Trying to make the cut on Monday. Get beat, don't play. At the highest level, of course it is all about the money and entertainment. But that overlooks the thousands and thousands of balls hit on the practice range, money spent on lessons, travel and your own equipment. If you strive to be a pro or make a living at golf, you understand from the time you are about 10 or 12 years old what it takes...and you know it's all up to you. Including the duty to call your own penalties. I'm done.

 

I have played golf for 35+ years, have belonged to multiple country clubs (2 currently), and work in the golf industry (tech)..... I go to conferences and meetings all the time with old blue-coated PGA/USGA guys talking about how to "grow the game"..... But you know what has actually been the #1 thing to actually bring new players to the game? (outside of COVID lockdowns) It's actually TopGolf and the explosion of all the simulator golf type bars. It's all about getting a club into the hands of someone that has never tired before, ever... golf is too expensive and intimidating to many.

All the things you are saying about making the cut in terms of all those levels of competition.... you're 100% right, that is competitive golf (as an amateur). But once you are a "pro" at the highest level... it goes beyond golf, you're in the sports media and entertainment business.... as a pro athlete you ARE the product and there is a whole world around you now trying to fill an event with tens of thousands of fans, sell corporate hospitality tents, get a TV deal with advertising revenue..... you're in video games, you're playing in pro-ams, you're on magazine covers, you're the face of a club/ball manufacturer..... a totally different world.

My point is that once you become a "brand" as professional athlete.... at that level, the old PGA Tour model from decades ago is long broken, you're not just playing competitive golf anymore....

 

Well golf as an industry is booming more than ever. Sure like anything it’s mostly at the top end.

In terms of courses getting redeveloped into condos, yes that is happening in lots of places. But the most expensive places are thriving. Rich get richer, I suppose. Those that belong to the top clubs tend to also belong to other top clubs. Kinda like Ferrari owners that own a fleet of them.

Through the 70’s-90’s real estate developers over built the hell out of golf courses. Focused on home values, not the business plan of the course itself. So lots of wasted space now if that’s not where the active players are.

At the low end, places like TopGolf are the modern bowling alley. Fun to be at even if you aren’t really a golfer, with most of the revenue coming from food and beverage.

And yes, nobody wants to watch an interview of the 55th guy on tour. You need the no-names to fill out the product, but the stars drive the ratings. Just like NBA and other sports. Once a golfer gets to that level, the pga tour or any league they’re playing for should be throwing as much money at them as possible to secure them as an asset.

 

The Masters is coming up. Any thoughts on why LIV ratings are almost nothing? Is it an enduring success possibility or just kind of there?
I like some of the SIM golf but LIV has never clicked for me.

 

I think courses are 500yds longer and the greens more tricked up?

 

Drive for show, putt for dough.

At the Tour level... it's just all about who's hot with the putter that week... mega distance helps as well when they can reach every par 5 in 2, and are shooting for the green on many shorter par 4's.

And a $500+ putter doesn't "putt" better than any other one.... just like a Rolex doesn't tell time better than a Casio.

 

eBay is better than a thrift shop

Post some pics of the hickories!

 

I love all golf and watch everything from Ladies Australian Tour to Asian Tour to DP World Tour and everything in between. I could be the only one, but like to watch LIV but the constant DJ/EDM music in the background of every event when the commentators are talking drive me nuts and make it unwatchable for me.

 

Very nice.. hang on to those for sure

 

I’m rooting for Bryson for sure.

Justin Rose would be OK too.

Just please god not Rory.

 

Is all the lack of Bryson coverage due to him having Trump on his YouTube channel?

I personally like Bryson a lot. Rooting for him tomorrow.

 

Rory! Wasn’t rooting for him, but gotta tip the hat.

Balls of steel down the stretch & playoff (to recover from missing that putt on 18)