Tag: LIV Golf

LIV Golf Going Away (After 2026?)

In the words of LIV CEO Scott O’Neil:  Even though the 2026 season for LIV Golf continues as planned, “the long-term viability beyond this year is in question.” That’s a short answer for the potential uncertainty that lies ahead for golf’s hot sensation with hefty payouts and all kinds of seasonal flexibility designed with pro players in mind.

Designed to be wild ride like the Phoenix Open on steroids, LIV Golf came in with a bang. They swooped up some key players and made some big promises about what they were going do (and what they were definitely not going to do). That made it a big deal for guys like Lefty and Brooks, even some guys who had lingered on the lower end of the PGA Tour.

Nowadays, I’m just as mixed up about who’s who and what’s what in LIV Golf as the roster of players lined up to tee off in Mexico City this past weekend.

What we do know is that if top-ranked pros like John Rahm return to the PGA Tour from LIV Golf suspensions might be placed upon them. Imagine the impact of a one-year suspension from the PGA Tour for pro golfers. Loss of endorsement deals and sponsorships? How do you plan to pay for coaching and training, even that wellness coach and nutritionist, who have contributed to your recent success? It could hurt a few careers which do not have opportunities in the broadcast booth or with any type of Golf Channel specials or Netflix golf documentary series in mind.

In the meantime, as I tried to watch the final round of LIV Golf from Mexico City, I somehow lost interest before John Rahm had a chance to tee off. There was some great golf being played. Bubba Watson made an impressive reading of the green with a roundabout putt on his first hole of the day, while some of the approach shots to the greens opened doors to potential birdies and even eagles.

And I think that might be it. . .

While I do not care for the PGA’s tendency to overdo its restructuring of holes and fairways as if they’re seeking to make par near-impossible, I can see where the LIV Golf course seemed almost “too easy” for some of these pros to navigate. The mystery of the challenge seemed lost as I observed guys master holes that they might have conquered after their initial rounds and some decent practice rounds.

It didn’t seem like they were really facing the pinnacle of pro challenges in the form of course design. In fact, I watched on golfer almost mirror his performance on a single hole from the prior day (same club, same shot, similar hole placement, etc.).

We just finished witnessing a historic PGA Masters Tournament as golf fans. We don’t see that Rory 100% of the time. We got a glimpse of him last week. We won’t get that type of story on the LIV Golf broadcasts. LIV Golf doesn’t have the attachment of a storied legacy like Augusta to compete with the PGA.

So is LIV Golf going away after 2026?

We don’t have any real answers to that yet. We’re still having too much fun with the 2026 tour in play. Right now, as far as we all know, it is a lot of talk with very little substance to go with it. No decisions have been made. No changes have been implemented. It’s just the buzz of the business right now.

Read the April 15th ESPN article from Mark Schlabach available online.

Also, check out Joel Beall’s article on LIV Golf’s finances and future for www.golfdigest.com.

Golf Season Never Ends

Chip & pitch practice at Cottonwood Golf Club

Golf season never ends.

No, don’t get me wrong. I’m not talking about the PGA Tour or LIV Golf. The PGA Tour ends and cycles back around with the West Coast Swing until the cycle ends again.

Even where some of you live makes it hard to hit balls amid snow and heavy rainy seasons. Your season has to end at some point.

I’m talking about my personal golf season. I’m talking about my ability to get up and go out to play golf throughout the year. That never ends for me.

Location Matters

I live in the San Diego area. The locale’s weather is consistently warm and sunny with a handful of rainy days. There are plenty of golf courses to choose from on a regular basis.

I love living in such an area. I love being able to play golf at so many different types of courses with different layouts and designs. I love having a neverending golf season in such a place as San Diego.

Schedule of Play

I can set up a tee time during my off days as well as during the hours when I’m not working for those twilight discounts. The level of flexibility that my schedule allows will provide me with opportunities to play golf and train frequently.

I do not find it difficult to get a tee time at different times, especially with tee times offered online. Plus, life happens for people and plenty of folks fall off and free up slots at local courses. I advise calling the pro shop ahead of arrival and seeing if there’s room for a single or pair to jump in. Otherwise, I say just show up at the course and hit a bucket of balls while you wait for an open tee time.

Swing It!!

For me, based upon my schedule and locale, golf season never ends. It just keeps rolling on endlessly.

And guess what?

I love it.

A 60 for Couples

Fred Couples is literally a living golf legend.

Shooting a 60, even on the PGA Tour Champions for the SAS Championship, is a big deal.

Heck! Even pumping out 12 birdies is nothing to sneeze at for senior players like Couples.

But that he did all that after going without a single win in the last five years in PGA Tour Champions competition speaks volumes.

Beating His Own Age

Fred Couples is 63. He just shot 60 to win the 2022 SAS Championship. He beat his own age by 3 strokes. That’s a major feat for plenty of golfers, even some top PGA golfers playing today.

At 63, he’s showing how well he can still play and compete. He finished with a 4-stroke lead (-12) over the second top spot on the leaderboard held by New Zealand’s Steven Alker (-8). The 3rd and 4th place spots went to Jerry Kelly (-5) and Rocco Mediate (-4). Couples hitting a 60 kept his competition at bay.

A Long Time Coming

A 5-year winless streak seems unheard of when it comes to a name like Fred Couples. The beloved three-time Presidents Cup captain showed that he still has it despite such an extended dry spell without a win. Playing birdie golf for 12 out of the 18 holes made this victory even sweeter for Couples.

With this victory notched for him, Couples could go on a streak or simply play out this year without another win. It’s simply a toss-up with the growing level of competition on the PGA Tour Champions circuit. Couples faces heavy competition from renowned names in golf worldwide including Miguel Jimenez and Steve Stricker to name a few. Once Lefty gets back to swinging regularly with the senior players, there might be some competition like their golden days on the PGA Tour. That is if these two pros can lay aside their differences on the business of the LIV Golf Tour. Otherwise, we’ll have to watch these two duke it out on social media and in the golf press with a war of words on the topics like LIV Golf and other things unrelated to their play on the course.

The Messy Business of Golf

Back in August, I talked about some thoughts on LIV Golf vs the PGA Tour. It’s still raging as a firestorm and causing a divide in the golf community as well as among the tour pros.

I cannot expect this thing to end any day soon.

Both parties just seemed entrenched in it.

Messy Media Coverage Doesn’t Help

The Wall Street Journal is known for its business and financial coverage. It also covers the business aspects of sports. Its latest article on PGA Tour executive jet usage as a sign of potential corporate corruption has a sensationalized title that will definitely draw in readers with some interest.

When the media coverage from even the top level journalism platforms seem to drift into the mess, it can get really messy.

The media spin on this rivalry is the makings of a reality TV fiasco before production has even launched. It most probably won’t be played out on the Golf Channel. It most assuredly will continue for a while and with no immediate end in sight.