Varner's switch letter. I respect it. Dude straight-up says that money is the pull, and he has reasons to get and use it while he can. Makes sense to me.
***2022 PGA Tour Thread***
- Thread starter BigJCy
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Varner's switch letter. I respect it. Dude straight-up says that money is the pull, and he has reasons to get and use it while he can. Makes sense to me.
At the Open Championship you had 4 LIV Players finish in the top 15. That's not even including the guy that won. How are they finishing that well without spending time on the range?
Let's see how it plays out over the next few years. Bryson and Ancer made runs on Sunday but were never in contention. DJ played pretty well. Are you including Cam Smith? Because he's been LIV for all of about 2 hours.
If you think guys like DJ and Brooks are out there on the range putting in the work required to be an elite golfer you are crazy. They got paid and they'll be glad to just go put in their appearances.
I'll be interested to see how many people tune in Saturday with football on. I'd have to imagine their streaming numbers will be absolutely abysmal.
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Cyclonepride
Thought Police
Yeah, I respect that, and I know from previous interviews that his foundation is a big focus for him. Still won't watch him play, but I get it.
Varner's switch letter. I respect it. Dude straight-up says that money is the pull, and he has reasons to get and use it while he can. Makes sense to me.
So you feel the same about MLB, NBA, NFL athletes that get guaranteed contracts? These guys are the best in the world. Golf is their life. They aren't going to spend their days on the couch with a beer in hand.
I'm not saying they all will, but yes, that's absolutely a thing that happens in MLB, NBA and the NFL. Many guys get paid and don't put in the work anymore. Some guys are wired differently where they still want to compete despite being paid.
Also, MLB, NBA and NFL guys continue to compete to realize their dream of winning a World Series, Super Bowl, etc. I can't imagine DJ is deadset on realizing his dream of winning the LIV Boston Open.
Probably just as enticing as Rory's dream of winning the Sanderson Farms Championship.
I think you've completely forgotten your argument that led you here. You tried equating LIV golfers to MLB, NFL and NBA players who have guaranteed contracts but still compete to win championships and have not lost their competitive drive. My point was staying competitive to win a Super Bowl is alot different than staying competitive to win whatever-the-hell they call this Boston event. DJ has the money and doesn't care about the trophy, so what's his incentive?
While Rory may not care too much about adding Sanderson Farms to his trophy case, he doesn't take home any money if he doesn't play well. So there's your motivation that DJ wouldn't have.
I guess I'd ask you, if the main golfers are out there competing their hardest to win, and putting in the prep work in the leadup to be competitive, why have the winners been Schwartzel, Grace and Stenson? Surely it's not just a fluke that no-names are winning....
The LIV golfers are obligated to play in 14 or however many LIV tournaments. They wouldn't be playing in more than a handful of PGA events so the players are watering down the product by playing in a lot less events because of their other commitments.
My point is that the LIV golfers will continue to train in order to win the major tournaments, the same as the top PGA players. Why wouldn't DJ want to win more majors? Unless you're claiming Rory is only doing it for the money.
I would barely call those three no-names. They have all been in the top-ten of the world rankings in their career. They obviously know how to play golf. Not to mention two of them have won a major championship before.
I think the PGA could do without a tournament every weekend. The format gets old.
Maybe if they get rid of the tournaments nobody goes to anyway they can pay the players and caddies what they deserve.
You're assuming the non-exempt ones figure out a way into the Majors. I think most wont be able to qualify after another year or so.
DJ didn't take $150,000,000 so he could be on the range 4 hours a day. Neither did Brooks. It's really that simple.
It seems like you’re assuming all the LIV guys don’t care but other athletes with guaranteed money do?
Cyclonepride
Thought Police
Yep. They'd prefer to make a ton of money, play a bit of golf, and maybe focus on other things in life too. I get it, and I don't begrudge them that, but it reveals that they would rather not grind it out like you have to to stay relevant on tour. That will likely cost them in majors the further into the future we go.
I don't think the PGA just prints money. Money to pay players comes from specific tournament and Tour sponsors, ticket prices, concessions, etc.
To say the PGA could pay more to players by playing fewer events is lunacy. Could NFL pay players more if it dropped games? Not a chance.
Plus every event DONATES money to local charities.
I have no problem with guys going to LIV. Obviously, most people make life choices considering $ impact.
I just have an issue with LIV expecting the PGA to just roll over. They are competing leagues! LIV is now realizing their business model has a flaw. Just pony up some more $ and offer 15 more tournaments. LIV and more PGA golfer will gladly play those events even if purses are a third of the 14.
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This feels like the people that say “scoring is too low in soccer” so they hate it vs. the “would it be better if every goal was worth 6 points?” People.
A big part of golf to me is about betting and hustling for money. It’s part of the classic charm of the game. Play well, win money. Play bad, lose money (or get no money for missing a cut).
I will be interested to see how LIVs viewership was on Sunday, as they were about all there was to watch. I don't get the impression they are gaining much traction in the marketplace, even as they add more stars. I didn't see much on social media about it, and I certainly didn't go out of my way to watch.
Just look at the XFL, whatever that other new league is that plays in Dallas, etc. it’s almost impossible to introduce a new product with different rules and be successful against historic juggernauts like the PGA and NFL. It just rarely or never works. I’m sure the Saudi Royal family loves tuning in on YouTube though. That’s all that matters for this money league.
