Key Takeaways From The Hostile LIV Golf Portland Press Conference

The press conference yesterday in anticipation of the second event in the Saudi-backed LIV Series was fairly…hostile.

Brooks Koepka, Pat Perez, Bryson DeChambeau, Matthew Wolff, Patrick Reed, and Abe Ancer were all afforded the opportunity to speak. The key takeaways from their comments are summarised below:

Brooks Koepka:

Main themes:

• We’re golfers
• Monotonous answers
• Less golf, more money.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Brooks Koepka (@bkoepka)

Additional comments:

Koepka is the ideal player to be on the LIV Tour, sees the profession as a job that enables everything else. I got bored of the bored golfer act a while ago. Big name, multiple major champion, brings a lot of clout to the league regardless of his interview answers.

One-word summary? Meh.

Pat Perez

Main themes:

• Kid in a candy shop, about to make half his career earnings in a few months.
• Age is a factor
• Ability on the decline, feels PGA Tour doesn’t listen to him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Pat Perez (@patperezgolf)

Additional comments:

Perez was asked whether he had concerns on the source of the money for the LIV Series. His one-word answer ‘No’ wasn’t very funny, and he quickly backtracked from his brashness, realising that as an American he’d probably better mention those affected by 9/11.

One-word summary? Defensive

Bryson DeChambeau:

Main themes:

• Succinct answers, a change to normal.
• Believes LIV Golf can be a force for good, seems to be keen to give back to his hometown communities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Bryson DeChambeau (@brysondechambeau)

Additional comments:

DeChambeau seems very excited by the team aspect, ‘super awesome’ were his words. Captaining the Crushers GC squad, he appears raring to go. Despite this new position, he was loathed at the Ryder Cup, and doesn’t seem to be surrounded by a large social group. Unsure why the Ryder Cup, President’s Cup, and competition on the PGA or DP World Tour isn’t enough for these players. He intends to use the series as a ‘force for good’, and gave good answers that were less confrontational than his peers.

One-word summary? Measured.

Matthew Wolff

Main themes:

• Excited for more time off, clearly misses his college golf days
• Lack of confidence in his game so embracing the lower standard

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Matthew Wolff (@matthew_wolff5)

Additional comments:

Wolff reiterated the fact that he prefers to relax than travel and spend time with his swing coach after a bad run of events. This does reinforce the argument that the LIV Series will be a lower standard of golf.

I’m still doubtful that younger players out of college who join the LIV Series who watch their mates win proper tournaments will be happy with their decision. While they shoot 82, but someone in the team shoots 64, so you win the team event and $750,000. Good? Financially, yes. Competitively, no.

One-word summary? Confused

Abe Ancer:

Main themes:

• Focused on external business ventures
• Seems relatively happy to be there, with the money enabling him to spend more time off the course – another repeat theme.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Abraham Ancer (@abrahamancer)

Additional comments:

Ancer wants to focus on external business ventures which is a posh way of saying money made me do it. The morality-themed questions weren’t going anywhere, so his answers were free from controversy. With his inclusion into the series, the guest list is improving and expanding but the attitudes don’t match the answers. Parroted ‘grow the game’ a few times. New exciting format? He looks like he’s being scolded in detention.

One-word summary? Monotonous.

Patrick Reed:

Main themes:

• Tried to explain that more time with family is the main reasoning, but then mentioned having time to get healthy with the extra couple of weeks.
• Arguably less popular than DeChambeau among the professional game
• Gone from being Mr. Ryder Cup to VC of the 4 Aces.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Patrick Reed (@preedgolf)

Additional comments:

I find it a strange heartstring to pull when the players make out that they never see their families. They are living a fantastic lifestyle with the fruits of their labour. And the family seems to be greenside at most Tour wins. He said the PGA is making him feel as if he has to play every single week. Not strictly true, and once the LIV Series expands, it will likely be a similar schedule anyway once majors are included.

One-word summary? Confrontational.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by LIV Golf (@livgolfinv)

The main answers given by the LIV signings revolve between the themes of growing the game, improving home life, the team aspect, and the guaranteed financial security. The main criticisms are the shotgun start, no cut, pseudo team format; the source of the money, and the lower standard of golf.

Certainly, if more time is being spent away from the course and coaches, the motivation to practice will be reduced. If money is guaranteed, and the prizes don’t carry much status, there really isn’t a lot to play for. There is no need for the LIV players to be as hostile in the press conferences, pure honesty would work a lot better, as shown by Bryson DeChambeau. The questions given are becoming a bit repetitive, so the answers follow suit.

Looking ahead, the second LIV event awaits in Portland!

Cover Image Via YouTube