OPINION: Guess What? It’s About the Money

Well, we have had almost a day to process the newest LIV signings.

The writing was on the wall, and none of the seven names come as a surprise. Each have their reasons, and it is becoming much easier for them to say so.

If one was in the pro-PGA Tour camp in early 2022 – they’d say, ‘I wish they’d stop talk of growing the game and say it was just about the money!’.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Then, Bryson DeChambeau said it was about the money.

Commentator David Feherty said it was about the money.

Today, Cam Smith said it was about spending more time in Oz and the money. Harold Varner III admitted that LIV brought ‘too big of a financial breakthrough’

 

 

 

 

 

 

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One cannot fault everybody for choosing to follow money. Reporters try, but the moral questions on the source of the money no longer lead anywhere. Sportswashing works, and has worked here.

The way around uncomfortable press conferences would be as follows: be grateful for the PGA Tour; cite the reasons you leave it (money) and declare something good that will be done with the upfront proceeds. I know HV3 has his own foundation and perhaps took the upfront cash to bolster that.

People are fickle. They will forgive and forget, provided the LIV players don’t continue to bite the hand that feeds them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The new signings bring youth, popularity, and form to LIV, something that was lacking, Now they have 12 of the last 24 major champions in the roster, and it is a formidable sight compared to the first field in London in June 2022.

Joaquin Niemann opens the door to South America, a gateway to perhaps acquire fellow Chilean player Mito Pereira, who narrowly missed out on winning the PGA this season. Marc Alongside Cam Smith, Marc Leishman adds some clout to the Australian side with experience and talent. Anirban Lahiri opens the door to India and development into Asia itself.

As I previously wrote in June, the key to further expansion is the team format. It can create revenue and generate attractive viewing. As the President’s Cup side dwindles, the 4 Aces and Crushers GC could be seeing a revival. Rory McIlroy was allowed to enjoy his third FedEx Cup win for a whole two days before this news came crashing, being made to look short-sighted due to his February comments about LIV being ‘dead in the water’.

As it turns out, Joaquin Niemann allegedly bagged the equivalent of six FedEx Cup wins ($100m) for signing with LIV, with HV3 landing almost two ($35m). Money talks, and it remains to be seen whether the LIV Golf Roster is quite done yet.

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