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LIV Golf peppered its social media accounts for days all through December with self-congratulatory posts after it secured the signature of Jon Rahm. And for good purpose.
The massive man from Spain is the world No. 3, reigning Masters champion, 11-time winner on the PGA Tour and a blossoming worldwide star. On the time, Rahm’s transfer amid the PGA Tour’s negotiations with Saudi Arabia’s Public Funding Fund, LIV’s monetary backers, was considered as a momentous event for the league. One other jewel had been plucked from the Tour’s crown.
However during the last two months, just like the soccer participant who drops the ball in untimely celebration earlier than crossing into the endzone for a landing, LIV Golf has fumbled the signing of its finest participant up to now and squandered a possibility to take a much-needed step ahead.
Nonetheless performing as rivals, LIV might have dominated the headlines within the PGA Tour’s temporary offseason. Regardless of what sure fan accounts might lead you to imagine on-line, LIV continues to be struggling to construct a devoted following. For the second consecutive 12 months, the league has pushed the discharge of crew rosters to the eleventh hour. They may have bought merch and constructed fan pleasure for groups and occasions. As a substitute, they dragged out the discharge of vital data – the ultimate two occasions of the 2024 season are nonetheless to be introduced – and stalled any momentum it could have picked up from Rahm.
Think about not figuring out what crew LeBron James would play for, or who would play alongside him, per week earlier than the beginning of the NBA season. Think about the NFL not saying the dates for Week 17 video games, or the place the Tremendous Bowl can be hosted, till the beginning of Week 1. You may’t construct a following when followers don’t know easy elements comparable to who’s enjoying on what crew. LIV desires to be taken critically however can’t get out of its personal means.
With the PIF funding the operation, the league has lengthy been criticized as a means for the Kingdom to sportswash its human rights report with assured cash and multi-million-dollar offers. Saudi Arabia has been accused of wide-ranging human rights abuses, together with politically motivated killings, torture, pressured disappearances and inhumane therapy of prisoners. Members of the royal household and Saudi authorities had been accused of involvement within the homicide of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist and Washington Submit columnist. PIF governor and LIV Golf chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan can also be dealing with a possible $74 million lawsuit in Canadian court docket for allegedly “having carried out directions” of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, with “malicious intent” of “harming, silencing and in the end destroying” the household of an ex-intelligence chief.
When key particulars aren’t launched promptly, and officers proceed to overlook their very own pre-determined deadlines for bulletins, the league appears an increasing number of like what many outsiders understand it to be: a calculated political maneuver.
Now greater than ever LIV wants the golf to face out. The framework settlement between the Tour, PIF and DP World Tour to create a for-profit entity, often known as PGA Tour Enterprises, acknowledged the PGA Tour would determine LIV’s future primarily based on an “empirical data-driven analysis” and that commissioner Jay Monahan and the board would “decide the continued plan and technique. LIV officers, together with Greg Norman himself, have pushed again on this notion.
Al-Rumayyan, the potential chairman of PGA Tour Enterprises, loves the thought of crew golf. Despite the fact that followers haven’t flocked to LIV simply but, the idea has confirmed to achieve success at instances, particularly on the season-ending Crew Championship. Anticipate some model of LIV or crew golf to be a part of the brand new entity if a deal is agreed on after which handed. If there’s no deal, it’s protected to imagine LIV will enterprise on as is and proceed to be a rock within the Tour’s shoe.
Like the remainder of skilled golf, LIV’s future is unsure. Due to the prolonged deadline for negotiations, the league now has just a few extra months to show its value and standing within the sport. It’s not off to the very best begin.
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