Super League Venues ?

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Donald Trump’s golf course company in talks to host super league tournaments
Among the many questions swirling around the Saudi-backed super league is where the rival tour would play its events. Part of that question may have been answered Saturday by the Washington Post.
The Post reported that LIV Golf, the fund behind the super league that’s led by Greg Norman, has been in talks with representatives from former president Donald Trump’s golf course company to host super league tournaments.

The report cites two of Trump’s courses in Doral, Florida, and Bedminster, New Jersey, as possible landing spots for the super league and the Trump organization also has courses in Jupiter, Florida, Washington, D.C. and Westchester, New York, that could host events.
Requests for comment from LIV Golf and the Trump Organization by the Post were declined or not returned.
No players have officially signed on to play the super league and LIV Golf hasn’t released any details, or even an official name, but the possibility of a rival tour has grown in recent weeks as rumors of high-profile defections, including Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau, persist.[

According to various sources, the super league would include 14 events with at least 10 of those tournaments played in the United States.
https://www.golfchannel.com/news/report-donald-trumps-golf-course-company-talks-host-super-league-tournaments

[MCirba]

Fitting.

[Dan_Callahan]

“Super League”? That’s a stretch.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

As Saudi threat fades, professional golf can now take its collective breath

https://www.golfchannel.com/news/saudi-threat-fades-pga-tour-can-now-take-its-collective-breath

[Mike Bodo]

Has talk of the Saudi Super League been a ruse all along or was there actual merit to it? I find it odd that three of the games biggest stars linked to it all of sudden turned tail simultaneously and publicly denounced it and their interest/participation in it. I'm sure there's back room politics involved that contributed to this, but I just find the timing of everything strange.

[Niall C]

Mike


I'm not sure I do find it strange that the three big boys walked at the same time and that they did so now. Ask yourself the question, did they gain from the whole thing, and (second question) would they have benefitted overall if they had gone ahead with the Saudi's ? (assuming that was still an option)


Niall

[Tim Martin]

Mike


I'm not sure I do find it strange that the three big boys walked at the same time and that they did so now. Ask yourself the question, did they gain from the whole thing, and (second question) would they have benefitted overall if they had gone ahead with the Saudi's ? (assuming that was still an option)


Niall

There’s no doubt they gained as a result of the recent changes the PGA Tour has announced as it relates to increased prize money.

[Mike Bodo]

There’s no doubt they gained as a result of the recent changes the PGA Tour has announced as it relates to increased prize money.

Problem is the top guys on tour make as much, if not more, in endorsements annually than they do prize money. The only people increased purses really benefits are the middle and lower tier players, who the top guys and fans could give a crap about. It is for this reason talk of a super league sprang forth in the first place. Playing devils advocate here, why should the Doc Redman's and J.T. Poston's of the world benefit monetarily off the backs of the elite players when they're the ones bringing eyeballs to the television and putting fans in the stands and galleries? It's a valid argument.


I think what this all boils down to is appearance money. The top players want a guaranteed paid day regardless if they make the cut and I can't say I blame them seeing they're the ones that bring the fans out to the events and cause viewers to tune in.

[Andrew Harvie]

One stop in Canada.


https://beyondthecontour.com/pulpit-club-potential-vendor-for-saudi-golf-league-event-in-canada/

[Mike Bodo]

In virtually every article I come across about the Saudi Super League they always mention that 20 PGA Tour players have signed on. If this is in fact true, who are they, as none of the top PGA Tour players that have been interviewed in recent weeks have publicly stated they're on board. These have to be big name players, as no fan is going to dessert the PGA Tour to watch an inferior product. I suppose we should be paying attention to those who have remained quiet on the subject, as they're likely the ones who have signed contracts with the new Super League.

[Kalen Braley]

Mike,

As I view it, once guys like Colin Morikawa, Rory, and other high level players came out in LA saying they were all against it, I think that's when the others fell in line due to whatever reason.   Its possible Phil and BDC really were on the fence, and just waiting for other high profile guys to chime in to see which way it was going to go.

P.S.  The problem with Phil in practical terms is, he'll be 52 in a few months, he's basically done, even if he could play on the PGA Tour for as long as he wants.  So him chiming in wasn't going to accomplish anything, and its plausible he had some backdoor deal with Norman to fan the flames in exchange for a higher sign on bonus.

[Mike Bodo]

P.S.  The problem with Phil in practical terms is, he'll be 52 in a few months, he's basically done, even if he could play on the PGA Tour for as long as he wants.  So him chiming in wasn't going to accomplish anything, and its plausible he had some backdoor deal with Norman to fan the flames in exchange for a higher sign on bonus.

I think you're on to something about Phil and Norman having a back door deal. That said, Phil's a draw regardless of the tour he plays on. People either love him or love to hate him, but you can't help but watch even if he's really no longer competitive on the PGA Tour. Fans will still come out to support him playing against the young bucks, as you never know when you may see a repeat performance of his feet at the PGA Championship last year. It ranks only behind Tiger's win at Augusta in 2019 for drama. Speaking of The Masters, it wouldn't surprise me to see Phil win one more green jacket before it's all said and done for him as a serious contender there.

[Tom_Doak]

Well, now you understand why the potential venues wanted to keep any discussions private.  No sense in taking the p.r. hit for talking to the Saudis if it might all fall apart before payday.

[Tim Martin]

P.S.  The problem with Phil in practical terms is, he'll be 52 in a few months, he's basically done, even if he could play on the PGA Tour for as long as he wants.  So him chiming in wasn't going to accomplish anything, and its plausible he had some backdoor deal with Norman to fan the flames in exchange for a higher sign on bonus.

Speaking of The Masters, it wouldn't surprise me to see Phil win one more green jacket before it's all said and done for him as a serious contender there.

Not to get too far off course but I wonder what kind of reception he gets at the Champions Dinner at the Masters? Personally I’ve been a fan of Mickelson and I’m scratching my head at the whole situation. I know the haters want to reference FIGJAM but his record gives him cover to be cocky whether you like the way he rolls or not. As far as the time he gives to fans and the generosity he shows there aren’t that many guys on his level. I have a friend who worked in the locker room at TPC River Highlands during the tournament and said Phil was the king of cash tips for the staff. That doesn’t give him a pass by any means but it’s something to think about. Finally I think the patrons at the Masters will continue to embrace him.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Geoff Shackelford chimes in:




R.I.P. The Saudi Golf League




https://www.geoffshackelford.com/homepage/2022/2/20/rip-saudi-golf-league

[Mike Bodo]

Wow and then there was this public apology issued by Phil and his PR team in light of the slanderous comments made about the Saudi government and PGA Tour.


https://www.geoffshackelford.com/homepage/2022/2/22/mickelson-i-know-i-have-not-been-my-best-and-desperately-need-some-time-away-to-prioritize-the-ones-i-love-most-and-work-on-being-the-man-i-want-to-be




Phil's also getting hammered in public statements made by several of his peers on tour.


https://www.golfchannel.com/news/billy-horschel-phil-mickelson-has-likely-tarnished-legacy-saudi-comments


And here I thought it was going to be slow news day. LOL! Boy, was I wrong. 

[Kalen Braley]

Tim,

We basically share the same sentiment towards Phil prior to the last few months.  I always appreciated his openly brazen playing and trash-talking style while also being generous with others and engaging in witty/fun banter.  Safe to say been cringe-worthy watching the train-wreck the last months, and while I'm torn, I too hope he comes out on the upside of this thing down the road.

P.S.  Geoffs "Police Report" is epic, 

[Tim Martin]

Tim,

We basically share the same sentiment towards Phil prior to the last few months.  I always appreciated his openly brazen playing and trash-talking style while also being generous with others and engaging in witty/fun banter.  Safe to say been cringe-worthy watching the train-wreck the last months, and while I'm torn, I too hope he comes out on the upside of this thing down the road.

P.S.  Geoffs "Police Report" is epic, 

Kalen-Somebody got to Phil and impressed upon him that some damage control was in order. His sincerity for purposes of the statement will be questioned by some but this will begin the process of rehabbing his image. There is no shortage of contrition in the wording so we will see where it goes from here. I don’t know what his schedule looks like between now and the Masters but if he isn’t in the field at The Players Championship then he will be on the milk carton for the next six weeks and then again until the U.S. Open. Is that bet available yet on DraftKings?

[Mark Smolens]

There’s no doubt they gained as a result of the recent changes the PGA Tour has announced as it relates to increased prize money.

Problem is the top guys on tour make as much, if not more, in endorsements annually than they do prize money. The only people increased purses really benefits are the middle and lower tier players, who the top guys and fans could give a crap about. It is for this reason talk of a super league sprang forth in the first place. Playing devils advocate here, why should the Doc Redman's and J.T. Poston's of the world benefit monetarily off the backs of the elite players when they're the ones bringing eyeballs to the television and putting fans in the stands and galleries? It's a valid argument.


That's the same argument that the Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers and other big market teams make against revenue sharing proposals in baseball. But the big market teams need the rest of the teams in order to have a season. Nobody wants to see 6 teams playing against each other 25 or 30 times a year!


The PGA Tour is the ultimate meritocracy. Shoot the lowest score for four days, and you get paid -- handsomely! Despite Phil's pathetic bleatings to the contrary, the game of professional golf does NOT "desperately need change." And the absence of the SGL means that these guys don't have to take a shower every time they check their bank statements. . .


I think what this all boils down to is appearance money. The top players want a guaranteed paid day regardless if they make the cut and I can't say I blame them seeing they're the ones that bring the fans out to the events and cause viewers to tune in.