PGA Tour vs. LIV: The Cold War of Golf

On the golf course, tensions are rising: The PGA Tour, after decades of dominance, has a new rival. This entity has pockets deeper than anyone can even fathom and have poached countless star golfers from the tour. Its name is LIV Golf. Everything is great on the surface: Significant increases in pay, no player cuts, a relaxed schedule, three days of golf instead of four.
It would be perfection, if not for the fact that LIV is funded by Saudi Arabia. That's all you need to hear and it will cause people to wince. Once the reality of their new boss is mentioned, it creates an ethical dilemma: Do you take the windfall of cash being offered or do you reject it due to the Saudi's terrible reputation and human rights abuses?
This is the new conflict of golf, and it's one that isn't going away any time soon.

[@alexanderliu9376]

If I had a nickel for every golf video UrinatingTree made, I’d have two nickels

[@austinemms9772]

Which isn't a lot but it's weird that it happened twice, right?

[@puddlespuddles5208]

so a dime cause this video is a ten out of ten.

[@kameronjones7139]

May Phineas and Ferb never die

[@indianaingberman6931]

Dammit i was beaten to both the joke and the reply

[@chrisruskin6189]

@@austinemms9772 thank you for being the first one to say it

[@williamapple7705]

Honestly it feels like LIV mostly picked up the already pre-established villains. We're in Golf's Attitude Era.

[@Mateus_Carvalho]

Fitting, given who's funding it. ...'cause you know, they paid WWE for events too.

[@VexJinks]

John Daly revenge tour incoming

[@justinrenaud4818]

@@VexJinks omg 😂😂

[@Vyse1984]

@@VexJinks golf's ECW.

[@DaComebakKid]

@@Vyse1984 I love that comparison

[@wp6192]

Had a perfect opportunity to call it "The Golf War".

[@sastryvnk4402]

I understood that reference.

[@jarradchapman4271]

The Persian Golf War?

[@jedimasterdraco6950]

@@jarradchapman4271 Nah, this is in Saudi Arabi, not Iran. Fortunately most Arab countries prefer to refer to the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf.

[@jarradchapman4271]

@@jedimasterdraco6950 so..."The Arabian Golf", then?

[@MelloMathTeacher]

Fun fact: This was the name of a Gravity Falls episode about a mini-golf rivalry.

[@joeym5243]

This isn't just some XFL but in golf, and I'm glad you're making that point

[@djtrankilo231]

It seems more like the European Super League versus the UEFA, to me. All because the Super elite European squad owners hated the Champions League format. The difference is is that the European Super League (LIV) is beating the UEFA (PGA)

[@papapawer4043]

@@djtrankilo231 exactly 💯

[@FelipeYoshioCordeirodeSouza]

Or the AAF

[@nowionlywantatriumph]

It’s more like the USFL (1980s) of golf. Both because of the players defecting and because Donald fucking Trump is involved (two of LIV’s eight events are at his courses-and wouldn’t you guess it, they’re the courses that lost PGA events)

[@FelipeYoshioCordeirodeSouza]

@@nowionlywantatriumph wait, Trump AND Saudi Arabia? What the fuck?

[@ST0NE_206]

UrinatingTree talking about Golf, never thought I’d see the day

[@Aburner960]

Hes done it before

[@heisenberggutenberg95]

Ik this man makes this surprise a welcomed one

[@FreshTillDeath56]

To be fair, nobody expected LIV golf either

[@ErickGarcia-nt7yk]

Step closer for a premier league video A video exposing the incompetente of the Glazers would be dope

[@Patrick61804]

@@Aburner960 yeah his favorite choke is actually a golf one

[@familyguyfan8899]

My dad referred to LIV as golf’s version of the European Super League

[@kurtpunchesthings2411]

in all seriousness that's the best comparison i have seen tbh there is a part of me that wishes the Super League had happened just so i could finally be done with this fucking sport why am i angry ? Money is poisoning this sport after the Super League collapsed Uefa showed how much they care about football byyyy cramming in another European competition for more revenue ....... annnnnd Saudi Arabia bought Newcastle give them 10 years and Newcastle will be winning leagues and competing in the champions league sigh because that's all that Soccer is these days just fire a pile of money at people and eventually you will start winning

[@andrewwinslow9315]

It is better compared to the Indy Racing League.

[@shawnschaitel838]

@@kurtpunchesthings2411 every thing the KSA is doing is called Sportswashing which is the practice of an individual, group, corporation, or government using sport to improve their tarnished reputation, through hosting a sporting event, the purchase or sponsorship of sporting teams, or by participation in the sport itself. At the international level, sportswashing has been used to direct attention away from a poor human rights record and corruption scandals within a government. While at the individual or corporate level sportswashing is used to cover up and direct attention away from said person's or company's vices, crimes, or scandals. Sportswashing is an example of reputation laundering.

[@kurtpunchesthings2411]

@@shawnschaitel838 Shawn idc why they are doing it what i know for a fact is these people are trying to spread their influence Globally and it needs to be stopped because i know this might trigger people but the ones in charge of that country ? there fucking animals bro they have no place in Civilized West

[@MarloSoBalJr]

@@kurtpunchesthings2411 And Man City would swear ear-to-ear that they're an "establish" club with a "proud" "winning" tradition 😂

[@darkthunder168]

I've never really cared much about golf, but this civil war that LIV has started came across my radar, and now I kinda pay attention to what happens, I'm sure I'm not the only one either

[@penguin44ca]

Liv just wants to do their own thing. Pga is the one that doesn't like the comp.

[@moffattron9000]

Except that it's a fantastic way to kill interest from the die-hards. Just look at the collapse in crowds for Rugby League in Australia before, during, and after the Super League War. Hell, there's a reason that the Sydney Swans of Aussie Rules saw their highest crowds in 1997, the year that the two Rugby League comps were both running.

[@penguin44ca]

@@moffattron9000 totally understand. However the diehards aren't the future. They want the 18-35. Not us old timers (I'm 45)

[@Keirnoth]

@@moffattron9000 Except this competition has helped European soccer become even bigger

[@christophermerlot3366]

Same here. This is the first golf story I've paid attention to in years.

[@cartmann94]

the most exciting Sports Civil War since CART vs Indy Racing. Also, the soundtrack of this video is ON THE GREEN.

[@Fuyu_Arashi99]

PLAYER 1 TEE SHOT

[@celticwarrior8574]

*The Australian Super League war has entered the chat*

[@FelipeYoshioCordeirodeSouza]

Damn, IndyCar

[@Hockeyman7776]

What a comment, this guy gets it

[@MathRaven1910]

In Brasil a few time ago we have a split in our Truck Series,in the end one end bankrupt and the other take all and rise up the series

[@laurencebrown3822]

The last 40 seconds of this video, where UTree doesn't say anything, are also the ones where he speaks loudest. Excellent video, possibly one of your best ones ever. It's good enough to be a part of a Last Week Tonight episode.

[@mr.intensity2685]

My only complaint is that it was short video. I enjoyed this.

[@clivefeldman742]

Excellent comment. My feelings as well.

[@ronmastrio2798]

Lol grandstanding propaganda speaks the loudest? Should've asked if they ever had a problem playing countless tournaments in America while they waged perpetual warfare.

[@MetallicaRules]

Very rare to get a golf video from Tree. A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one. This whole issue has been one big mess, and it's a damn shame. With the increase of people playing golf because of the pandemic, this will just end up hurting the sports popularity.

[@trevorburbee6465]

Wait how? If more people are playing golf then it will draw more attention to the sport worldwide. It will be more profitable, more fans will tune into watch it, and it may just strengthen relations between countries who are willing to contribute towards the sport itself.

[@MetallicaRules]

@@trevorburbee6465 Because adding all this drama and trying to follow along with everything that is happening is exhausting and demotivating to those trying to get into it watching the sport regularly, or even occasionally. Imagine the AFC decides to completely split up from the rest of the NFL and form its own league, players choose their allegiance, and Roger Goddell banning all of the teams and players from ever competing in the NFL again. You separate the best players and teams, who are all now yelling and shitting on each other for their decisions, and try to play their seasons at the same time, you don't think a lot of people are just going to move onto something else? That it won't lessen the appeal of games like the Super Bowl when you remove a lot of the top teams and competition. Golf is not a sport you need to watch and play, golf can just be played without watching the sport at all. I know a few people that enjoy bowling but have never watched bowling in their lives. So people playing will increase, but those who want to start watching don't have the temperance to deal with the petty bullshit of everything going on.

[@mbdg6810]

"golf" from "tree" pun totally not intended

[@robertcampbell8027]

Definitely bad for golf, except that some of it’s most arrogant, greedy and past-their-prime players have made space for players who actually care about golf.

[@trevorburbee6465]

@@robertcampbell8027 Call them greedy and arrogant but they're just taking advantage of the market. They would be stupid not to join from how much money they're offering these players. If they want to play for LIV, let them. It will be them who suffer the consequences if the league falls through

[@wakkawakkagaming3710]

The way they squirmed in the ending clip says everything, they know they're selling their souls for money, they just don't wanna admit it. At least Phil laid it out plainly and recognized both the major issue inherent, and his reason for joining anyway

[@suflanker45]

They didn't squirm. Everybody knows the Saudis are offering a lot more money. That asshole reporter wanted a gotcha moment and the golfer politely told him to go to hell.

[@marcus813]

They're telling on themselves and don't even know it.

[@sneersh9107]

Phil's reason for joining is the money too that was just his excuse

[@JarradBruessel32]

well the pga has screwed over the golfers for so damn long. glad my distant cousin lee is getting some money finally.

[@FelipeYoshioCordeirodeSouza]

@@sneersh9107 at least he bothered to elaborate a reason that wasn't "pulling a Jordan"

[@Ibelikemj]

As a racing fan, all you have to look at Cart and the split. It hurt INDYCAR racing for years and never came back into relevance. The split is what caused NASCAR to rise.

[@michaelnewton1332]

I will go to my grave believing that NASCAR paid Tony George, CEO of Indy Motor Speedway, to cause the CART/IRL split and destroy IndyCar racing. A way to get rid of your competition, so to speak

[@BlackFlagsMatter]

Ask Indycar how a split ended for them.

[@BigBlack81]

Ask Rugby Union and Rugby League! Those games ARE going to merge back into something...I just don't know what yet.

[@MathRaven1910]

Great point,just see what Indycar ends in 2008 after the IRL/CCWS merge

[@musyarofah1]

@@BigBlack81 nah, ask Australian about Super League War and how it killed the momentum of rugby league's own war against AFL

[@njyankeesfan]

Phil's crime was being honest and shamelessly being about the money, unlike a lot of athletes and sports leagues that have being doing business with regimes like the Saudis, Qataris, Russians, or Chinese Communists while talking about human rights issues in their own countries.

[@Marcus_Aurelius42]

Phil said all the quiet parts loud

[@nicholastricarico2957]

Because of that, he pissed off not only human rights groups, but his new Saudi bosses as well.

[@furioussherman7265]

I also commend Lefty for saying he defected in hopes that the PGA fixes their problems. It makes me think of when a bunch of NHL players joined the WHA in the '70s.

[@GetBenched2010]

I think his end game is a union while making as much as he can on the back 9 of his career.

[@dominicteneriello9977]

If your talking about leagues like the nba for example, sure they are benefiting from Chinese people watching the games. If they wanted to be as ethical as possible, I guess they would ban games from being shown in China or Russia or wherever. But this is totally differant, the pga is not having a tournament in Saudi, or growing the game in Saudi. Saudi is running the league, this is the definition of selling your soul to me. Playing in the nba and shouting out humans rights issues, I guess is a little hypocritical, this is another level. It’s like if China started the cba and players joined only for the money.

[@daltonbaxter6892]

Great video. Knew there was controversy with LIV golf but I had no idea it was this complex. Thanks!

[@dustinsindledecker154]

Not that complex these golfers are selling their to Saudi tyrants.

[@mstevens94]

Yea, when it comes to money, everyone is of the same religion. Sports and entertainment never learned from the 1930s, trying to appease and take money from regimes that commit acts that make The Hague notice. When entities like this take investments from autocratic regimes, the issue becomes they become blackmailed to not say anything about their benefactor's abuses and usurpations of others to keep the gravy train going. All out of the threat of the benefactor pulling the plug and seeing their brand go down in a violent, fiery crash. It really shows that neither the PGA Tour nor LIV Golf is better. Both will bend over backward for autocratic regimes to receive financial aid and support. One thing about it is that there are no winners here, just two sides that have the same problem but morally justify how the other is worse.

[@ErickGarcia-nt7yk]

@@dustinsindledecker154 basically every major sports league is selling out for where most money can be found

[@lamannaINT]

@@dustinsindledecker154 lmao wait till you realize who runs your country

[@koneheadcokehead4981]

I guess we can truly finally say Phil Mickelson is the baddest golfer on the planet

[@themaninthesuit5729]

Tree. This might be your masterpiece. No smoke man. This is akin to investigative journalism. I have been CONSUMED by the current PGA vs LIV demographic, and this video sums up the general issue, contracting views, and supportive arguments brilliantly...in all under ten minutes I might add. Take a bow, Sir. You CRUSHED it on this one!

[@MetFanMac]

We all love the Tree and it's definitely a good video but there's nothing "investigative" about it. It's just a concise summation of the situation, its background, and the potential ramifications, all in an easily digestible and understandable format.

[@benpartridgesax]

Sometimes I wish that tree returned to his pure shitposting roots, but videos like these show he's growing and evolving into someone that not only can poke fun at whatever sport he turns his eye to but can analyse the background to them brilliantly and concisely too

[@UrinatingTree]

There are times where I'll go back to the shitposting roots. It just ebbs and flows with time.

[@JarradBruessel32]

well he kind of did a lot of it right away and now new legacies of failure must be formed or take time to form. Minnesota wild and vikings are currently in their window for a few years so he must wait until they fall off again before he can do another video on either team.

[@ralphjackson2518]

Worth noting that the f1 Saudi track has actually led to the drivers union demanding more of a say in where they race. This was also driven by the rumor Spa would get cut for new American tracks, but the initial announcement was made after the weekend at Jeddah that had a genuinely unsafe track and a practice session delayed by a missile strike. As an f1 fan to the golfers: DON'T TRUST THE SAUDI MONEY

[@zoelotero]

Not only a strike, but one that provoked an explosion at an oil plant. Drivers could smell it. And don't forget the Formula e fiasco from last year

[@benpartridgesax]

The F1 track is a death trap waiting to happen. Next to no run-off and concrete walls at one of the fastest and narrowest tracks on the calender

[@SeaBass3945]

I could be wrong, but wasn't the explosion at a plant that was storing fuel for the actual F1 race? And didn't the drivers protest the race but the Saudi's threatened them to race or be held in country against their will? Again, I could be wrong but I'm sure I've read that a couple times when it happened.

[@oracle5200]

@@benpartridgesax I agree with you as much money they'll throw at the FIA I don't think a driver's life should be wasted in that case. The track is way to tight and techinical with the speed in it and yet the FIA doesn't want to race at Spa because of the dollar signs? Sooner or later this needs to stop no one wants to see a boring race around a city circut that was hastily built; if you want that Formula E is great at doing that and hell it's doing a better job with the cars racability wise as well.

[@pauldoodnath]

Along with the hypocrisy of pushing the we race as one campaign and yet we're racing in countries with awful human rights records

[@zacsmith1587]

I know positively nothing about golf, but this was a fascinating watch all the same. From PGA being a nonprofit (???) to the Saudis bankrolling a rival golf league-with teams and drafts, no less!!-this was most intriguing.

[@orty86]

You know there are a lot of types of non-profits. You can be a non-profit and not be a charity.

[@weirdofromhalo]

Most sports organizations are nonprofits.

[@furioussherman7265]

It's very fitting that Tree calls the rivalry between LIV and the PGA a "cold war" considering that before the Saudis used sports to present themselves to the world as the best and hide the skeletons in their closet, the Soviet Union did the exact same thing. From hockey to chess and everywhere in between, the former USSR went out of their way for most of the Cold War to make sure people talked about how good their sports players were and NOT about the country's corruption, tyranny, and economic stagnation.

[@TripleAlfafa]

They keep doing it because it keeps working. It worked for the Third Reich, it worked for the Italians under Mussolini, it worked for [insert south american dictatorship here] during the cold war and it's gonna keep working for everyone else.

[@ej8476]

@@TripleAlfafa Hell, it worked for America, as least for me. You know about the era between 2008-2018? From my experience I didn't care about the Tea Party or the rise of far right BS, I was paying attention to the US women win the World Cup, Michael Phelps become the most decorated swimmer ever AND have a pretty good redemption sendoff, and the Pats causing 28-3. There's proof for your point right there

[@djtrankilo231]

@@TripleAlfafa you're saying the Copa Libertadores and Copa América are successful because of Pinochet and the other South American dictators.?

[@InchonDM]

@@ej8476 It was also a US tactic in the Cold War, as well. US cultural barnstorming and constantly presenting themselves as the free, democratic, morally superior option acted as smokescreen for a slate of sins that was just as big as the Soviet Union's, if not bigger. You really, really don't want to know the hard details about some of the countries and dictatorships that the US called "essential and noble allies in the fight against communism". Guatemala under the dictatorships, Haiti under Duvalier, South Vietnam _redefining_ corruption, the list is endless. And that's without getting into the US' own personal sins. Hell, Saudi Arabia is one of those allies, and has been for decades. I'm a proud Eagle Scout and a longtime advocate of the good and worth in the American ideal and system, but if you can't self-criticize you're doing more harm than good, in my opinion. This kind of thing is never going to truly go away, so you just have to always keep trying to catch it happening and fight it, in your own mind and out in the world.

[@TripleAlfafa]

@@djtrankilo231 It's more that having a successful team is a boon for the popularity of a dictatorship.

[@atlaswuzhere]

I like the addition of the "Oil Ocean" Zone music towards the end.

[@SantanaMoss15]

Back here now that there’s a merger. Can’t say I’m surprised.

[@zetastreaker47]

Tree talking about golf every once in a while is like seeing a blue moon once a year.

[@crazyluigi6664]

Loved hearing the music from both the Neo Turf Masters and Mario Golf for the Nintendo 64 at the start! Very fantastic way to introduce things there! 👍👍

[@jasonbeneke4710]

_"everyone has their price and, if u wanna survive this crazy world, u better know yours."_

[@drewvonawesome8851]

I haven't even watched that far into the video and the use of Neo Turf Masters' music for the background already earned this a thumbs up. ON THE GLEEN!

[@lenin17301560]

Neo Turf Masters soundtrack already making the video legendary a second into it.

[@wild_sergeant716]

Seeing some F1 footage on this channel makes me wish we may get at least one video on the sport in some way.

[@Kenku178]

Nice touch with the Oil Ocean Zone music, and awesome video laying out things very well.

[@sanan5278]

I never thought I would see any sort of F1 mention in Tree's channel

[@pauldoodnath]

He did mention former f1 driver pastor maldonado in his Venezuela video

[@marco4103]

I want to see Tree talk about the Vince McMahon and his allegation to one the employers which had an affair back in 2019 as the chairman and CEO of WWE and for giving 3 Million dollars to STFU. And I will be happy to see it if it happens.

[@josepharmstrong1531]

It literally just broke.

[@jordancarroll1217]

I'm a wrestling fan and I would love to see Tree talk about it

[@josepharmstrong1531]

@@jordancarroll1217 and to think that AEW vs WWE is basically this video, but for wrestling.

[@jordancarroll1217]

@@josepharmstrong1531 I can't wait for forbidden door

[@pokehybridtrainer]

Make it blow up. Get Vince and his grubby mitts out of the business.

[@TheRADRAD]

The cold war has ended. The PGA Tour and LIV Golf have merged. BIG news. Needs another video because of the massive shift in the sport of golf.

[@elijahtchilembe-mpovie2715]

LIV and PGA reminds me of the European Super League and Rugby’s Super League War and USFL-NFL….

[@BigBlack81]

The long, LONG history of people trying to unseat incumbency in institutions. Golf now gets its turn.

[@MathRaven1910]

Or CART vs IRL

[@adlilzafri2322]

Missed opportunity to call this The Golf War

[@BigBlack81]

What a MISS!

[@primeconor]

I love your videos about the financial side of sports wether than be relocation or other leagues like this

[@GetBenched2010]

When the World Golf Tour tried to launch the PGA responded by threatening to ban ANYONE who golfed in that tour, even in off season events FOR LIFE. Nobody jumped, the WGT was DOA.

[@penguin44ca]

Pga wants to flex and Liv didn't move. Good on them.

[@Swordopolis]

Mickelson missed the cut at the Open with a +11 🤣

[@Patrick61804]

Yeah I saw lol

[@dustinsindledecker154]

I was satisfied when I heard that, that's what you get when get in bed with a brutal dictatorship

[@otaviofrn_adv]

and in golf you can't blame the refs

[@JarradBruessel32]

​@@dustinsindledecker154 lmfao maybe the pga should pay its players a fucking a minimum salary at least. only pro sports organization in north America that doesn't pay its players. yet they have to pay for their hotel and travel and food but may walk away not getting a penny in return. fuck that

[@nwsausuke1]

This has become my favorite video on the subject on KZbin. Tree, coming from a diehard golf fan that post pandemic has delved deep into the depths of golf, this is the best video you've produced for serious terms (nothing is more entertaining than raging on your beloved Steelers but I digress). I'm going to use this video specifically to explain this to my friends and family that don't understand what's going on. Thanks for putting this topic in such a way for non- golfers to fully understand.

[@MelloMathTeacher]

Can't tell you how much I loved hearing Neo Turf Masters and then followed up with the most hype music to ever come out of a golfing game: Mario Golf 64's Dormie theme at 1:32. Brilliantly done. Showcasing the highlights and illustriousness of the LIV's features and prize pool. Only to come out with the... interesting nitty gritty. Sonic 2's Oil Ocean toward the end of the video was icing on the cake. Very informative, succinct, and well-edited. Thanks for this, Tree.

[@bokkebokke7]

NHL had WHA, WWE had WCW, NBA had ABA. But none of those had the financial backing LIV golf has.

[@epiclionsault92]

To be fair, WCW was funded by Ted Turner

[@vince11harris]

@@epiclionsault92and he ain’t got shit on Saudi

[@ianjohnson739]

The situation with golf reminds me so much of the situation with world cricket in the 1970s. The establishment was draining the players dry and players even had to go on unemployment benefits when they weren't playing, they weren't considered real players. Then Australian millionaire Kerry Packer stepped in and formed the World Series Cup (WSC) and it changed the way cricket was played and run, like what's happening with golf. A lot of money was thrown at the rebel league (World Series Cup) but once it got popular, once it got the crowds, the establishment had to cave and Kerry Packer made sure that the players got the money that they deserved. To put it in context at the time the players were getting paid about the same as the groundskeepers, and especially in Australia where the World Series Cup occurred, the Australian team were World Champions and yet the players were getting paid virtually nothing. Because of World Series Cup and Kerry Packer the players are now paid for their services and they can make careers out of playing cricket, unlike before where not only did they have to play cricket but they needed a full time job to support themselves. And while I understand that dealing with Saudi Arabia is again to dealing with the devil, I also understand that sometimes in order to affect great change in an organisation like the PGA, you need to do something that will shock them and you need the bankroll to terrify them, and this rebel golf league is doing exactly that. I do hope the players get a better deal than what they've been getting from the PGA because of all of this, but it will take time.

[@jarradchapman4271]

I had literally just finished watching Brock Beard's series on the CART/IRL split when i got this notification. In any case, just say "no" to #SportsWashing for the Saudis...unless a sufficient number of money trucks are backed up to your house, i guess... I also don't see any super-wealthy Americans trying to do anything similar; if they are, I'll support that as much as I can.

[@tehbeernerd]

Super wealthy Americans are too busy throwing around their money to kill our democracy to do anything cool like starting a rival sports league

[@j.ramsey8863]

You've popped up on my feed for what seems like the better part of a decade, I don't subscribe but the algorithm knows I click sometimes and this is the best one I've seen from you to date. Very very well done.

[@daveatkins3796]

And the war is over. The merger has happened. Monahan has now lapped Goodell, Manfred and Bettman as the worst Commissioner in sports

[@cmd31220]

At the end of the day its all about the PGA being complacent. They never planned for this eventuality and as a result have done nothing to increase the popularity of the game and therefore their ability to make more money that they can pay out to the golfers. If they can't figure something out quick, then they're screwed. Because the mid-table players are gonna see the tens of millions of dollars on offer, especially as LIV gains legitimacy. And worst of all.....it's FUN. Shotgun starts, drafts and teams, live leader boards right on the screen like it's a Nascar race. These are all GREAT additions to the game, and they'll win fans over

[@penguin44ca]

They won me, however I do think there is a ton of fixesto do with their broadcast. The leaderboard colours are terrible.

[@UrinatingTree]

The PGA got overconfident. They felt that there would never be a rival circuit that would pop up to challenge them. It should be a lesson to all leagues. Someone could eventually come for you.

[@RicardoAGuitar]

I don't know what the PGA could have done differently

[@penguin44ca]

@@RicardoAGuitar increase prize money? No cuts? Less stuffy? Many things.

[@RicardoAGuitar]

@@penguin44ca Those ARE things, it's true. But the OP was saying that the PGA did nothing to increase the popularity of golf - it's not clear to me that the things you mentioned would have increased the popularity of golf one little bit.

[@jayfeather31]

Okay, I absolutely adore how you used the Neo Turf Masters (also known as Big Tournament Golf) soundtrack. That's awesome.

[@Salamence20SH]

Jayfeather on a UT video? Wild. Love your stuff

[@hawaiidkw1]

For the vast majority of the men who golf for a living, I don't really think there's much of an argument over whether to accept an ungodly amount of cash. If he doesn't have ethical concerns, take it. If he has ethical concerns, take it and donate a sizable chunk of it to honorable causes. Not hard at all. _My_ main interest is in how long this is going to last. The LIV is like the XFL (mainly the first incarnation), a vanity project born out of whole cloth for the purpose of flipping the bird to an established league. It has no history, prestige, or goodwill. Its events are unrecognized by the Official World Golf Ranking and have no weight in any of the established tours, including the European and Asian Tours. There are no sponsors, no television deals, no cross-promotions, and very little press, most of it bad. The Saudi government is going to have to fund nearly the whole enterprise out of pocket for its entire existence, and if they're serious about fighting the PGA, they're going to need _many_ more names and events, meaning the annual burn is going to go significantly higher than $255 million. Saudi Arabia is doing this for a reason. Sportwashing, chest thumping, striking a blow against the Western pigs, maybe a bit of all three. History teaches that either a vanity project serves its purpose and its creators declare mission accomplished, or it becomes a boondoggle and its creators decide to cut their losses. Either way the plug is pulled and a lot of people are left in the cold. I can't help but feel that this is exactly where the LIV is headed.

[@moffattron9000]

This and the European Super League reminds me of the Super League War in Australia in the 90s. The Super League War in Australia saw a messy place in the ARL at the time as Sydney League went National and offered six figure deals when players were just able to play full-time. Of course this came with the catch that this was owned by Rupert Murdoch. In the end, it was a messy war when the ARL competition and the Murdoch competition ran against each other as fans turned away from the sport as the boardroom machinations became more important than the actual games. To this day, Rugby League fell behind the AFL and was almost beaten out by Super Rugby for a period. Furthermore, pay crashed back down to earth when there was only one comp again.

[@obijuanquenobi1911]

There was also the IndyCar - CART which was pretty fucking stupid but it happened anyway

[@giii7599]

"Forty years ago, it was considered by some a risky move for the guys who play professional golf to break away from the group created for golf professionals." This was about the PGA Tour splitting from The PGA of America in 1969. "The golf breakup occurred largely because of the influx of money that television had started to pump into the game. The top players (Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer among them) wanted to use the additional TV money to pump up the purses." "The PGA of America wanted to put the money in the general fund. That's when the compromise was reached, with the golf professionals and the professional golfers going their separate ways." Sounds a bit like today... The PGA tour categorized itself as a non profit so it could avoid hundreds of millions in tax revenue. That decision is now haunting them since it also means they can't hand out guaranteed money contracts like other professional sports.The LIV tour is doing exactly that so it's not surprising top level golfers want guaranteed money. If someone loses their PGA tour card they're gone with very little support. I don't see how you can treat people as independent contractors and then complain when they go elsewhere.

[@Brinkaskfavor]

The problem is elsewhere is being propaganda for a government that has probably instilled attacks against your countrymen. It’s sickening that these golfers have sold their souls, and it’s worse that they sold them to one of the most oppressive regimes on earth.

[@giii7599]

@@Brinkaskfavor Cry everyone a river. The PGA Tour does business in China. China commits the worst human rights violations on a daily basis. The PGA Tour has 23 sponsors that do over 40 billion dollars a year worth of business in Saudi Arabia. The problem is the PGA Tour has no room to talk about anything. Nor does anyone that backs the PGA Tour.

[@Brinkaskfavor]

@@giii7599 that doesn’t mean anything because the main problem is these people will be directly funded by the Saudis and will be propaganda. And get the fuck out of here with that fucking aggressive intro.

[@Krg8485]

Fantastic video Tree. Having Sonic 2s “Oil Ocean Zone” music at the end was a great touch!

[@nicosthompson1219]

Fantastic video Tree. This is absolutely fascinating, this is landmark moment for the game of golf

[@adamthespinygiant]

In other sports news: the USFL is entering the final week of it's 10 week regular season. The next 2 weeks will decide if we will have a developmental football league that finally makes it pass the inaugural season. *knocking on wood intensifies*

[@Steve_Hunts96]

They’re gonna make it, and when the teams have their own homes next year, the league will thrive. They’ve made their name, now they’re gonna grow!

[@adamthespinygiant]

@@Steve_Hunts96 it’s like watching a long struggling franchise winning it’s first championship

[@matthewshortle5274]

Crazy that USFL lasted longer than the AAF and XFL 2020.

[@WinWin-cv5us]

@@matthewshortle5274 i mean to be fair XFL 2020 didnt have a chance due to stuff out of its control so i think its unfair to compare them

[@matthewshortle5274]

@@WinWin-cv5us I understand covid was outside their control but I'm Glad they're coming back next year.

[@prototypegaming5458]

I dont even watch golf but this is very interesting. Hoping for more videos on this subject

[@phelan511]

Using “oil ocean zone” as BGM. I love it

[@AdderTude]

Clever use of "Oil Ocean" from the Sonic series for your background music, Tree.

[@trevorburbee6465]

What's ironic about this is that this is nowhere near the first time this instance has occured. China has begun to focus on sport as well over the past several decades despite their record of human rights abuse. After all, they are a main contributor to the NBA'S success, as well as Russia, who also contributes to the NHL as well. They have a lot of star Russian players currently playing in the NHL. There's nothing you can nor should do about it. It's the nature of sport. You gotta let the other nations play no matter what.

[@jacoblebold8462]

The difference between the NHL and golf is 1. that the Russian players in the NHL aren’t doing so to spread Russian might and 2. the Saudis themselves aren’t playing the game. They’re buying other people to play the game in their league.

[@trevorburbee6465]

@@jacoblebold8462 I mean still, is their influence really a bad thing considering Russia and China also have influence over other sports. They don't just have athletes from these countries. They also invest their actual money into the sport as well. All I'm saying is that they're worth a shot, and if they don't pan out, then nobody really loses.

[@DanielSong39]

Um what do you think the USA has been doing for the last 100 years

[@trevorburbee6465]

@@DanielSong39 What are you talking about?

[@nanya524]

They can play, they can take the money. I got no problem with that. What I *DO* have a problem with, however, is when these A-holes, who take the money from brutal regimes, turn around and say America is awful. It's like "STFU, SIT DOWN, and DO *NOT* SPEAK *AGAIN*!"

[@shadowperson779]

This is the CART/IRL split of 1996 all over again.

[@johnnyroberts3761]

Top notch video, Tree. No strong bias, just straight reporting of the information regarding the professional golf spectrum.

[@jcompton3947]

Hadn't been paying attention to golf recently and this answered a ton of my questions. Good stuff.

[@JHockeyFan]

Could this kill the game like the 1996 CART/IRL split killed open wheel racing for a long time?

[@andrewwinslow9315]

I hope this ends quickly. the CART/IRL split was the most idiotic and stupid war, and guess what. Nobody won. This will be golf's fate, and they learned nothing from IndyCar. I am a huge IndyCar fan, and I have my popcorn ready for this

[@JHockeyFan]

@@andrewwinslow9315 The split meant no Greg Moore at the Indy 500, and indirectly, his death. :(

[@pauldoodnath]

@@andrewwinslow9315 except Tony George

[@dibslin2.081]

Killed? The IRL had much more exciting racing than anything IndyCar's had in the last five years.

[@JHockeyFan]

@@dibslin2.081 The problem is the IRL drivers sucked for awhile. And yes, the IndyCar’s decision to leave the big oval tracks has made the series quite boring. I don’t care that those tracks are “dangerous”, they’re quite frankly more exciting with the higher speeds and bigger wrecks

[@koneheadcokehead4981]

I can't wait till Phil Mickelson starts taking Alcoholic shots from Ric Flair, Dennis Rodman and the Kool-Aid Man and is at the club till 3 am

[@NicholasHume]

6:05 - "The PGA Tour says the defectors are motivated by money" is the shocked pikachu face meme in headline form

[@epiczray1446]

Hey tree, could we ever see you cover Forumla 1? I saw in this video you mentioned the sport and you've done videos on Nascar so It could be interesting, as a big fan of the sport Id love to see you cover it, in any shape or form honestly.

[@epicchk4319]

Oh please do a video about Haas and Rich Energy

[@johnenigma8506]

Who is here after the merger between PGA and Liv Golf?

[@TheTEN24]

This is extremely interesting. I don’t have a problem with the LIV and competition. I just can tell from the “type” of golfers that went over to the LIV aren’t all that great of people lol and gives a bad vibe. It’ll improve the PGA in the long run

[@reedermh]

Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed and Bryson DeChambeau are unanimously among three of the most disliked golfers on the Tour. The Saudis can have them. And if the Saudis "disappear" them they won't be missed.

[@AdderTude]

@@reedermh Let's see Patrick Reed try to cheat in the LIV. People expect him to do so at some point.

[@chriskay1449]

@@reedermh Well, The PGA Tour puts a drug addicted womanizer on a pedestal. PGA Tour has it;s own share of scummy players. They have no sport on the moral high ground either.

[@JarradBruessel32]

lee westwood is a relative of mine. sorry that they are tired of how the pga runs things. golfers on the pga tour are expected to pay for their travel, hotel rooms and everything but aren't guaranteed a single fucking penny. so these guys have to spends hundreds if not thousands, only to be told they did it all for nothing. fuck that. if you invite them to join the tour the least you can do is offer a minimum salary.

[@mr_snrub]

Of course a woke person would cry foul yet ignore it when players funnel money from China slavery. Hypocrite

[@billymcgee5779]

Glorious day!!! Tree posts another golf video

[@nicksojka7457]

LIV Golf is to the PGA Tour as the WHA was to the NHL in the 70s.

[@maxwellweiss9849]

Hopefully it doesn’t make golf have the same fate that Indycar suffered under the CART vs IRL split

[@Rhapbus1]

How salty is it to ban everyone who went to liv lmao

[@UrinatingTree]

It's a panic move, imo.

[@moonjelly5]

Great video. It took me a bit to recognize the music, but then I realized it was So nice 2's Oil Ocean. Great touch

[@zackspiker_]

Oil Ocean Zone is likely my favorite genesis song. Great pick, especially do to the relevance.

[@CYMotorsport]

Ahhhh, I see diversifying sports washing into golf has begun. Took long enough. Welcome to the party!

[@jarradchapman4271]

"FIA, what motivated you to hold three races in Arabic countries with dodgy human rights records and criminalization of the GSM community?" "MONEY!"

[@DanielSong39]

You haven't noticed the sports washing the PGA Tour has been doing for the last 53 years?

[@koneheadcokehead4981]

I feel like Phil watch Wall Street for the first time recently and decided he wanted to live the same life as Gordon Gekko but in golf

[@shanekeenaNYC]

Well, I think there's been this growing contingent of players that want to be know as *that* bitch. The one who commands all the *power* and has all the *money*

[@hecksters423]

3:37 Don't forget about the part where a rocket struck roughly 6 klicks away from the circuit.

[@Johnbond27]

BONUS POINTS for using the paper mario origami king desert town theme

[@koneheadcokehead4981]

Did no one learn last year when the European Super League had the same problem with a split?

[@arcangeloiurato]

As a lifelong watcher of the PGA Tour and its majors, I am not disappointed with the new LIV Tour. I'm actually going to see an event at Trump National in Bedminster, NJ, at the end of July. I was actually supposed to be there a month ago for the PGA Championship, but the PGA of America decided to take it away and move it to Tulsa, Oklahoma, following the January 6th riots. People can complain about Saudi money, but the NBA is heavily reliant on Chinese money. Yet ABC, TNT, ESPN, and all those major sport networks have no problem showcasing the league. The truth in sports as in life is that everything is better with competition. I will not turn on the PGA but I'm taking advantage as a golf fan and I am watching everything!

[@weregretohio7728]

Wow that's a great combination of words for not supporting them.

[@CiabanItReal]

The NBA has a game schedule in I the UAE, which doesn't have much better human rights history than Saudi.

[@Brinkaskfavor]

The problem is that you watching it is you acting as propaganda for the saudis. By watching it you are indirectly supporting the human rights abuse.

[@mannygonzalez4178]

@@Brinkaskfavor lmao. And you think that US is just an angel huh. The US has killed so many people overseas

[@jameswg13]

It's such an interesting war as well. Because it's more than just the money and sportswashing. Some players joining out of the need for reform in the PGA and how golf is run. Others because they are adapting the game in such a way it draws people in.

[@ryanfraley7113]

Another video that would be very similar would be if you did a video on the CART-IRL split.

[@koneheadcokehead4981]

It's amazing how much money can change you into a totally different person

[@ordinaryk]

@Cory Armstrong Especially when the PGA Tour is such a crapshoot; if you have a bad Thursday and Friday, you miss the cut and don't make a dime for your time, and even if you do make it to Sunday, the paycheck is peanuts compared to what LIV offers as an appearance fee.

[@Gh0stBustaz11]

@@ordinaryk They are literally accepting blood money.

[@biggielittle1384]

@Cory Armstrong But Phil Mickelson ain’t poor, so I have no sympathy for him. Many of these golfers already make more $ than most of us will ever see, yet they still sell their souls to the Saudis. He may claim it’s for “the growth of the game” but when he’s being offered 9 figures just to play, we know it’s about greed. He is a horrible person. If the Saudis offered me that money tomorrow, I would say no, and I have a lot less cash than Mickelson.

[@jaysekhon8014]

Well money definitely changed the PGA if Phil Mickelson is willing to show them the finger to make them change their ways.

[@smartwater598]

No be honest you just want them to change want to believe they’re bad demonize them who have more money than you to cope with your jealousy. Just because someone has 500mil doesn’t make them any morally bad person than you

[@koneheadcokehead4981]

Phil Mickelson: Am I a Joke To You?

[@dominicalfieri2279]

Nice usage of Mario Golf music tree. Very fitting.

[@blueninion]

love that you included oil ocean zone music from sonic 2 Fits so well lol.

[@koneheadcokehead4981]

Maybe Phil just got pissed offed by all the whispering and said to hell with it and packed his bags

[@jalmanza08]

Finally some golf content

[@superz3579]

Paper Mario music? Dude very cool!

[@BrendanCole7777]

Kudos to putting "Oil Ocean" from Sonic 2 in the background 🤣

[@majorpaul2009]

It is worth mentioning that with WWE, they reportedly fought tooth and nail to have women's matches. Yes the outfits were in accordance with their laws, but that's certainly more of a compromise considering that Saudi could have easily said no. The first event having Renee Paquette on commentary was a day of decision. Think about that. WWE, while a murky relationship, has helped turn some heads.

[@chriskay1449]

It should be noted that the most recent show had an update to what the women wear as they no longer wear the T-shirts/sweats and wore catsuit versions of their usual gear. Ronda Rousey was able to use the restrictions to her advantage by wearing the same judo gi that she wore when she became the first American in Olympic history to win a medal in Judo at the Bejing game of 2008..

[@majorpaul2009]

@@chriskay1449 this is also true. But you know...gotta keep with the narrative.

[@chriskay1449]

@@majorpaul2009 He just used outdated footage. I wouldn't say he is keeping with the narrative.

[@koneheadcokehead4981]

Yes because even though Phil Mickelson has made probably several million dollars and has become one of the biggest know Golf stars globally, Phil don't care.

[@ChairmanMo]

Got to pay off those gambling debts somehow!

[@pantlesJon]

Using the music from NeoGeo Turf Masters is so fitting. Hats off to you sir. A gentleman of fine tastes

[@calvin2535]

Finally got a golf vid outa the tree 🔥🥶

[@BrandonA1]

The last time there was a split of this magnitude was CART and IRL in American Open Wheel. That split tanked the reputation of the sport for over 2 decades and only recently has Indycar been getting ratings even comparable to the likes of Nascar and F1. For the PGA vs. LIV, we all know that LIV is the true dance with the devil, but admittedly it's very hard to resist that money if you're an elite golfer. Like with Indycar, perhaps it could lead to good reform to the sport of golf with competition but for now it will kill the sport

[@DanielSong39]

Well I think there are multiple devils though If it comes down to dancing with one devil or the other you might as well go with the one that pays you more LOL

[@iam9991000]

Turns out the PGA tour has a price.

[@a17yearoldonyoutubeluigi]

I impressed you were able to talk about Saudi Arabia in a great logical way that didn’t make you seem bigoted. Much respect for this incredible vid.

[@RandysRacingPlace633]

Neo Turf Masters music in the BG at the beginning, nice! 😊😊😊

[@ctkatz]

in auto racing terms, this is CART VS the irl.

[@koneheadcokehead4981]

I can't wait till in a year or so when Phil Mickelson gets bored and says something wrong about Russia and then joins that league in Russia

[@ColossusBall]

Appreciate the Oil Ocean theme there.

[@CharmCityGamer]

A golf video? On this channel?! DAMN!