Why Saudi Arabia Is Spending Billions To Fund A Hostile Takeover Of Professional Golf

The kingdom of Saudi Arabia reigns over a giant desert, sitting on top of big pools of oil.
So why, then, is it attempting a hostile takeover of one of the world’s oldest sports - a game played on lush, irrigated expanses of turf, strategically placed water hazards and water-hungry putting greens?
Some of pro golf’s biggest names have been attracted by the deep pockets of the LIV Golf tour, which is backed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund.
This fight - between the PGA and LIV - is very much about money. Billions and billions of dollars.
It’s also about the future of Saudi Arabia, a rapidly changing country trying to position itself for a world that doesn’t run on oil, and its leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is seeking to burnish an image tarred by the gruesome murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Watch the video above to learn more about the escalating conflict between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.
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Why Saudi Arabia Is Spending Billions To Fund A Hostile Takeover Of Professional Golf

[@cmac392]

CNBC isn't exactly unbiased here with NBC having broadcasting rights with the PGA

[@jeffa391]

They definitely should have disclosed that if real

[@bl6369]

Great point.

[@mattyboyace1]

If only real journalism was allowed to take place in the mainstream.

[@zosukumakunene8761]

Great point C Mac, But to their credit the news report was relatively balanced if you consider that reality.

[@warrenb2856]

CNBC is conflicted in every story they cover. They back the stories their advertisement revenue supports. Not saying they are the only ones.

[@Mogul_inthemaking]

Funny that a competitive sport is not allowed to be in competition with other companies 😂

[@sfv6]

One word: Greed

[@robertcoyte3243]

PGA tour had a monopoly and got sloppy and full of hubris now they are caught short. The PGA should have a full blown secondary with appropriate funded tour where the players can survivor long enough to have a real shot at making the main tour.

[@pauljcross2289]

The PGA tour corruption can be clearly seen by the actions of the corrupt OWGR board...

[@jonahsekakoni]

And the answer to that is an exclusive annual 48 player field taking part in 8 tournaments as the alternative tour to aspire to.... What are you talking about?

[@robertcoyte3243]

@@jonahsekakoni if you dont know I can't help you

[@PanteraRossa]

The idea that US money = clean, Saudi money= dirty is a very American way of viewing world politics! Much of the world outside the US does not view Saudi record on human rights and environmental justice or military interventionism as that different from the USA. Only Americans think they are on the high horse in a position to judge but for much of the world know they both got their skeletons.

[@immi8419]

Hmm u have a point, but saudi is pretty bad dude. They the worst.

[@oiaw]

US money is not clean. It is cleaner then Saudi, but not clean.

[@jeffbelcher5684]

@@immi8419 I would have to say China is by far the worst, and who do you think takes their money

[@immi8419]

@@jeffbelcher5684 Hmm not sure, i lived in China for 17 years. China does a lot of good too, and the country thrives.. cant be said of Saudi they just export their wahabism everywhere and turn countries backward

[@boomboominroom]

@@immi8419 America is not any better. We just clean up our mess better 😂

[@theliftexpert]

For the non golfers who wonder what Liv stands for, it is Roman numerals for the number 54 , which is thought to be the best possible score achievable in golf . Which hasn’t been achieved by anyone to date , but it is thought to be possible to birdie every hole on a par 72 . Cheers 🍻

[@lg7014]

LIV Tournaments are 54 holes vs 72 PGA holes.

[@jamesnoonan9302]

People have shot 54 and better. I'm not sure if on the PGA tour if it's happened, but there has been some in the 50s for sure. So I don't think it's thought to be the best score possible. Also how good a score is depends a great deal on how challenging the course is. If you have a bunch of drivable par 4s, which is actually what a great deal of golf courses would be like for certain pros's, and easy pin positions and short rough, then most pro's could potentially aim at a birdy or better on any given hole. If I think back to some of golf courses I played as a kid, and imagine Tiger Woods in his prime, the par 5's would all be holes Tiger would be trying to eagle, and you'd be looking at 4 or so par 4's that he may try to drive, and with the wide fairways and pretty easy pin positions... You're saying this 54 thing as if it's some ancient mysterious number, and it sounds like you invented this theory yourself.

[@theliftexpert]

@@jamesnoonan9302 your hypothesis is interesting but nobody has ever shot 54 anywhere in the world in an amateur or professional event. This number is thought to be achievable, but has never been accomplished anywhere in the world under any circumstances. 55 is documented in the Guinness book of world records 3 different times, but these are commonly discounted due to the length of the course or the nature of the round. Cheers 🍻

[@jamesnoonan9302]

@@theliftexpert I know there was a 55 on a par 71 PGA tour round. If someone can do that in competition in a course which is made way more difficult than many courses are kept for their members, I have a hard time imagining this, but I guess pro's aren't likely to practice in conditions that would not prepare them for their job as professions. Either way, it's not considered the best possible score. If there was some sort of financial reward for shooting 54 on any par 72 course, I'm sure a pro golfer could get it done.

[@theliftexpert]

@@jamesnoonan9302 bro 😎, nobody has shot 55 on a pga tour round…lol…

[@missema8062]

They aim to diversify their economy, so they need to look for different sectors to invest and cooperate. It is a smart business step.

[@yalz302]

It's the worst investment you can imagine. Expenditure is way higher than the current and future revenue by a long shot.

[@hatemrizk535]

@@yalz302 how do you quantify that?

[@yalz302]

@@hatemrizk535 200 million signing bonus for a single player?! They offered tiger wood significantly more... I am Saudi, and I am mad at these crazy spendings. I wish it was the only dumb investment they make. But unfortunately neom exists.

[@alialshehri6977]

They have previously states that their not looking for profits until 2030s, so they're taking it easy and waiting for the long game@@yalz302

[@namhuy1216]

Over paying for players on a game thats on the decline. Dont see how thats smart business.

[@ALHELAL-eu2ue]

I don't understand how is it hostile ?

[@hamodi20091]

a democratic channel, what do you expect

[@Palestine4Ever169]

Western racism

[@anonymoususer4376]

in the end, it's a positive to the golfers and fans. the PGA members got a HUGE boost in benefits and even salary because the PGA Tour now had to compete. And golfers and fans have a choice on who to watch and where to play. Sounds like a win/win to me.

[@jayt4465]

How is if positive for fans? It's destroying pro golf. Any American player that goes to LIV is a traitor to the US. They couldn't be a bigger sellout.

[@anonymoususer4376]

@@jayt4465 Fans can choose which product to watch. Having choice is good. Traitor? Hardly. Golfers are independent contractors and play on every tour in the world (and there are many). If you want to talk traitor, the US government does business with Saudi. So does the PGA Tour sponsors who pay endorsement money to it's top players. If you think it's traitorous to deal with Saudi, then it was already happening long ago.

[@jayt4465]

@@anonymoususer4376 It waters down the competition if half are in one league and half are in the other league. A victory in either league is tainted because of the split. A comparison to the US Government is ridiculous. Governments deal with other countries, especially a major country like Saudi Arabia, with all their oil (or are you one of those climate change alarmists who wants to ban oil).

[@anonymoususer4376]

@@jayt4465 There are already at least a dozen golf tours so the talent is already saturated, but I get your point. I'm the occasional golf fan but I'd go watch to see the different format from Liv. They do shotgun starts, have teams compete against each other each event, etc. Just more "fun" and shorter rounds than PGA. For me, competition is always good. The US doesn't do business with several countries we have embargoes with. And by your comment, you're a fan of oil. I am too. But you used the word "traitor". Why? Is the ex-NBA player playing in China a traitor? How about the former MLB player in Asia? Britney Griner playing in Russia an act of treason too? Pro volleyball player in Venezuela?

[@jimmason8502]

Except no tv station will give the Liv Tour air time, certainly not in the US. And the Liv events have been poorly attended. And then there's the politics and morals of supporting a government that opresses women and kills dissidents.

[@youtoobization]

$100M to $200M signing bonus per player?? Wow, they could just outright sign every single golfer in the world with that $600B PIF then. There would be no PGA left at all. RIP.

[@Runconna]

Some of the best players actually have integrity and wouldn't take the money.

[@rockingwithrockdog9236]

Yep and than they fail. Golf never recovers.

[@LegendNinja41]

@@Runconna ''integrity'' how are countries like the Usa or UK any better than Saudi Arabia? What happend to Kashoggi was a heinous crime but there's too much focus one this one single person/case. Guantanamo is stil up and running and other secret prison facilities aswell and what the West (my country included) did in the Middle East cost millions of lives, but those are just statistics..

[@Runconna]

@@LegendNinja41 That has nothing to do with my comment. When is said "integrity", I meant respect for the game. It would be like Rafael Nadal leaving the ATP Tour, to go play for a lot of money in China. That's not showing respect for the game.

[@ja4897]

They have tried. There have been many golfers that have refused any amount of money they have to offer. It’s been reported tiger turned down an offer of $1b

[@alhambra792]

LIV should emulate what Liberty media has done to F1. Utilize digital platform and make the sport more interactive to fans. Hire media teams to vlog the notable players. Do a netflix series. Pick a fan to play in the pro am with the pros. Just create something new and fun for the fans. Get out from the traditional way of PGA style of broadcasting the tour to the fans.

[@calmambience_]

👌👌👌👌👌

[@arielquelme]

Netflix dying now

[@anonymoususer4376]

it's not a hostile takeover. looks like healthy competition. gives golfers and fans choice.

[@Kenny-yl9pc]

No you dont understand its now spilt that means one half of the best plays here the other their. Fans dont get the best at one place and time in a competition thats over now.

[@anonymoususer4376]

@@Kenny-yl9pc I'm just a casual golf fan so I have no idea how others watch golf. I have certain players I follow and don't really care about anyone else. Same with other sports. Very few watch all MLB/NBA/NFL/NHL games but I have my team and that's all I care about no matter who they're playing. So from my perspective, I'm not watching how competitive the entire field is nor do I care. And I'm willing to bet most fans, other than maybe name, know anything about more than 20 golfers. How many tournaments they won, world ranking, money list, etc. And with two tours, fans from two different cities get to enjoy live golf during the same week.

[@Anthony-db7cs]

"Healthy competition" from a brutal regime.

[@anonymoususer4376]

@@Anthony-db7cs Really like your moral outrage over a golf league when we do business and support countries with issues all the time. Probably the world thinks we're a brutal regime as well after the "Summer of love". lol

[@Anthony-db7cs]

@@anonymoususer4376 We usually don't allow government backed "business" to take over or compete with our industries from autocratic countries. You're insufferable.

[@benfarrow9498]

Liv is an ironic name for the Khashoggi bone saw cover up tour 🤔

[@AndriasTravels]

Mickelson might get the same treatment. All those guys better watch their back.

[@CamMacMastermusic]

The PGA really dropped the ball on this one. What a blown opportunity for a massive collaboration. More stars made, more events played, more money …. More of everything. Instead they come off just as they’ve always been accused of looking … like a bunch of old rich stuffy guys.

[@spencedog]

Saudi Arabia culture holds back anything they’re going to do.

[@csnide6702]

@@spencedog Do you drive a car that runs on gasoline...? Then YOU support Saudis as well..... You can't pick and choose your "outrage"..... Plus if you are a pro golfer - wouldn't you want to play against the best..? For the most money possible..? that is what LIV - not the PGA offers.

[@spencedog]

@@csnide6702Support the Saudis for owning a gasoline car? Smh.. Okay, I’m glad you said that. It gives me a chance educate someone. The US became “energy independent” for the first time under Donald J Trump. We lost independence under Biden, but we still produce the majority of our own oil. Only a tiny percentage comes from sh!t hole 🕳 Saudi Arabia.

[@arnoldmbuthia2687]

@@csnide6702 not necessarily Not every country uses Saudi oil

[@johnsnow145]

@@csnide6702go jump in a lake. It’s a not a sand sport pal

[@MSNYdude]

NBC is sooo salty about LIV it’s hilarious. “Hostile” had me rolling 😂

[@shemadj7501]

U guys dont want saudi golf money but want saudi oil. Who’s the hypocrites

[@Splenda2021]

Ooohhh that’s good

[@drmodestoesq]

Golf is a nice long walk ruined by a little white ball. Mark Twain

[@daca3312]

Here is the resolution. The PGA tour will now play 3 rounds, and there is now a cut on liv for world rank. Any player can play either tour, sponsors can pay them appearance fees, instead of the pip. Grow the game globally with all the tours 52 weeks a year. I just saved 100 million dollars in legal fees.

[@dmkfactor1721]

😂😂😂😂

[@weird-guy]

i dont understand whats the problem,they got money want to spend it,personally a better bet would be football. You guys dont want saudi money but want saudi oil?

[@anonymoushuman8962]

It’s called competition in a free market. It’s healthy and normal.

[@reignmkr64]

It is NOT a free market if you're competing against a government owned entity. Everyone's a patriot until you wave money in their faces. Greed trumps character, morals and decency.

[@Mr482183]

Blood money from a country that does not value human rites.

[@waleed8530]

@@Mr482183 America has the highest number of falsely jailed inmates and it treats black people wrongfully.

[@thewaddler729]

Andy Johnson nailing it Shotgun Start style.

[@caroleboots7591]

This is tough to watch !

[@polarbear4612]

LIV is NOT a business in competition with the PGA. It’s a nation that has decided to polish its horrible reputation by buying golfers as showpieces. I don’t buy the argument that the players are justified just because it was allot of money. The amount of money doesn’t magically make it right for foreigners to be paid props for the Saudi government.

[@emmanuelharbor2350]

Interesting development!

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[@markanderson2852]

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[@jaydibernardo4320]

I think the lawsuit goes in favor of the players now banned. I wonder how bad the PGA is in order for these golfers to say bye bye? Or is it strictly a $$$ thing...or is it a combination of both? I don't follow golf so I have no idea.

[@word42069]

it’s money. only money.

[@tyweaver145]

Only money. The PGA provided for them greatly.

[@tyweaver145]

I’d also disagree with you on the lawsuit. PGA Tour has it in the bag. None of the PGA tours actions seems anti trust to me. I’m not a lawyer, but banning people for acting against your business seems like common practice to me. Heck they allowed LIV to be formed in the first place. If they had done more to not allow it, that would seem more like anti competitive behavior. LIV players are even dropping out of the suit like flies. Something tells me the PGA has something up their sleeve in the contracts and such, and that the LIV players are detecting that their case is nonsense.

[@2011blueman]

It's strictly a money thing, Saudi Arabia is simply paying them outrageous amounts of money to ignore the fact they're playing for vile people. They basically sided with the 9/11 terrorists.

[@Marchusv]

@@tyweaver145 If all of the majors are run by separate entities, but they don't allow for anyone competing outside of PGA Tour to participate in the majors that by itself is anti-competitive. That kind of collusion probably falls under group boycotts and is explicitly illegal. Ian Poulter just won a lawsuit on the same issue this year to get into the Scottish Open, so don't think it's looking great for PGA.

[@MrMountain707]

Do they put around the beheadings or is that on a different street?

[@bigdaddyslick4961]

this is the second Golf War

[@okoeppen3428]

Saudi Aramco is the single biggest sponsor to the LPGA.. Discussion ? Lol I didn't think so..

[@loreoyedele4468]

ATP tour tournament is definitely next…

[@Rexxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

“Hostile Take Over” 😂 Get over yourselves.

[@jasonyau326]

PGA has a Oligopoly. KSA under MBS may target professional tennis next. Aramco already is a major sponsor of F1, what's to say they wont buy F1 from Liberty Media? What would really sting for the establishment would be losing major sponsors like Rolex. KSA via their Sovereign Fund could always resurrect the notion of the SUPER LEAGUE for Soccer simply buying up all the best teams in the world and forming it themselves. Scary but not completely out of the question

[@grant1430]

Yeah until america pulls their military and iran obliterates them.

[@davidjohnson2001]

Better to invest $$$ in Alternative Energy....

[@sshukla7975]

Saudi had been "SPORTSWASHING", FOR YEARS and just now when golf is threatened by Saudi's takeover OHHHH WE SHOULD DO A STORY. While when SAUDI took over major Rugby games even to the level of college teams, and even in UK soccer. Major acquisition happened 11 month ago. All over the world, they have sports interference. They have been doing it on purpose and even CRICKET. They have been successful at those. But it astonishes me how much USA is self absorbed until they detect threat they never pay attention. Now their own are going on Saudi turf then you see a problem. How I know about Saudi interference in sports all over the world, because it has-been decades. Even after 9-11, they did it for their international grip all over the world. India is struggling because of their interference and illegal smuggling by their official and endorsed players. Many times. Sports fans and clubs have long resisted in Australia, they change their jersey reflect their own signia and guess what no one batted an eye. It won't be long they would own almost all the sports. Gladly golf is under attack so now USA would pay attention. POOR VERY POOR RESEARCH BY CNBC! reflect all the pictures bot just one aspect.

[@WillR-Cincy]

Great thorough summary. You taught me a few things that I never knew!

[@sshukla7975]

@@WillR-Cincy I appreciate it you liked it. The term coined for it is "SPORTSWASHING" to clean it's image. They are trying to hide it's human right violation and terrorist support activities through sports and influencing world politics. The ripple effect is such that an law or code enforcement was approved in UN for islamophobia under which trial can happen in countries who approved it. So they are propagating their "clean image", while human are still traded in Saudi on apps. (it's true). They are getting all the big guns of all sports to influence major countries for bilateral support so people won't see their aggression on minorities or human right violation and slowly propagating agenda. And 11 months ago they just acquired biggest clubs and most college soccer leagues.

[@sshukla7975]

@@JT_771 sure it's the same US who thinks that 4 teams from 51 states constitute the whole world hence the "world cup". There is more to the world and this selective ideology just isolates the country. This Ukrainian war has proved it that your president didn't had the capacity to even evacuate it's own nationals let alone help other. While India "operation ganga", made sure that cease fire happened from both sides and multiple nationalities were evacuated. That's why kiddooo you need to get your head off clouds and look at world at one global village. Isn't it true. It astonishes me whole world covers everyone's news while USA has soooo huge weather updates and everyone hides their head like ostrich in sand afterward. I betcha you can't name any MP, MLA or legislative person from your assembly. Half knowledge is more dangerous than any weapon. Here an Indian, knowing political issues of UK, AUSTRALIA, SAUDI AND USA. what can you enlighten me with mate? Conversation with you must be boring!

[@yesno7889]

@@JT_771 it’s because it’s the same rationale why Ukraine “war” got so much attention but all the other “wars” were not recognised.

[@Palestine4Ever169]

@@JT_771 Same hypocricy of ukraine aid but no talking about warmongering colonizing western countrias in arabs and muslims countrias??

[@gbb82]

I lived in Saudi Arabia for a year, loved it. Say what you want about them, but they love to build and develop.

[@osomartinez]

Evil is as evil does. Leadership is a cabal of murders.

[@kevinbergin9971]

@Stadler Huyna Punitively punitive, you might ... and probably will say.

[@isitrachelorj3953]

Did you see any Saudis actually doing the building/labor? No, you didn't, because they have recruited the cheapest, most desperate and defenseless (hence vulnerable) people from asia and africa as "practically" slave labor. Many reports have covered this practice and none are flattering. Careful who's praises you sing!

[@mikejones-go8vz]

@@isitrachelorj3953 I would hope these countries with obscene amounts of money would advance technology not build real estate for the already mega rich 🤔 these ones are lucky the rest of the world is feeding them

[@AndriasTravels]

Me too, and its one disgusting men's club.

[@railroado1238]

They are making golf like boxing. 50 different belts 😂

[@dustylover100]

How about making changes for all on the PGA Tour.

[@shamsuddinkassim441]

The question of why the Saudis are into professional golf remains largely unanswered.

[@mack-uv6gn]

It’s just golf! Who cares?

[@againstthegraingolf301]

Golf is life

[@mack-uv6gn]

@@againstthegraingolf301 water is

[@againstthegraingolf301]

@@mack-uv6gn obviously.. or maybe it this obvious to some🤔 Thank you! Yes water and golf are life🙃

[@mack-uv6gn]

@@againstthegraingolf301 I can do without golf but not water.

[@againstthegraingolf301]

@@mack-uv6gn good on ya… golf is my livelihood, so yeah. Nice chat lol

[@wmp3346]

Totally Backfired -

[@oscarruvalcaba5568]

Because it realizes how bad the old guard has squandered and exploited it's workforce & notices how they can do much better and improve! It's free market basics: survival of the fittest!!!

[@Jonteponte71]

The NBA has a 50-50 revenue split between players and league. This now means that contracts basically mean nothing. Once the stars get their generational wealth money they can just (not even one year into a 4 year contract) demand to be traded if they don't like it. And the team is left with basically nothing. The players basically have all the power and the sport is worse for it.

[@ram0666]

@@j189512 Why the assumption that they didnt have money? Pga tour spent 1 billion dollars last year to run the tour and promote players.

[@onlinegladiator5888]

Public media can make investing in a golf company sound like the end of the world when it's done by a certain country.

[@eustatic3832]

Golf? Full of Rich jerks? No way!

[@mikram2613]

Maybe they can pay for some spectators

[@allenmollitor9188]

Hostile takeover or new opportunity for gifted golfers. The point is worldwide competition and more countries, more days off, and better playing conditions. LIV has shown the PGA for what they are.

[@ram0666]

Liv is nothing more than socialist golf.

[@KamiInValhalla]

Competition is good. Prevents people from sitting on their hands.

[@jonhennemann4729]

PGA just does not let tour players cash in on the new media market. For example, the highest paid femail golfer is not even on the LPGA tour

[@ram0666]

Pga tour has zero to do with Lpga tour . 2 different organizations. The PGA is diffrent than both tours and has nothing to do with the media market.

[@jonhennemann4729]

@@ram0666 They own the media market for their turniments. For example Jack Nicjolas does not own the rights to show a replay of a PGA win. Just like the Masters owns his 1986 win... He cannot show his win on a website without their permission.

[@dallonperry3639]

As a fan of the UFC I know that monopoly lawsuit ain't going far haha

[@patriotscientific]

it seems to me this is good for the major tournaments, even more exclusive fields

[@sidtheduke]

Golf is an extremely hard sport and professionals worldwide need to earn besides trying their impossible luck with PGA

[@dmack7328]

It's a big complicated world today. Those guys should be able to do what the hell they want.

[@elizabetheckel]

Everyone has a different definition of entertainment.

[@soisaidtogod4248]

Look at the other side of things, why should the PGA have exclusive access?

[@Eddieadnan100]

As a saudi person saudi arabia had never been interested ing golf i have no idea why they keep hosting this sport, All my life I have never met a saudi that likes golfing.

[@truthteller2822]

You sell them weapons you buy their oil and you dont want their money??🤣🤣

[@MrMountainMan]

Re: CART and IndyCar circa 1996

[@missema8062]

It is a chance to promote for their country and name besides the rewarding investments.

[@outofbounds276]

Rhein Gibson shot 55 on a par 71 course (16 under).

[@martinalbert29]

PGA tour being so intent on putting down LIV golf means they are insecure. They had the monopoly in golf. New competition is basically like opening a new amusement park and going head to head with Disney World …why be threatened unless you know you are doing something wrong which could lead to long term decline .

[@andrewkleinhans4235]

They’re threatened because the competing league has an unlimited bankroll. You really think they’re just supposed to lay down and die when their existence is being threatened? I’ve never understood this line of thinking on the issue. Of course the PGA Tour reacted. That in no way means they did anything wrong.

[@Spirit451]

I don't understand golf, their governing committee, rankings and tours. Banning players, preventing them to compete in other tours. All sounds weird and silly to me.

[@lkronquist]

Do you understand a powerful leader sending a team of hired killers to lure a journalist into an embassy, getting him in a closed room and chopping up his body, putting the pieces in suitcases and quietly exiting the embassy? That's the Saudi way.

[@ram0666]

The pga tour has spent its resources for the last 100 years to promote its tour and the players to get it in the place it is in now. Not 1 of the players would be anybody without it and its tradition. So of course they are made that the Saudi government just bought the players that all got famous from the PGA tours sweat from those 100 years. Pga tour gave these players a place to compete and become famous and now they left them for the cash.

[@prestonbacchus4204]

The fans are rejecting LIV. That is why the numbers are so low.

[@finsflexin]

First they’re going after golfing, next thing they’re going to be going after the gulf. It’s a slippery slope.

[@finsflexin]

@ᴄɴʙᴄ How often do I need to sing Happy Birthday to myself to survive Space Junk Cyberpunk?

[@tongo148]

The greed of these golfers to sell out is beyond shameful.

[@johnbee7729]

Such a weird thing where millionaires are demanding even more millions and then wanting to go back and play with the regular folk. This has happened many times in almost all new sports and the upstart has usually failed after a few years. Maybe the Saudi petro dollars will make this upstart succeed Maybe not. All depends on the public and TV.

[@adrianalley700]

Lol PGA - Regular folk. I think not.

[@richhoops2413]

Yeah. They need a TV deal bad. You're average Joe still likes to be able to easily watch it on TV. Whether it's cable or a major network.

[@alberttate8198]

The top guys who left the PGA Tour were making a good amount of money. players 75-125 on the money list are the ones struggling to stay on tour. The PGA tour is about money, hence why there is a money list and 25 people lose their tour card because they do not make enough money aka they do not win enough. I bet the guys who joined LIV thought they could take the signing bonus money and still make money on the PGA tour 😬

[@alberttate8198]

@Bamboo Shoot And Golf is all about money, in general. PGA Tour had too many steps in order to make changes while LIV was able to implement certain concepts that the Tour rejected years ago. in the end, the rich are getting richer. LIV should open up a thursday qualifier for amateurs: top 8 people make up two teams. those two teams are guaranteed $2m each... Now that's changing the game!

[@alberttate8198]

@Bamboo Shoot I know the top amateurs. I am thinking more of “weekend golfers” and mini-tour guys. Get guys who are shooting +4 to +15 with that kind of money on the line… I’ll watch that every weekend. Shoot, I may join the qualifier myself 😂

[@gregorypeterson9]

Wait until the take on the LPGA.

[@tkhannibal2476]

There's enough talent to go around

[@rorisxng]

I imagine LIV emulating F1.

[@user-kj8yl6sn2z]

Stupid game I don't know why wasting time in golf and why Saudi Arabia invests in a dead game that only a few people play

[@MrDMIDOV]

Golf was the sport to play like 2-5 decades ago.

[@dyckbutt]

And today, PGA Tour bent the knee to LIV Golf.

[@poppystars9005]

They should compete against each other. Liv players should get points to keep the Majors relevant. Couple 48 man grudge matches throughout the year to settle things up. Could be fun.

[@ethans6.0]

liv sucks and the players are traitors

[@TobiasStarling]

I never knew golf was worth so much!

[@gustaaf1892]

It isn't. LIV is not a financially viable product and is losing money hand over fist.

[@Boc3phu5]

The System is like boxing. No matter the league, if you are a champion you should be able to join wherever.

[@rubenscott7776]

When it comes to investment, diversification is key. That is why I have my interests set on key sectors based on performance and projected growth. They range from the EV sector, renewable energy, Tech and Health.

[@andrewgary2496]

They know the potential and positivity of bitcoin and so do we. I plan on hodling more Bitcoin fractions will never be enough. Mrs Ella strategy has been really helpful to me with her tips and predictions about bitcoin.

[@joaofelix7387]

@Jeff micheal You have to get a financial-advisor/broker to aid you diversify your portfolios to include commodities, inflation-indexed bonds and stocks of companies with solid cash flows, as opposed to growth stocks where valuations were based on future potential earnings,

[@tonniaemma8519]

@@andrewgary2496 that's impressive!, I could really use the expertise of this advisors, my portfolio has been down bad....who's the person guiding you.

[@andrewgary2496]

@@tonniaemma8519 *The truth is more important than the facts.* I engage in various prolific Investments by compound interest & leveraging and as well operating with an Investment Professional Mrs Ella, So far I've attained returns over 260K $.

[@johnmichael8065]

@@andrewgary2496 Access to good information is what we investors needs to progress financially and generally in life. this is a good one and I appreciate..

[@bandarsalh1338]

I stopped watching when you said hostile takeover

[@johnlewis6412]

I heard the commissioner of the PGA say that the PGA welcomes competition. That's easy to say when you don't have any real competition and there is unlikely to be any competition. Well, now they have competition and the PGA is in panic mode and the PGA will certainly lose many of their top players. The PGA has always been a monopoly and my best guess is that the PGA will lose the lawsuit.

[@gustaaf1892]

How many golf tours are there around the world? How is that no competition? LIV events are invitational only and highly restricted to just 48 starters. It is also not financially viable the way it is set up.

[@mrzoinky5999]

In general rich people play golf (I know that is a big generalization .... hell i've played golf at least 6 times :) But if you can control where the "rich" play then you may have influence you can pedal.

[@ih128]

They are,because anything with a price tag can be bought.

[@buttdreads]

great until the 7:16 mark then had to turn it off

[@ceasarmartinez8447]

Competition is good!

[@dmkfactor1721]

They’re board!

[@stefanjohansson2373]

It’s all about money, not golf. Nobody says no to 100+ million dollars! Their moral and thoughts about Saudi politics and murders automagically disappear when the ca$h is transferred. I would do the same, but there’s a small problem… I play chess, not golf! 😂

[@Winkmyster]

What they've done is far from hostile, it's actually healthy for the economy of golf as a sport! Golf has been so dry for so long, and LIV has forced the PGA (Only tv golf channel in America) and DP World Tour (Only tv golf channel in Europe) on their knees to have to change for the better, now you see DP World tour and PGA trying to mimic LIV's style to stay alive.

[@ram0666]

They definitely arent trying to mimic their style. Shotgun starts and no cuts are just a gimmick and very lame . They need all the music and sideshows because their product is lousy and will never hold up product wise. It is socialist golf at its core. The idea that it has the PGA tour on its knees is very naive and just not true.

[@WalkinBeauty278]

Money not enough...all people want more...at all levels

[@firoze4308]

No one would go into the bankruptcy.

[@ANtA585]

Why is competition when big money jumps in called hostile. It's competition and the PGA needs to compete

[@jbevolve2023]

Its called 'reputation laundering'.

[@unamiko6365]

PGA should avoid politicizing sports and keep sports the way it is peaceful, exciting, and its main goal is to bring people together, not divide them.

[@janiekcarney5482]

Competition is good but selling out to another country is a mistake.

[@iheartmykittieslots]

I smell jealousy

[@ingislakur]

Cmon Tiger,,,,,join LIV !

[@waltvancourt5052]

Cheetah is finished

[@zippyspring]

". . . an aging fan favorite."

[@randomsh-t917]

It's hard to feel bad for a bunch of rich white guys in their country club.

[@tooyoota66]

This is how business is done . Free market competition 👌

[@colobongjj]

Media and everyone owes Phil Mickelson an apology. He called out the treatment of the players by the pga and how the pga have kept the price money as low as possible. Now the pga is scrambling to fix the issues they got called out for

[@gustaaf1892]

@@j189512 All golfers are able to qualify to play on the US PGA tour, unlike the LIV invitational events that are restricted to just 48 starters who work for the Saudi government. Huge difference right there.

[@zapfanzapfan]

Golf itself got stuck in a sand trap...

[@wilf7042]

I'm surprised they haven't tried to monetize public stonings as they enjoy doing them so much.

[@prabinkumar6484]

Hmm.. im surprised they hv tried to monetize mass shooting as they enjoy doing so much

[@eddiestorey9633]

They didn’t take over pro golf, they started a shoulder tour to get guys ready for the senior tour 😂. 54 holes 😂

[@bobfeller604]

Playing on the PGA tour is expensive and the guaranteed LIV money is a big deal.

[@smartwater598]

Liv golf showed the hypocrisy of pga and many people. Liv golf is moral nothing wrong only making the sport better and more entertainment for the fans

[@-JSLAK]

Found a member of the Saudi royal family.

[@Kenny-yl9pc]

No it certainly doesnt make it better for the fans! We are the ones paying the price! Now the competition is deminished the best players are split in half. One half plays here the other there. How is that in the interest of any fan??? I want the best competition and that means the best players are competing and not this money greed bs where the system gets fd up and the only people benefiting are the very few who get better deals aka money. But I dont get those money greedy pros who prostitute themselfs for more money even though they are already multi millionaires. I mean why whould you deminish your sports career achievement for more money??! Doesnt make sense to me! Woudlnt you want to compete with the best and have that achievement of competing and winning against the best and not more money?! But ok to each his own. If you are so blind or paid I dont know to think its better this way than to have them all at one place and time like it always was before then happy birthday you got what you want dummy!

[@mineshjogia9945]

@@Kenny-yl9pc It's great for us LIV/Golf fans. It only sucks for the ignorant, slow, hypocritical, petty, and childish PGAT sheep.

[@curtisbme]

@@-JSLAK Paid actors and bots be doin' their thing. Will be extra scary when they actually learn proper English so to be not as obvious.

[@NemoArtics]

long live LivGolf!