Ron Green Jr.’s article reads like another hit piece on LIV Golf (“LIV reaches now-or-never land," February 27 GGP).
I did watch LIV over the weekend and enjoyed it. I also watched the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic. Both were enjoyable.
The LIV format and team structure takes a little getting used to, but I found the golf to be good and entertaining.
As for the PGA Tour, I get tired of all the constant hoopla over Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler. It seems to be nonstop promotion for these guys, every tournament.
There are only a finite number of potential No. 1s on the PGA and LIV tours. Both tours have journeyman golfers making up the majority. There are just too many negative articles about LIV, and that pattern looks like an agenda to many of us golf enthusiasts.
Raymond Henschen
Spring Hill, Florida
I toggled between the PGA Tour event and LIV a few times, then stayed on the Honda Classic (“LIV reaches now-or-never land,” February 27 GGP).
Watching LIV was like children playing in a sandbox. They have fun building sand castles, digging up the sand, tossing it at each other, but in the end, there is nothing there and the sand flattens out. At least that’s how I looked at it. It also appears as if someone is trying to attract the newer generations.
LIV is like dumbing down what the PGA Tour has built over its many years. I did not care for players wearing shorts. The totem pole on the left of the screen was annoying, at best, and I could not understand some of the hieroglyphics. Even the commentators were … eh.
Ever watch the movie “Idiocracy”? It is happening now.
Andrew Jackson
Boulder City, Nevada
The LIV telecast bombed NBC. It was much more fun in all respects. The appeal to under-40s and non-golfers who are tied to social media is real (“LIV reaches now-or-never land,” February 27 GGP).
The PGA Tour’s paying Tiger Woods that Player Impact Program money doesn’t move any needles. Team aspect, franchising, merchandise has its points.
Remember in areas outside the U.S. that Formula One racing is huge, and this is where their fastest growth is.
Phil Mickelson was correct about the PGA Tour, or why would the purses and special events and tiers have changed in such a short time?
Look back in 12 months. I think you will be surprised.
Rick Zollinger
Charlotte, North Carolina
I switched over to the LIV telecast to check it out. I watched about 20 minutes and went back to the Honda Classic. The LIV felt like I was watching an exhibition (“LIV reaches now-or-never land,” February 27 GGP).
Charles Howell is a very good golfer who won only three times on the PGA Tour, yet he ran away in the LIV event.
LIV probably would do well in Phoenix with the young crowd that plays with their radios blasting in their carts.
George Watts
Amelia Island, Florida
I did not switch to the CW at all. I have had it with LIV (“LIV reaches now-or-never land,” February 27 GGP).
What I don’t get is why they think the members of LIV have to be able to play on LIV and the two tours they chose to leave. It makes no sense. It would be like a Major League Baseball player wanting to play with the Yankees and a team in the Japanese league during the season, get paid by both and choose when and where he will then play.
LIV CEO Greg Norman seemed to set the tone for confrontation from the get-go and now seems surprised that it happened. There are only a few real stars on LIV, and many are past their prime. I’m hoping the courts will stop the madness with the suing and we can get back to golf.
Those who choose LIV play there, and those who choose PGA Tour or DP World Tour play there. It appears that only LIV golfers are employees of that tour while the others are still self-employed participants who agree to the terms of participation on the tours.
Art Williams
Luzerne, Pennsylvania
The National Development Program is a good concept, but there needs to be a developmental buy-in from our college programs to make it work (“USGA launches U.S. National Development Program,” February 24 GGP+). Other countries have golf developmental programs, but most of the good players developed in other countries are recruited to play in our college programs.
This is especially true on the women's side. The 10 members of the 2022 NCAA-championship Stanford team included two players from China and one each from Belgium, Switzerland and Germany. Runner-up Oregon’s seven-person team included three players from Taiwan and one from Denmark. Mississippi won the NCAA women’s title in 2021. Its nine-person team included two players from Sweden and one each from England, Denmark and Switzerland.
Our college programs are the final step in other countries' developmental programs.
Charlie Jurgonis
Fairfax, Virginia
That an homage is to be paid to the late Arnold Palmer at Latrobe Country Club is more than fitting (“Legacy moment arrives for Arnie, Latrobe,” February 27 GGP).
I have played Latrobe many times over the years, and every guest is treated like a member. Having met Mr. Palmer and spoken with him in the grill room, I find it hard to imagine a more gracious man.
The first time I met him, my friends and I were waiting to start our round when his group came up 18, having started their round on the back nine. The club pro had come out to ask us to wait a moment for them to play through. Duh! Mr. Palmer walked over to each of us, shook our hands with that gleam in his eyes, and allowed us to introduce ourselves while he asked where we were from and if we were enjoying ourselves. My hand never felt so small. What a treat.
Hitting last, he striped one down the middle, then turned to us to say, “Have a good day.”
The “King,” indeed.
Stephen Cooney
Pottstown, Pennsylvania
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