Upon reading Ron Green’s article (“What would Arnie have thought?” March 4 GGP), it struck me that Arnold Palmer and others were acting in their own self-interest in spearheading the breakaway from the PGA of America in the late 1960s. They did it for pecuniary reasons, and Palmer’s agent, Mark McCormack, focused on making as much money as possible for himself and his clients. At that time the PGA Tour was not an all-year-round affair, and to be fair to Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Gary Player, they were truly world players, going to Australia and further afield.
All of the above changed with the growing dominance of the PGA Tour, its desire to make money for its members, its expansion to an all-year-round tour and the proliferation of stadium courses, which increased the PGA Tour’s coffers and moved the game away from the classic U.S. courses. The PGA Tour is an American tour, built for Americans who don’t want to travel beyond the 50 states. Did the PGA Tour have any regard for Cameron Smith by supporting his desire to see PGA Tour events played in Australia? Or any of the South Africans with tournaments in South Africa?
The PGA Tour in its battle with LIV is acting out of self-interest and is not trying to protect the game because, ultimately, the PGA Tour wants to protect its brand. So, can Ron Green take a moment and actually have some perspective that is not through his rose-tinted glasses and instead focus on the hypocrisy of the PGA Tour? Golf is a business, and the PGA Tour is a money-making enterprise which makes millions of dollars whilst being a tax-exempt charity. The Saudis, despite being a bunch of what Phil Mickelson called “scary [expletive],” have bankrolled the Ladies European Tour, and almost every single corporation supporting professional golf in the U.S. is in business with them. Please call out the hypocrisy and stop being such a cheerleader for a PGA Tour that has only its own self-interest at heart.
Now the PGA Tour’s steering committee with Patrick Cantlay at the head believes the $3 billion from Fenway Sports Group, et al., will see off the Saudis. Ask Jimmy Dunne what he thinks. Dunne, an incredibly wealthy individual, and an independent director on the PGA Tour Policy Board, knows that the money talks, and the $700 billion in the Saudis’ Public Investment Fund talks a lot louder than $3 billion.
There is no doubt Palmer had a bullish belief in himself, but last week’s tournament at Arnie’s place had a limited field of 69 players. The cut fell at 50 plus ties, but those few unfortunates who did not make the cut were still guaranteed money. Hardly a far cry from the limited fields and guaranteed paydays of LIV Golf.
Palmer was a traditionalist but only after he spearheaded a breakaway from the PGA of America. It could easily be argued with the benefit of hindsight in 20 years’ time that every LIV professional golfer is a traditionalist just like Arnie, each of them having a bullish belief in himself to venture out onto a new tour. However, there is one thing they all have in common. They all want to make as much money as possible.
To me it seems as if the Saudis and the PGA Tour are in fact a perfect marriage. It’s just a question of waiting for the right moment to tie the knot and deciding who is going to pay for the ceremony.
Barry Gormley
Harker Heights, Texas
At 77, I grew up around the Big Four: Arnie, Jackie, Gary, and Lee. And then came the Tiger era. I fear those days are gone (“What would Arnie have thought?” March 4 GGP).
As much as Tiger did to raise the purses to insane levels, I think the lure of the dollar has surpassed the thrill of winning. Watching Nick Dunlap and Jake Knapp win is wonderful. Yes, I’m glad Arnie is not witnessing the debacle, unless he sees from above.
As always, a great read.
Bill Bauer
Fair Play, South Carolina
In four weeks, the Masters begins. It will open with ceremonial tee shots by Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson. I won’t watch it.
Over the last 15 or so years, I have become a Gary Player non-fan. His record during his heyday was exceptional, but I think the Masters could find a past champion who is more worthy of sharing that first tee with Nicklaus and Watson. It was bad three years ago when Player’s son Wayne used the first tee as a photo-op to promote his father’s new ball-endorsement deal. Last year, Player showed up with a club manufacturer’s logo on his bag, headcovers, hat and shirt ... to hit one shot.
And most bothersome to me is that he continued to play in the Masters, even though he had very little chance of making the cut, for the only reason being to break Arnold Palmer’s record for most Masters appearances. Palmer, followed by Nicklaus and then by Tiger Woods, is responsible for the game being where it is now (LIV notwithstanding). To take that honor from Palmer is narcissistic at best.
During the last two years, Player has come out against LIV and the players who joined that tour. I wonder what he would have done if LIV appeared in his prime and made him an offer? He touts himself as a worldwide ambassador of the game, playing in golf tournaments all over the world. I wonder how many of those tournaments came without an appearance fee? Didn't he jump to Shakespeare equipment and balls in the 1960s because they paid him more money?
The more I think about it, I will watch the opening ceremony. Player might give me more to write about next year.
Charlie Jurgonis
Fairfax, Virginia
I will point out that Joaquín Niemann has won one full-field, 72-hole non-PGA Tour event over some time (“Niemann keeps rolling in Jeddah,” March 4 GGP).
I expect his lack of tournament competition conditioning will come to fruition in April at Augusta. The difference between the competitiveness of PGA Tour golf and LIV golf will be laid bare.
How can one rank exhibition golf with competitive golf fairly? Not possible.
Keith McIntyre
Statesboro, Georgia
I’m not interested in LIV Golf. Money, money, money. It is so uninteresting.
Please do not cover their money tournaments in your magazine.
Iain Davidson
Rickinghall Superior, Suffolk, England
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