In December 2022, I wrote:
“Enter LIV Golf this year: I have heard it described as the biggest ‘disrupter’ and ‘fracturing’ of professional golf in its history. Wives and families are no longer talking, fellow Ryder Cup teammates are no longer friends and the rhetoric at the top is toxic. It is not a healthy situation for the game of golf. In the end, I believe the foundations of the game of golf that are built on integrity, respect, honesty and international friendships will win out, but only time will tell”.
Now two years later there is light at the end of the tunnel. The deal is done but will probably have to wait for Mr. Trump to be in situ to ensure it passes DOJ scrutiny. Has the game of golf won out? Or has professional golf, as we have known it, been forced to the knee by the sheer financial clout of the PIF? Ultimately, it will not matter. It’s over. Common sense has prevailed in a divided family, torn between money and ‘doing the right thing’ for golf.
It has been fascinating to observe this titanic battle between two such powerful adversaries. The one thread that did shine through was that both leaders Jay Monahan and Yasir Al Rumayyan, whom I have the pleasure of knowing, love the game of golf, and in the end, ‘peace’ is the best result for professional golf going forward.
The battle has led to significant changes to the structure of the PGA Tour. Established in 1968 by Joe Dey the tour grew and thrived under the crafty leadership of the brilliant tour-pro, Deane Beman. Deane was a good friend of my father from his Walker Cup days. He used to stay at our house in Sutton when playing in the Irish Open. He was smart for a ‘tour-pro’ and alongside the Board of Directors, he built the PGA Tour into a billion-dollar business.
It was a similar story in Europe. The players, led by the golf guru John Jacobs (who was my father’s and my coach) broke away from the PGA of the UK to form the European Tour, under the inspired and handpicked leadership of former bank executive Ken Schofield.
Both of these leaders had one thing in common. They surrounded themselves with smart business people on the Board and with their help and support built a sustainable business model. They looked after business and let the pros play golf. Business decisions were made by professional businessmen, not professional golfers.
This has now changed as a consequence of the LIV battle. Players are now in control of the Board of the PGA Tour, and individuals with strong personal opinions are influencing important decisions.
I remember Jack Nicklaus telling me once over dinner, that when you become famous, people often asked his opinion about things he knew very little about, and he had to be careful how he responded. As many have discovered over the years, being a sports legend doesn’t make you an expert in business.
The letter of resignation in May this year by Jimmy Dunne, a seasoned & veteran businessman from the PGA Tour Policy Board sums it up: “Since the players now outnumber the Independent Directors on the Board and no meaningful progress has been made towards a transaction with PIF, I feel like my vote and role is utterly superfluous”.
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I played on the Tour for 10 years and have been involved as a manager for many players, including Seve, and as an event promoter. In that time, I have only met one player who in my opinion, would qualify as a top-class businessman. Many pros think they are qualified, but this is a selfish game and this inherent selfishness rarely works for the greater good of all the other tour members.
This selfishness shone through recently in the US with some players demanding to be paid to play in the Ryder Cup. Do they forget the history and origin of their forefathers who started this event for the good of the game and growing it internationally and also the hundreds of Ryder Cup players before them that have supported the event solely for the greater good of growing the game and professional golf. The European Tour was built and is supported through funding from the Ryder Cup. The players know this and the part it has played in allowing them to follow their dreams and in many cases become rich. No European player wants to be paid to play in the Ryder Cup. They play for their country and flag and the sheer pride that comes with it. The joy of representing your country was evident at this year’s Olympics golf event in Paris with Scottie Scheffler crying at the medal ceremony. It was beautiful to watch.
It will be so good to see the game come back together again. The scars will heal and friends will become friends again. The real fight will return to where it should be on the fairways to see who is the best of the best. Can they beat Scottie, will Rory win another Major or will Bryson hit it 400 yards again! The Majors shone during this time of turmoil and they will be the foundation for the expansion of the elite events schedule which will see the best players battle it out ‘mano a mano’, the way it is meant to be. Alleluia!
A happy New Year to all.
Roddy Carr, Jan. 9th 2025
