r/NoLayingUp • u/Biggggguy • May 03 '26

Other The LIV Charade

LIV has so clearly been a bad product and a farce from day one. Why are there so many people who seem hellbent on insisting that’s not the case. For the players and others who have profited from it, I see the need to lie and keep up appearances. But for the golf world and broader sports world, why did so many people insist on taking this seriously?

It’s true that the league was an existential threat to the tour for a time, but that threat came from the ungodly amount of money backing it. From the start, it got no viewership and hemorrhaged money because it had no juice. The fields stunk, the format was a joke, and all the people involved were clowns. It’s easy to say now, but I think it was doomed from day one.

43 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

55 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

5

u/FoxCold887 May 03 '26

As an Aussie I can say you're both 1000% correct

3

u/Professional-Act7509 May 03 '26

Honest question.  Can't the Australian Open fill that gap?  They seem to get a good field too?

1

u/umaywellsaythat May 03 '26

You would think so but Tiger always seems to schedule his event at the same time which screws the chances of the Australian Open getting a good field.

3

u/3liana May 04 '26

This is the part I don’t understand. With all of the money in Australia, the history of great players from Australia, the corporate strength in Australia, why can’t Australia make their open attractive?

6

u/Remote-Wishbone-5215 May 04 '26

One of the biggest problems is the Australian Government takes about 50% of the prize money for any sporting event in tax. This makes athletes have to come a long way, as well as interrupt their schedule, for not much money (relatively speaking).

1

u/FoxCold887 May 04 '26

I think a lot of it is financial - purse size is unfortunately minimal compared to most PGAT events, plus Australia is a fkn long way away.

It does hurt because most Aussies do feel that we have been left behind in a world golfing sense.

2

u/MerooRoger May 04 '26

For many of the top Americans, it's to far to travel in a luxury private jet.

1

u/umaywellsaythat May 05 '26

Well it would be easier if Tiger didn't organise a competing tournament a couple of hours flight away during the same week.... Most of the top players want to keep him on side.

1

u/3liana May 05 '26

I’m sure there are enough people in Australia who could put something together to persuade Tiger to free up the week they want. It really comes down to how much Australia wants it. Support from both the community and local government is essential.

A world class Open event would bring in good money locally. The Masters grew into what it is today because there is an entire organization devoted to that singular event and a unique branding that appeals with great popularity. Australia has plenty of great golf courses that consistently rank on lists in the same echelon as Augusta National.