Golf is normally a pretty dry and predictable subject matter for sports journalists. The main stories over the last 20 or so years have either focused on Tiger’s domination, Tiger’s misadventures, or Tiger’s comebacks. Otherwise, there’s generally been coverage of simply the sporting action itself, which only really appeals to golf fans. We haven’t had massive drug-cheating scandals, transfer rumours and shocks, or endemic corruption within the governing bodies to capture the attention of a wider sporting audience. It has led to golf’s unfounded reputation for being boring.
But this year, golf has been like a soap opera – characters breaking up, bickering and mudslinging, talking behind each other’s backs, making accusations and wagging fingers. The only thing we haven’t had is a full-on fist fight outside the local pub… Maybe in the Christmas special?
LIV Golf, whatever you think of it, has had people talking about golf in 2022. Ever since the renegade circuit was announced, there’s been an almost constant stream of stories for both producers and consumers of sports news content to get their teeth into. We started out with Mickelson’s outburst against the PGA Tour, then an announcement of the new Saudi-funded LIV schedule, then speculation on who was going to form the initial rogue squad, then onto who was actually going to form the rogue squad. Then we had the suspensions, the court cases, the PGA Tour’s reaction, the reaction from players on both sides, the wranglings over the World Rankings, the latter defectors like Cam Smith after his Open triumph, the animosity between players who were previously friends… it’s been compelling stuff.
We’ve seen the governing bodies forced to address their position on the circuit and its participants – Will they be allowed to play in next year’s Majors? At this point there have been no suggestions of a ban on that front (although changes to qualification criteria are possible,) but there won’t be Major bans unless The Masters makes an extraordinary decision about 2023’s first Major.
They’re even allowed to wear shorts!
(Image credit: Getty Images)
The breakaway tour has undoubtedly shaken golf, but it’s also shaken golf up a little. We’ve seen the PGA Tour make some sweeping changes to the circuit to raise prize funds and to better look after all tour members financially – These are changes that were likely in the pipeline but were doubtless expedited by the fast-paced…
..
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Golf Monthly RSS Feed…