As LIV welcomed its inaugural match to life in the summertime of 2022, elite golfers had a headache of a call to make: stay on the PGA Tour and struggle for prize cash or settle for a assured lump sum to hitch the Saudi-backed breakaway.
Large names swapped status for safety, together with main winners Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, Cameron Smith and Brooks Koepka himself.
Now 4 years on from the exiles and the fallout, five-time main champion Koepka has been accepted again onto the historic tour, and the PGA have come out combating – elevating severe questions over whether or not LIV can retain elite expertise in the long run.
Brooks Koepka’s return
The PGA Tour has undoubtedly missed a pressure of Koepka’s calibre throughout his three-and-a-half-year absence. His return marks the primary main defection again to the tour.
Between 2017 and 2019, Koepka lifted 4 main titles in three seasons. A downturn adopted, with accidents, fading confidence and declining prize cash – making LIV’s cellphone name a lovely proposal.
Now financially safe after years of salary-based earnings, Koepka might as soon as once more be pushed by competitors moderately than consolation – keen to check himself in opposition to the strongest fields and reclaim his standing amongst golf’s elite.
Assured cash solves a number of issues, nevertheless it doesn’t remedy aggressive restlessness.
Whereas LIV’s attraction stays largely monetary after all, DeChambeau, Rahm and Smith could have all taken observe of the noise surrounding Koepka’s resolution.
Dropping one among their most marketable stars weakens LIV’s strongest commercial and runs the chance of viewers dropping curiosity within the competitors fully.
PGA revival?
The PGA could have been unable to masks smirks when receiving the information of Koepka wanting again on the tour.
It was a big milestone alternative for them to double-down, ship an announcement and battle for extra of their ex-stars.
The tour determined to press on and provide their former elites an opportunity to re-join for the 2026 season, however DeChambeau, Rahm and Smith all dedicated to LIV for the forthcoming time period.
However seeing Koepka welcomed again with open arms by the governing physique reveals all gamers there’s nonetheless a spot for them within the PGA – and LIV needs to be nervous by their indicators of adaptability.
There’s nothing stopping these main winners from competing for another 12 months after which heading on the identical route as Koepka, which may concern LIV drastically.
PGA has the benefit and it’s been ignited by Koepka’s transfer.
LIV’s choices to halt momentum
LIV Golf promised revolution, however Koepka’s return makes it look extra like a well-funded detour.
The tour have to be relieved that the majority of their gamers stay of their competitors for this 12 months, nevertheless it’s a warning signal of issues to return.
This should fireplace up talks between excursions to discover a method of mixing assets and gamers in years to return, or it may set LIV on world growth to entice different gamers to hitch them.
Choices embody securing world rating factors for gamers to rank larger whereas at LIV, and/or locking gamers into longer and stricter contracts with much more zeros on the top.
And even positioning LIV as a complementary tour alongside the PGA, as a shorter competitors with fewer occasions – unopposing PGA’s event-ridden tour.
They need to work on one thing, because the long-term sustainability of the tour stays unsure.
However no matter method you take a look at it, these measures look sure to solely delay the inevitable if status, competitors and legacy proceed to tug these on the prime of their sport again in direction of the PGA Tour.
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