Look, I couldn't agree more LIV is horrible for the game. Why? Because it splits the best players onto different tours, of course. And that's the real reason everyone else hates it too.
But the PGA Tour's strategy here has been the worst--and they are doubling down on such a horrible strategy:
Their strategy is:
1) The folks who can destroy us with money are really evil. The Saudi leadership is evil
2) You people taking it should be ashamed of yourself. Look at you, you have to apologize. PGA Tour never told anyone to apologize
3) We are in charge and we will punish you. The PGA Tour is, in fact, in charge of the PGA Tour. I still dont understand why you dont understand this one simple thing
Predictably this did not work. It only creates resentment from the players (By enforcing the rules of the PGA Tour it PREVENTS resentment from PGA Tour players) and the Saudis who are now loading up for more and more (more of what? Players? They are close to getting all they are going to get, and besides DJ it has been good riddance).
The strategy all along -- and now ought be:
1) You are free to go play where you want. We will grant you permission as we have in the past. OMG, I just cant take this nonsense anymore. They ARE free to go play anywhere they want!! They just cant play the PGA Tour.
2) We will be here when you want to come back if you are otherwise eligible. Absolutely stupid suggestion. Just STUPID. The PGA Tour has to be loyal to its members and organizations it is connected to.
3) We believe our history and exposure makes us the best tour in the world. Ummmmm
4) We will continue paying the sizable purses we can afford to pay and we believe it will allow us to sustain oursleves over the long haul. Yay, you got one right!
5) It's certainly exciting how much interest there is in the game. This will allow even more spots for young pros. And there are so many great players to support those spots! You got this one right, but you didn't realize you were making an argument FOR the PGA Tour to handle this the way they are
By creating and us v. them split, the PGA Tour picked a battle they never needed to pick. And now they are doubling down on it. They are challenging Mike Tyson to a fight. I can't even...