AUGUSTA, Ga. — In some methods, golf finds itself at a time limit not in contrast to professional within the Sixties, when two rival leagues duked it out however discovered a path to reconciliation that produced a sport far larger than anybody may’ve envisioned.
Bryson DeChambeau, for one, is hopeful that the still-smoldering break up between the established PGA Tour and upstart LIV Golf may result in a Tremendous Bowl-like extravaganza that brings everybody collectively.
“You possibly can have a look at it just like the NFL and you might have NFC-AFC kind of working in their very own fields and on the finish they arrive collectively, placed on an enormous occasion on the finish of the yr,” mentioned DeChambeau, who performs on the LIV circuit. “That could possibly be actually cool.”
If nothing else, main championships such because the Masters, which begins Thursday at Augusta Nationwide, present a quick detente on this civil battle of the hyperlinks.
All the highest gamers — from reigning Grasp champion Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka representing Crew LIV to world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy teeing it up for the previous guard — will probably be seeking to not solely declare a inexperienced jacket, however rating bragging rights for his or her de facto crew.
“Clearly, the extra togetherness that you just get, the higher it’s for everybody. There’s little question about that,” mentioned Sergio Garcia, the 2017 Masters winner who bolted for LIV. “However there’s room for everybody. I don’t assume that’s an issue in any respect.”
Despite the fact that LIV seems to have strengthened its hand with its gorgeous signing of Rahm, who was on the PGA Tour when he gained at Augusta a yr in the past, there are literally 5 fewer gamers from the brand new tour than the 18 who performed in 2023.
That is largely as a result of LIV occasions — with their smaller fields and 54-hole format — don’t obtain world rating factors, one of many most important conduits for entry into the Masters.
Nonetheless, the Saudi-funded circuit has demonstrated that its prime gamers can compete with one of the best of the PGA Tour.
Koepka and Phil Mickelson have been runner-ups to Rahm a yr in the past on the Masters, and Koepka went on to seize his fifth profession main title on the PGA Championship. Of the 27 main championships which have been staged for the reason that starting of 2017, 13 have been gained by golfers who now name LIV residence.
Koepka took difficulty with those that say the break up is ruining the sport.
“Look, one of the best gamers on the earth by no means acquired collectively week in, week out. I believe that’s sort of forgotten,” Koepka mentioned Tuesday. “It was the majors, (World Golf Championship tournaments) … these have been just about the ten occasions the place everybody was, for certain, going to be there. After which it was simply sort of sprinkled in in all places else. I believe that’s sort of how it’s” now.
However onerous emotions stay, particularly since a supposed merger settlement introduced 10 months in the past had but to be finalized.
Simply hearken to Fred {Couples}, the 1992 Masters champion and outspoken critic of LIV.
“I don’t assume I’ll ever perceive it,” he mentioned. “Now, every thing can get higher. However let me inform you, if the LIV tour is healthier for golf, I’m lacking one thing there.”
Rahm acknowledged that when he accepted a reported $350 million provide to affix LIV in December, he was hopeful that it could spur the 2 sides to succeed in some kind of reconciliation by the point the Masters rolled round.
Now, with a divide that appears as gaping as ever, he is probably the most distinguished faces on a tour that has been referred to as every thing from the way forward for the sport — with its shotgun begins and crew component — to a refuge of sellouts who’re serving to the Saudis sportswash the picture of a repressive regime.
“It’s a little bit of a detour on my path,” Rahm mentioned. “However change could be higher.”
Simply how a lot issues have modified was obvious from the apparel he donned a yr in the past as he departed Augusta Nationwide to what he picked out for his observe rounds main into this Masters.
Gone was the inexperienced jacket. Now he is sporting a shirt emblazoned with a Legion XIII emblem.
The crew he now leads in LIV.
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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
