Jon Rahm’s signing for the Saudi Golf Super League shocked the world of not only golf but also sports, as the economic size of the contract did not initially seem to correspond to the fame or prestige of the competition. new (created in 2022) unknown to the public.
What is LIV Golf?
LIV Golf league, known as the Super League, is a golf circuit created by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia. This is one of the following three circuits current golf tournaments and PGA Tour (American) and DP World Tour (PGA European Tour). Its controversial birth led to the rejection of these last two organizations, hence the inclusion of players in the so-called Super League. For example, these are taken into account Not eligible to participate in the Ryder Cup, Team competition that pits Europeans against Americans every two years. But they started speaks for understanding between three periods.
Who’s playing?
All the players accepted magnificent offers of millions of dollars from the Saudi fund, which went looking for the biggest names in golf to launch the competition. There is no offer as challenging as the one that convinced Jon Rahm (550 million for five seasons until 2029), who was very reticent and avoided the new round. Tiger Woods did not take the 700 million bait. yes they accepted Phil Mickelson (200 million), Sergio García, Dustin Johnson, Ian Poulter, Brooks Koepka and Cameron Smith are all winners in some major. LIV Golf CEO legendary Greg Norman and who convinced them, checkbook in hand, of course.
How does it work?
The 2024 season consists of 12 tournaments between February and August, as well as individual and team championships that will start in September, the date or location of which has not yet been determined. Current talks to find a non-intervention agreement between the circuits will ultimately determine its place on the calendar. They participate in every tournament 48 players and they argue three rounds (54 holes, hence the name LIV, 54 in Roman numerals), not four (72 holes), and there is no elimination cutoff after the second round. Purse of each tournament is 25 million dollar, this For 4 winners. Players compete individually and as teams in each arena.
Where to play?
Tournaments are held all over the world, they are not limited to the Persian Gulf, nor are they prohibited in America or Europe. Definitely. 14 tournaments planned for 2024 They will start in Mayakoba (Mexico) between February 2-4. There will be five in the United States (in Las Vegas, Houston, Nashville, The Greenbrier, Virginia, and another area to be determined), and in Saudi Arabia, of course, Hong Kong, Adelaide (Australia), Singapore, England, and Spain: It will be held on the Valderrama field (Cádiz) between 12 and 14 July. The last two will be individual and team championships. Rahm will be the captain of his own team. There are three Spaniards in the circuit (Sergio GarciaEugenio López Chacarra and David Puig from Barcelona Golf Club) and several South American players, such as Mexicans Abraham Ancer and Carlos Ortiz, Chileans Joaquín Niemann and Mito Pereira, and Colombian Sebastián Muñoz.
Why was it created?
The initiative remains ‘another example’‘sports washing’, image washing through sports They aim to whitewash the dictatorships in the Persian Gulf through major rivalries. Euroleague basketball explores expansion In Dubai with the formation of a team that participated in the tournament and received visits from historic European clubs. Euroleague shareholders heard about this offer during their visit to Dubai. There’s plenty of money, whether it comes from Qatar, which hosted the last World Cup, the Arab Emirates, or Dubai. Saudi Arabia (central Spanish Super Cup) Buy any will and sports such as football, athletics, motorsport or golf.
When was it created?
Designed in 2021 It became operational in 2022 with the brutal theft of a checkbook. Australian Greg Norman (68 years old) was the interlocutor of the big golf stars and attracted them to the course; It guaranteed million-dollar annual contracts regardless of the results. It sets an example Dustin Johnson ($107 million) and Phil Mickelson ($106) were among the ten highest-paid athletes on the planet. Eight tournaments were held in 2022. Stonehill (Bangkok, Thailand) was conquered by the Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra. 14 tournaments were held in 2023.
How will it all end?
In June, secret negotiations began between the leaders of the three circles. find a point of agreement for the purpose of unifying calendars in the future and canceling sanctions and legal disputes. LIV Golf failed to gain media coverage He was on the hunt, and both the American and European PGA have lost some players and will lose many more. unrivaled Saudi economic power. If world number three Rahm, who has guaranteed that he will not play golf for money, loses…