Smith | LIV Golf is still far too confusing and needs to change
LIV Golf need to ditch the individual element to their league and go all-in on team golf, writes GolfMagic's Ben Smith.
I'll be honest: I've never been a fan of LIV Golf.
Who knows what the men's game will look in five, 10 or even 20 years' time.
But if LIV is still in the picture, I will forever associate the league with greed and narcissism. Cloaks and daggers. Smoke and mirrors. Phil Mickelson.
I can still remember my jaw hitting the floor when I read Mickelson's true feelings about LIV in that FirePit article.
Unforgivable? No, but definitely unforgettable.
I will forever think of the untruths peddled by some of the stars who made the leap.
I am not going to list them, because you know them all by now.
Just ask yourself this: how many players were crying out for team golf before LIV came into the picture?
How many were complaining their schedules were too burdensome? How many were suggesting the world ranking system wasn't fit for purpose?
This was all about the dollar bills for everyone on both sides of the divide and it's okay to admit that.
Accuse me of being a member of the Corrupt Golf Media™ all you want, but that is just the way I feel.
That being said, I am prepared to admit in order for the men's game to truly sort itself out then there simply has to be room for LIV.
But let's switch things up a bit.
Let me explain...
One of the reasons why LIV kept an 'individual element' to their tournaments is because the circuit wanted to be accredited by the Official World Golf Ranking.
LIV could prove tomorrow there is a grand conspiracy by the establishment to keep them out of the picture by switching to traditional, 72-hole stroke play format with a cut.
But that isn't going to happen and LIV getting OWGR points in their current format isn't achievable.
Nor is it fair.
There have been ideas, such as the leading 10 players at the end of the season to be offered places in the following year's major championships.
But I'm a big believer that everyone needs to be singing from the same hymn sheet.
In other words: if you're a professional golfer and you want world ranking points then play in OWGR-accredited events.
If LIV is supposed to be about team golf then let's make it so.
Let's do away with the individual element and just focus on how the individual scores are affecting the teams.
To date, LIV's most successful events appear to be the season-ending team championships.
Even LIV critics, such as the folks on the No Laying Up podcast, argued this was the case too.
High-profile golfers such as Rory McIlroy have also stated LIV's product in its current form is perplexing.
"If it is done like the IPL cricket model, team competition has a chance in golf," McIlroy recently told Sky Sports.
"I've said what I’ve said about LIV. I still think it is a confusing product. So what they need to do is lean more into the team stuff.
"If you want to make your team franchises valuable, especially if you’re not going to get World Ranking points, then dive deep into team golf.
"I could see an eight-event schedule with four events in the spring and four events in the fall.
"If it was an IPL-like team thing, I would enjoy it hugely. There is an opportunity there to do more within the bigger ecosystem."
I would argue there are other ways LIV can gain more legitimacy.
But let's start by ditching the individual element and going all in on team golf.
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