BEDMINSTER, N.J. — Properly, what did you suppose?
For these of you who paid consideration to the LIV Golf event this week at Trump Nationwide Golf Membership Bedminster — whether or not you have been on the grounds and noticed the circus dwell or streamed it on the web — did it really feel like an actual sporting occasion or a three-day circus with solely the lions, tigers and elephants lacking?
There was a winner topped late Sunday afternoon — 46-year-old Swede Henrik Stenson. What precisely which means by way of golfing consequence — apart from the $4 million winner’s verify — is up for debate.
Stenson successful was compelling largely as a result of simply 11 days in the past he was stripped of his European Ryder Cup captaincy by the DP World Tour the second it turned official that he’d joined the Saudi-backed tour.
In an ironic twist, had this been a DP World Tour-sanctioned occasion, Stenson would have gained important Ryder Cup factors and enhanced his possibilities of being a participant on the European staff.
However there aren't any factors related to LIV Golf. No World Rating factors, no Ryder Cup factors.
Simply cash.
Quite a lot of it.
Which, in fact, is the first purpose each single certainly one of these gamers is part of this tour regardless of the litany of disingenuous causes they’ve been attempting to promote to you within the numerous press conferences which have taken place.
“Rising the sport.’’
“Softer, extra manageable schedule.’’
“New and thrilling staff facet.’’
“Serving to present the efforts the Saudis are making to normalize itself as a nation identified extra for its horrible human rights file.’’
We’ve heard all the explanations from the gamers about why they’ve joined LIV Golf. All of them besides this one: “I DID IT FOR THE MONEY.’’
It’s OK that the gamers have taken the cash. They’re unbiased contractors. Extra energy to them. Strike whereas the iron’s scorching. Simply don’t attempt to snow the general public over with nonsense that insults everybody’s intelligence — most notably the gamers’ intelligence.
The truth about LIV Golf for individuals who’ve witnessed it dwell is that they placed on present, a enjoyable present. Was the Frog X Navy SEAL Parachute Crew fluttering down onto the golf course from the sky earlier than the primary balls are struck within the shotgun begin excessive?
Possibly. However entertaining.
Do golf followers want jugglers?
Maybe not, however good for the children.
Music blaring all through the golf course?
I’m cool with that.
This week’s LIV occasion featured the added sideshow of former President Donald Trump, who occurs to personal the golf course on which the event was performed.
The presence of Trump — and it was a really public presence as he stood like a statue in his luxurious suite overlooking the signature par-3 sixteenth gap.
That’s the place many of the crowd spent its time, gawking at Trump and breaking out into chants of, “4 extra years,’’ and “47’’ and “You’re nonetheless our president.’’
These chants have been booming on Sunday afternoon about 75 yards away from the place Matthew Wolff was lined up over a birdie putt that would have lower Stenson’s result in one shot with solely three holes to play.
“Golf? Who cares in regards to the golf? Did you see Trump over there?’’
The complete scene gave the week the distinct really feel of a political rally.
The one individual whose ego was higher boosted than Stenson was Trump, who positively basked within the adoration in his yard.
LIV Golf has its flaws, for certain. The shotgun begin creates some confusion whenever you’re attempting to comply with the leaders. The staff ingredient may also be complicated, notably because the teammates aren’t paired collectively.
I discover some of the humorous parts to the staff competitors the truth that a participant can play like a 15-handicapper and nonetheless money a hefty verify if his staff does properly. In Portland, Ore., for instance, Pat Perez shot 80 within the closing spherical however his staff, 4 Aces, received the staff competitors, which pays $3 million. Minimize up 4 methods, Perez walked away with $750,000.
The 4 Aces once more received the staff competitors Sunday in Bedminster, N.J., which means one other three-quarters-of-a-mil for Perez, who completed the week 5-over and miles from rivalry. So, for these of you scoring at house, Perez cashed a cumulative $1.5 million within the staff competitors prior to now two occasions whereas enjoying like, properly, you already know.
You’d determine that type of free money cash would make a man fairly blissful. But after his spherical on Saturday, when a younger boy approached Perez for an autograph, Perez by no means broke stride in his stroll, grabbed the boy’s pen and paper, signed it and handed it again to him with out ever even trying the child within the eye.
Bizarre.
However bizarre describes your entire expertise.
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