The LIV vs. PGA Tour rivalry has become two schisms within golf. LIV Golf is considered a somewhat rival or breakaway golf tour and was created in 2022 with the help of the Saudi Arabia government’s financial backing. The direct interest of the Saudi sovereign, Prince Mohammed Bin-Salman, raises many eyebrows within the golfing community.
Players are pretty much divided between the issue and the defection of several from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf. The biggest names to join LIV Golf are Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Patrick Reed, and Bubba Watson. While the PGA loyalists and golf purists want to ban the LIV players from virtually every significant golfing event, it can be noted that such rivalry and contention more or less only exist on paper.
As the Masters season approaches, there will be 18 LIV golfers in the field, which is expected to garner much heat and contention from the PGA players joining in. Augusta would be an exciting affair in the coming week for golf fans. However, Patrick Reed and Bubba Watson believe no such heated contention exists between PGA and LIV players. Instead, they blame the media for aggravating the issue to an unimaginable extent.
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Patrick Reed and Bubba Watson blame the media for aggravating the LIV vs. PGA rivalry
The new LIV Tour offers players huge contracts worth millions of dollars and lucrative prize purses. This has attracted several players to the league, topped with new game formats and the team plays, making the league much more exciting.
However, the involvement of the Saudi Arabia government as LIV golf’s primary financier has raised questions about sports washing by the country. However, Patrick Reed and Bubba Watson believe that the media has a huge role in ruining the peace and sanctity between competing players in Majors and Masters.
He says, “Obviously, the media and the storylines are going to be obviously LIV versus PGA Tour and all that kind of stuff, but really, at the majors, top players in the world are going and playing against each other no matter where they come from. For us, at least for myself, it’s going to be business as usual going out and playing.”
This season, Patrick Reed came into the limelight for throwing a tee toward Rory Mcllroy. Many people also believe this drama was further over heightened by the media. Bubba Watson also has the same opinions on the media’s role in aggravating the LIV and PGA Tour controversy.
He says, “I’m going to be honest, man. It’s only awkward in the media. I’ve talked to people that are going to be there. I’m going to sign up with Jason Day and [Cameron] Young in the Par 3. Some guys have already asked me to play some practice rounds. Media is the only one that is pushing it. I have nothing against anybody.”
The Masters 2023 at Augusta National this year would definitely be worth watching, with PGA and LIV players together in one ground. As all the fans are excited to witness the same, the media is also very much ready to to capture the fireworks at the venue.
In case you missed it:
Patrick Reed barred from WGC Match Play Tournament due to LIV Golf affiliation
PGA Tour accuses LIV Golf of stonewalling discovery efforts in lawsuit
