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Phil Mickelson sells… gowns. Think Batman or Superman. They’ve been spotted inside the commodity tents at LIV Golf events, where Mickelson plays his golf game, and they’ve been decked out with the HyFlyers logo, Mickelson’s LIV team.
Talk about your symbolism.
In fact, we’ll let the six-time major winner explain.
“It’s ambitious,” Mickelson said earlier this week. “It’s not for everyone. But it’s such a great thing about our team, and it’s the creativity of my wife, Amy, and what she brings. We imagine a lot of little kids running around the golf course wearing capes, and that’s kind of what we hope, and we get them to dream of becoming a HyFlyer someday.”
“I know we’re only into a year into LIV, but where it’s going to be in 10, 15, 20 years, it’s going to be very exciting.”
And there you go: Mickelson and a few other LIV notables aren’t just thinking about it today, they’re looking, up and away and on the horizon, less than a month away from a proposed arrangement that brought together the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund that finances LIV. Of course, there are sides to this deal. Even the language of the contract.
And people who tend to think a cape is a cool idea—for a group flying off into the sunset.
Who is right? Who’s wrong? This week was very notable in the fact that LIV is playing its first tournament since the announcement, at the historic Valderrama Golf Club in Spain. Let’s start with this group.
LIV Golf side of the deal
In short, they are optimists. I believe The Wolf of Wall Street Scene Where Leonardo DiCaprio’s character proudly claims: “I’m not leaving” – because the feds are just a short wedge away from breaking his business empire.
Guide?
just look. Alex Miceli Sports Illustrated He did a great report this week from Spain – you can read two of his stories on the subject here And here – but perhaps the most indicative Photo taken by Miceli.
It was from Yasser Al-Rumayyan, the governor of the Public Investment Fund, sitting in a golf cart with Greg Norman, CEO of LIV Golf. The scene looked even stranger. They were speaking with Bresson Dechambeau. So even though LIV has come to the negotiating table with the PGA Tour, the well-established brand it has struggled with over the past year, things are at least look comfortable. LIV may not die, despite thoughts to the contrary (more on that below).
But then just listen too. Miceli also reported this week that Al-Rumayyan said LIV is “my fuckin’ kid,” which of course means that if he has an opinion — and if the PIF is in cahoots with the PGA Tour, he’ll at least have a say, no matter how the deal dusts off. – LIV will continue. On Friday, Miceli also wrote that Al-Rumayyan met players Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, DeChambeau and Mickelson, along with Norman and other Leaf officials, and that Johnson, DeChambeau and Koepka left feeling optimistic.
This followed similar sentiments from press conferences earlier in the week.
Sergio Garcia said: “Yeah, very confident. I mean, that’s what I can see. That’s all I can say. I think we’re in a good position. I think there are a lot of details that haven’t been finalized yet, there’s a lot of speculation. But I think it’s It will be a great deal for everyone, and I don’t expect us to not be here next year.”
Said Johnson: “Yeah, I’m excited about the future. I think with this agreement the only thing that’s going to happen is that LIV is going to get better and better than it is now, which is really great. I’m happy for exactly where I am.”
Then there’s Mickelson who said, “I think actions are a little bit more powerful than words. I think if you look at what LIV does and what we do, I think that’s more of a statement.” Supposedly, he was referring to a multi-year deal LIV signed with the department. Tourism, Culture and Sports in the Government of Andalusia, W A sponsorship deal has been approved Between one of the LIV teams and a cryptocurrency exchange.
The PGA Tour side of the deal
In short, they’re hopeful — that LIV will go away. I believe The Wolf of Wall Street A scene where Leonardo DiCaprio’s character’s business is actually busted by the feds.
Guide?
For example, there’s Rory McIlroy, who’s as big a star as he is on the PGA Tour, who one day after announcing the deal said, “I still hate LIV. Like, I hate LIV. Like, I hope it goes away. And I expect it does.” Exactly. And I think that’s where the distinction is here. This is the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and PIF. Very different from LIV.”
There is also a file The language of the framework agreement that have been sent to Congress. It was leaked last week.
Here, we’ll rely on Golf’s Sean Zak, who expertly breaks down the five-page document with seven takeaways. For the purposes here, the most notable was this:
“The future of LIV Golf, as well as the future of the golf team, is unclear. It’s not dead, but it’s certainly not guaranteed to survive either. When PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan repeatedly stated that a “pilot evaluation” would be conducted on the prospects of LIV Golf, he was simply quoting From the agreement:
“NewCo will be provided with access to all information required to facilitate this appraisal and evaluation…so that the NewCo Board of Directors, with a recommendation from [CEO] Guy Monahan will define the ongoing plan and strategy for all operations of the new company…
In other words, Monahan will hold many cards. Jimmy Dunn and Ed Herlihy – both proposed members of NewCo’s executive committee – will also make a big impact. Would they want LIV Golf to exist as it currently is? Monahan said this is unlikely. Could The League be repackaged as a PGA Tour version of team golf? This is a reasonable. The agreement states that the parties will “make a good faith assessment of the benefits of the golf team … and determine how best to integrate the golf team into future PGA Tour and DP World Tour events.”
Unknown
Most of it remains the same, and Congress could also shut down the whole thing. We won’t have answers for a while, though, as the pieces come together, through words and actions.
Like a cape.
LIV’s David Puig said this week, “I think it’s great news for everyone. I personally don’t know much about it, but there’s great news that we’re all friends again, hopefully things keep getting better and we can find a solution or get together.”
LIV’s Joaquin Nyman said, “Yeah, I don’t really know what’s going to happen. I think it’s great that golf is on the same page, but yeah, I think it’s too early to tell what’s going to happen. I’m excited to see what happens, though.”
LIV’s Mito Pereira said, “Yeah, I think they’re trying to do the best for golf, come together and try to build something really good. We don’t know much at the moment, but I’m sure they’ll figure it out well.”
“Same answer,” said Sebastian Munoz of LIV.