I imagine the LIV top brass must have sent Tyrell Hatton a nice, bespoke hamper this week (though it’s hard to imagine what to get players who already possess everything).
The English firebrand saved face for the under-fire breakaway tour, storming into contention with an incredible final-round 66 to finish just two shots behind that Northen Irish trickster (I jest). But there’s no getting around the diminishing relevance of LIV in major championships. Five out of ten LIV players made last week’s cut (not too bad). But aside from Hatton, the next best finisher was Dustin Johnson in a tie for 33rd. Ouch. Moreover, Bryson DeChambeau- who has been their one true consistent presence in major championship golf- was brutally cut after a 36th hole fiasco.
Strong beginnings
LIV enjoyed a strong presence in major championships during its early years, with Brooks Koepka becoming the first active LIV player to win a major at the 2023 PGA Championship. 2024 turned into a banner year for LIV’s influence in major championship golf, with Koepka pushing Rahm all the way at Augusta before DeChambeau sidestepped an imploding McIlroy to claim the US Open title. LIV players revelled in their rebellion, dropping into the majors like buccaneering pirates disrupting the status quo. But the times- as Bob Dylan said- are a changing.
Koepka and Reed appear liberated
Recent LIV deserters Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed are proof-positive of LIV’s deleterious effect on major championship performance, each flirting with contention in their first post-LIV major appearance. Reed sounds like a man unburdened in recent weeks, constantly rhapsodizing the joys of being back on a tour where every shot matters. LIV guarantees a payout for every participant (not to mention the ludicrous signing fees, etc). That type of setup can never replicate the tension of an event featuring a cut. It just can’t. Players on the traditional tours take for granted the steely resolve they acquire because of the cut system. And that lack of do-or-die stakes has neutered some of the LIV guys.
Cameron Smith
2022 Open Champion Cameron Smith is the walking, talking testament to this money-induced malaise. Can you remember the furore when Smith announced his intention to leave the PGA Tour? He was arguably the world’s hottest player at the time, and some saw his defection as a Judas-level betrayal. Who cares about Cameron Smith now? He has missed his last six successive major championships cuts and remains a vocal cheerleader for the tour that has made him a mini mogul. The laconic Aussie doesn’t seem overly bothered with the major mythos. The same can’t be said for LIV’s two marquee names: Bryson and Rahm.
The big dogs
LIV has been sweating on the fact that neither DeChambeau nor Rahm has openly confirmed whether they will extend their respective LIV contracts. I think that both players see the effect that LIV is having on their chances of adding to their respective major hauls (each player has two). DeChambeau has openly enjoyed playing the villainous role and will likely be a factor in majors irrespective of where he plays. The same can’t be said about Rahm. The former Masters champ was once a perennial major contender, picking up four top-5 finishes between 2021 and 2023. He hasn’t finished inside the top five since joining LIV. He was one of the guys who was quite vocal in the introspective post-Masters space, saying that he may need to change a few things regarding major preparation. I wonder if that was a veiled threat to the LIV bigwigs after their recent scheduling fiasco. Let me explain.
South African safari may have proved costly
Marquee players such as Rahm and DeChambeau must be incensed at LIV’s blatant disregard for the major roster. In its first few years, LIV took the sensible approach to major preparation, usually spotlighting tough North American events in the lead-in to majors. Too bad American audiences have little to no appetite for LIV. So, LIV have decided to focus more on international venues, pouring all their effort into an extremely successful South African event three weeks prior to Augusta. It captured the imagination of the SA public and was roundly celebrated by the golfers at the time. But it was little more than glorified target-golf, with DeChambeau and Rahm finishing tied at 26-under-par. How was a birdie-fest- played at altitude- ever going to be the proper tuneup for the vagaries of Augusta National? There needs to be more overlap between LIV’s commercial interests and what’s good for the players.
Dump the team thing
Sorry, I really think it’s time that LIV abandons their whole team approach. I am a golf fanatic, and I couldn’t tell you who plays for the Crushers or the 4Aces. Nobody cares. You are taking a sport built on self-interest and turning it into something else. You have seen the YouTube videos of those players trying to peddle the team aspect of LIV: it’s like watching members of a cult trying to convince their loved ones that they are ok. LIV’s insistence on magnifying the team angle distracts from the fiery competitiveness of the individual contest. The combination of low stakes and silly team commitments is taking the fire out of these guy’s bellies.
Could all be academic
Now, this could all prove meaningless if current rumours are to be believed. The Saudi-backed PIF fund is reportedly on the verge of pulling support for the LIV Tour. It is believed that they are reconsidering their entire investment strategy (a fact that has only been exacerbated by the ongoing crisis in the Middle East). If that’s the case, perhaps the likes of Cameron Smith and Jon Rahm could become fully fledged major contenders once again. But can you imagine the mood when Cameron Smith nonchalantly strolls back onto the PGA Tour? Strange times indeed.
