'Growing pains': Unrest sweeps through LIV Golf

1 year ago 76

A fig of players who've signed with Greg Norman's LIV Golf are reportedly unimpressed with moves to reign successful costs successful the breakaway tour's 2nd season.

It's estimated LIV Golf spent astir $1.15 cardinal successful 2022, but a mandatory gathering held successful Tucson earlier the 2nd lawsuit of 2023 seemingly saw a fig of players rise concerns.

Writing for The Fire Pit Collective, writer Alan Shipnuck said the fledgling league is experiencing "growing pains".

Shipnuck wrote that LIV Golf's archetypal program was to clasp 10 events successful 2023, earlier expanding to 14 successful 2024. That timeline was accelerated tracked, with 14 events present connected the docket for 2023.

He quotes an unnamed subordinate who suggests each is not rosy down the scenes.

"Some guys thought their contracts for this twelvemonth are for 10 tournaments, not 14. But adjacent with much tournaments determination is nary bump successful the guaranteed wealth they signed for. Last twelvemonth the players kept their stock of the squad winnings but present that wealth goes backmost to the team," helium said.

"I heard 1 feline say, 'Why are we lasting connected a podium spraying each different with champagne erstwhile we don't get the money?' So that's interesting. And present determination is speech that [LIV leadership] wants to enactment much of the full purse toward the squad component. But, again, guys person it successful their declaration they would beryllium playing for $20 cardinal (AUD $29.8 million) connected their own. So you tin ideate determination is simply a batch of speech close now."

Shipnuck quotes different unnamed subordinate who says "every disbursal is getting double-and triple-checked now" and notes the property country lunch, which featured a "decadent buffet" successful 2022, present consists of "cold sandwiches and pre-packaged cookies".

Kevin Na, who won 5 times connected the PGA Tour earlier signing with LIV Golf, offered what Shipnuck called "some needed perspective" connected the issue.

"There is simply a shit-ton of wealth retired here, and I already got a shit-ton," Na said.

"If you play well, you're gonna triumph a shit-ton more. I'm not worrying astir the details."

Reports of cost-cutting travel successful the aftermath of the national representing broadcast workers claiming LIV Golf has "pulled the rug retired from under" those moving connected the tour's TV production.

"There seems to beryllium plentifulness of wealth to walk connected extravagant excess but not to warrant the unit that puts their merchandise connected the aerial entree to healthcare," said 1 worker, successful a connection released by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE).

"These are manufacture standards, and the LIV executives could attraction less."

The IATSE said LIV Golf has "seemingly bottomless pockets and nary aversion to spending extravagant sums" and noting that "five golfers unsocial relationship for much than fractional a cardinal dollars (AUD $745 million) successful guaranteed contracts."

"As skilled and dedicated professionals, broadcast workers merit just benefits and moving conditions that bespeak the worth of their contributions to LIV Golf," said IATSE's Rachel McLendon.

"We are calling connected LIV to guarantee that each workers person entree to benefits and are fixed a dependable successful their workplace."

For a regular dose of the champion of the breaking quality and exclusive contented from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!