LIV Golf commentator David Feherty has pointed to the dedication and success of Bryson DeChambeau as proof that the breakaway league is not an “exhibition” circuit
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Image: Getty Images)
LIV Golf commentator David Feherty has slammed the idea that the new tour is just an “exhibition” league, citing Bryson DeChambeau’s commitment as evidence of its legitimacy.
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan previously labelled LIV Golf’s events as “exhibitions” when the Saudi-backed series kicked off in 2022. However, it appears he’s had a change of heart as the rival tours have been in talks about a merger for over a year.
Since its inception, LIV has faced flak from traditional golf circles for its massive prize pots, shorter three-round tournaments, smaller player fields, and questions over the depth of talent beyond its headline acts. The format’s team aspect has also come under fire, with some doubting its significance to fans.
Yet, seasoned commentator Feherty has come out swinging in defence of the league and its format, asserting that the top-tier players are fully invested in both the individual and team challenges, resulting in a high-quality sporting spectacle.
“We hear from time to time that it’s exhibition golf. Try telling that to those guys out there. You hear Bryson talk about the team aspect. They really care about this s—,” the 66 year old declared to Sports Illustrated. “Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm (went head-to-head in a playoff). It’s far more than an exhibition. It’s the same quality of field every week. We’re getting great players out there in contention. We have the occasional outlier, too, who will come in and win.”
The controversial golf series LIV has completed its third season, and it seems like the initial furor surrounding its emergence has simmered down. Players, execs, and fans appear worn out by the ongoing dramas, with hostilities between the rival tours easing as talks of a merger are hammered out.
Yet, the storm it triggered upon its debut last summer cannot be forgotten. LIV lured some major names away from the PGA Tour, triggering a bitter face-off rich with retaliatory comments.
Monahan didn’t hold back when he criticized LIV’s approach and economic wisdom at the Canadian Open in 2022, which happened to coincide with LIV’s launch. He questioned: “You have to ask yourself the question why? Why is this group spending so much money, billions of dollars recruiting players and chasing a concept with no possibility of a return?”
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He also highlighted the repetitive nature of their structure: “Those players have chosen to sign multi-year lucrative contracts to play in a series of exhibition matches against the same players over and over again.”
Asserting the PGA Tour’s standpoint, he added: “You look at that opposed to what we see here today. We’re not going to allow players to free ride off our loyal members, the best players in the world.”
Monahan’s stance has evolved significantly, with a newfound acceptance that LIV Golf, backed by the seemingly bottomless coffers of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), is unbeatable. In 2023, a “framework agreement” was unveiled for a groundbreaking merger between the PGA Tour and PIF, aiming to reconsolidate professional golf under one profitable umbrella.
Yet despite the breakthrough, real advancement has been scarce as negotiations continue at a sluggish pace.
