By ED TRAVIS
With professional golf being the beneficiary of all the warm fuzzy feelings coming out of the Olympics it is realistic to remember the divisive situation facing all of us who care about men’s pro golf future. In case it needs reminding, the problem is the agreement between the PGA Tour/DP World Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund LIV Golf.
Since the announcement of the potential agreement 14 months ago there seems to have been no progress and in fact, digression since PGAT stars, namely Jon Rahm, were recruited by PIF/LIV for a reported $300 million.
Defecting players such as Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson knew they would be suspended from the PGAT and were jeopardy of being able to qualify for major championships and international competitions such as the Presidents Cup, Ryder Cup and Olympics.
They took the money instead, perhaps assuming something could be worked out or the traditional tours bought off or they felt the inexorability of the billions behind the PIF would win in the end.
LIV Golf Slap Down
Automatic qualification for the European 2025 Ryder Cup team will be based on points earned on the DP World and PGA Tours only. World ranking will no longer be considered. Many LIV golfers were formerly on DP World Tour and relinquished Tour membership or have refused to pay fines for playing unsanctioned competing events. With the new policy automatic selection would appear to be impossible.
This means the likes of Jon Rahm, Sergio Garcia and Tyrell Haddon must hope for a pick by team captain Luke Donald. Qualification for the 2025 European Ryder Cup team begins the end of Aug. at the Betfred British Masters.
Short Putts
If Scottie Scheffler was flying high after six wins on the PGA Tour his spectacular come from behind victory in the Olympics put him into interstellar space. For the record the Gold Medal did not earn him official prize nor is it considered a win by the Tour however the U.S. Olympic Committee did pay him $37,500 which about the same Buddy Allin got for winning last week’s Wyndham Championship, then the Greater Greensboro Open, in 1971. Oh, and before I forget Scheffler also earned 55 Official World Ranking Points and received a commemorative poster.
Speaking of Scottie Scheffler, in addition to having a commanding lead in victories, prize money and Olympic medals this season he will bank $8 million and did not have to play in the Wyndham Championship this past week. The reason is his unassailable lead in the Comcast Business Tour Top-10, a nice pay day that will happen as soon as the regular season is in the books. The leader—Scheffler—will bank 40% of the $20 million purse which is up from $10 million in 2023.
