Golf 2022

[rocket surgeon]

Speith made a bunch of bombs today.  Maybe he starts contending in Majors again?

jordie is a great ambassador for golf.  if LIV gets him, look out!

[Uncle Rico]

https://www.wisconsin.golf/men/wsga/archie-dadian-a-public-links-legend-and-one-of-the-grittiest-winners-in-wisconsin-golf/article_c697ba9a-3cda-11ed-95eb-8b119a267609.html

[🏀]

jordie is a great ambassador for golf.  if LIV gets him, look out!

Jordan is in the safe camp. No worries about him at the moment.

[MU82]

Here's a fun story, according to Golfweek:

LIV Golf is nearing a deal to purchase air time for its tournaments on U.S. cable television, multiple sources have told Golfweek. The potential agreement — which is still being finalized — is with Fox Sports 1.

https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2022/09/27/liv-golf-fox-sports-buy-time-to-air-tournaments/

While media companies typically pay sports leagues a substantial rights fee to air their products, the deal would not see LIV receive payment, said a source familiar with the discussions. Instead, LIV — which is controversially financed by the Saudi Arabian regime’s Public Investment Fund — would buy time on the cable channel to air its events, a move that will be widely interpreted as a failure to attract serious commercial interest in what it is offering.

Just two weeks ago, the CEO of LIV, Greg Norman, said he was fielding intense interest from media companies eager to broadcast LIV tournaments.

“We’re talking to four different networks, and live conversations where offers are being put on the table,” he told ESPN. “They can see what we’re delivering.”

A well-placed industry executive says LIV struck out with approaches to multiple broadcasters, including NBC, CBS, Disney, Apple and Amazon, and that Fox Sports got involved only at the behest of Lachlan Murdoch, the executive chairman and CEO of Fox Corp. Last month, Sports Business Journal reported that Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of Donald Trump, had been calling broadcasters trying to generate interest in a LIV television package. In 2021, Kushner’s private equity firm, Affinity Partners, secured $2 billion in funding from the Saudi Public Investment Fund.

“There were people at Fox who wanted nothing to do with this,” the source said. “They were forced to do it.”

LIV requested a rights fee for year two of any deal and a guaranteed time slot on network television but both proposals were rejected by Fox, according to a source familiar with the specifics of the conversations. It is believed Fox has offered to re-evaluate network placement at a later date. LIV will also be responsible for the production of its tournament broadcasts and for selling commercial sponsorships during its time slots, two tasks that would usually fall to a broadcast partner.

“Any advertiser who touches this will get blasted,” a longtime sports TV executive said. “It’s a weak product but it’s a tainted product on top of that.”

It's weak ... but hey, at least it's tainted! And of course, Kushner is involved; after bringing about world peace, he was available.

For what it's worth, LIV is sort of denying Golfweek's report: https://www.usnews.com/news/sports/articles/2022-09-28/report-liv-golf-nearing-deal-to-buy-tv-time-on-fs1

[Uncle Rico]

Here's a fun story, according to Golfweek:

LIV Golf is nearing a deal to purchase air time for its tournaments on U.S. cable television, multiple sources have told Golfweek. The potential agreement — which is still being finalized — is with Fox Sports 1.

https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2022/09/27/liv-golf-fox-sports-buy-time-to-air-tournaments/

While media companies typically pay sports leagues a substantial rights fee to air their products, the deal would not see LIV receive payment, said a source familiar with the discussions. Instead, LIV — which is controversially financed by the Saudi Arabian regime’s Public Investment Fund — would buy time on the cable channel to air its events, a move that will be widely interpreted as a failure to attract serious commercial interest in what it is offering.

Just two weeks ago, the CEO of LIV, Greg Norman, said he was fielding intense interest from media companies eager to broadcast LIV tournaments.

“We’re talking to four different networks, and live conversations where offers are being put on the table,” he told ESPN. “They can see what we’re delivering.”

A well-placed industry executive says LIV struck out with approaches to multiple broadcasters, including NBC, CBS, Disney, Apple and Amazon, and that Fox Sports got involved only at the behest of Lachlan Murdoch, the executive chairman and CEO of Fox Corp. Last month, Sports Business Journal reported that Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of Donald Trump, had been calling broadcasters trying to generate interest in a LIV television package. In 2021, Kushner’s private equity firm, Affinity Partners, secured $2 billion in funding from the Saudi Public Investment Fund.

“There were people at Fox who wanted nothing to do with this,” the source said. “They were forced to do it.”

LIV requested a rights fee for year two of any deal and a guaranteed time slot on network television but both proposals were rejected by Fox, according to a source familiar with the specifics of the conversations. It is believed Fox has offered to re-evaluate network placement at a later date. LIV will also be responsible for the production of its tournament broadcasts and for selling commercial sponsorships during its time slots, two tasks that would usually fall to a broadcast partner.

“Any advertiser who touches this will get blasted,” a longtime sports TV executive said. “It’s a weak product but it’s a tainted product on top of that.”

It's weak ... but hey, at least it's tainted! And of course, Kushner is involved; after bringing about world peace, he was available.

For what it's worth, LIV is sort of denying Golfweek's report: https://www.usnews.com/news/sports/articles/2022-09-28/report-liv-golf-nearing-deal-to-buy-tv-time-on-fs1

Weird.  Greg Norman said networks were fighting over LIV rights.  Peas in a pod or something

[WhiteTrash]

As previously stated, I hope the LIV dies.

That said, I believe the NHL 'gave away' broadcast rights to NBC for free a few years ago. I think after a strike. And it's not unheard of paying for broadcast time and making money (a profit) off it by selling ads.

This may not be the death nail we hope for, but it doesn't look good for LIV.

[JWags85]

As previously stated, I hope the LIV dies.

That said, I believe the NHL 'gave away' broadcast rights to NBC for free a few years ago. I think after a strike. And it's not unheard of paying for broadcast time and making money (a profit) off it by selling ads.

This may not be the death nail we hope for, but it doesn't look good for LIV.

I mean, in a similar fashion, the NBA has funded the WNBA for decades as it lost money and struggled.  Now the league is getting traction, better broadcast deals, maybe loss leading is paying off. 

Could be the same for LIV.  Or it could be like NFL Europe.

[RJax55]

I mean, in a similar fashion, the NBA has funded the WNBA for decades as it lost money and struggled.  Now the league is getting traction, better broadcast deals, maybe loss leading is paying off. 

Could be the same for LIV.  Or it could be like NFL Europe.

The question that no one really knows is how long the Saudis will continue to dump money into LIV.

I'm guessing that Norman came up with some plan that brought in media dollars to offset some of the costs of LIV. I think the Saudis will stick with it and continue to support LIV even without a media deal. It's Norman that I don't see lasting.

[tower912]

I hit 13 out of 14 fairways today and shot 71.   


Sorry for the interruption.  Back to the descent into ob-LIV-ion.

[cheebs09]

I hit 13 out of 14 fairways today and shot 71.   


Sorry for the interruption.  Back to the descent into ob-LIV-ion.

When will you be joining LIV and for how much?

[tower912]

It was a good day for a schlub.

[4everwarriors]

I hit 13 out of 14 fairways today and shot 71.   


Sorry for the interruption.  Back to the descent into ob-LIV-ion.

Fahrenheit, ewe braggin' orr komplanin', hey?

[tower912]

Any day I break par is a good day.   

[WhiteTrash]

Any day I break par is a good day.   

Any day I break par, I'm in a scrabble. 

[tower912]

Any day I break par, I'm in a scrabble. 

You just need better tiles.

[swoopem]

I hit 13 out of 14 fairways today and shot 71.   


Sorry for the interruption.  Back to the descent into ob-LIV-ion.

I was in your neck of the woods last weekend. Played Pilgrim’s Run Friday and then both courses at Egypt Valley on Saturday. Loved all 3 spots. Pilgrims is a hidden gem and Egypt has fun tracks as well. Doesn’t hurt that I played really well (for me).

Great weekend

[tower912]

Once upon a time, a Champion's tour event was played at Egypt Valley.   Very nice course.

[Uncle Rico]

The PGA Tour should really embrace the strategic alliance with the Euro Tour and their Fall swing.  Wentworth, French Open, Italian Open and then the Dunhill Links.  Great events that need more promotion in the states

[Goose]

Rico

I was just thinking about a crazy idea, what about moving The Open Championship until the fall when the weather puts teeth on the course? The majors are too close together, imo and it would make for interesting golf later into the season.

[Uncle Rico]

Rico

I was just thinking about a crazy idea, what about moving The Open Championship until the fall when the weather puts teeth on the course? The majors are too close together, imo and it would make for interesting golf later into the season.

I’d like it but I think getting a full field through 72 holes without massive weather and sunset delays would be an issue.  Weather can be dicey in July as well.  Sort of like the crispy conditions one year and then wind and rain the next.

I like the summer run on the islands, but agree the majors are too close together.

[MU82]

I was just thinking about a crazy idea, what about moving The Open Championship until the fall when the weather puts teeth on the course? The majors are too close together, imo and it would make for interesting golf later into the season.

That has merit, Goose, but they had the PGA Championship in mid-August for decades before moving it to May a few years ago for the express purpose of putting the majors close together. So I don't think there's any going back to a more spread-out majors schedule.

[Goose]

82

I get it. Only mentioning it because the Old Course is far different in October than it is in July.

Rico
I agree, but I believe The Open used to be played with a Wednesday-Saturday format and that could be used to allow for weather or darkness. Still a weekend finish.

[Uncle Rico]

82

I get it. Only mentioning it because the Old Course is far different in October than it is in July.

Rico
I agree, but I believe The Open used to be played with a Wednesday-Saturday format and that could be used to allow for weather or darkness. Still a weekend finish.

I should have probably mentioned TV probably wouldn’t be too keen with a move and TV dictates a lot of this, sadly

[tower912]

They moved the majors out of the fall because of the playoffs and the Ryder/Presidents Cups.

[🏀]

They moved the majors out of the fall because of the NFL.

FIFY