Saudi Golf League

I'd like to think I or any man in the street would still turn down that sort of cash though maybe I wouldn't. These guys have tens of millions in the bank though. You'd like to think that would buy them some sort of moral depth.
If LIV offered me a grand to play which is about the same ratio of cash to what I've got in the bank as the likes of Garcia, Westwood etc are being offered I know for a fact I'd say no.
Fully agree with you though money is destroying sport.

 

This is the big disparity in the field. DJ, Phil have significant wealth, Richard Bland, Oli Fisher less so.

Taking the argument to the extreme why do multi- million pound footballers need to be paid millions when they already have financial security?

Probably easy to say what you would do hypothetically but in reality morals often get pushed aside. I’m not saying this is a good thing just a reality.

 

I think there is something about accepting that you are in a very privileged position as it is and seeking more money like this and forfeiting what should be important in your respective sport (i.e. traditional tournaments, Ryder Cup) is beyond the pale.

I accept that there is obscene amounts of money in the premier league, that doesn't mean it is then acceptable for a break away european super league.

 

Just heard some of the questions posed to Westwood and Poulter.

Essentially asked if there was any tour they would turn down. If Russia offered them money for example, or back in apartheid South Africa.

The responses from Westwood and Poulter were "we're not answering hypothetical questions". All sounds quite DePfeffel-esque.

This world is so grim it's hard to stomach. Mega greed over morality in a slither of the populous while millions of people are literally queuing at foodbanks and wondering just how they are going to survive. Let alone the wars across the world.

The world is very much broken.

 

Stoic philosophy postulates that relying on external things beyond your control for happiness will eventually lead to unhappiness. There will never be enough money if that’s what you think makes you happy.

 

https://www.q102.ie/news/sport/ian-poulter-dodges-moral-questions-at-liv-golf-tournament/

Hypothetical it might be but they could have still answered it. That they refused to will make people come to their own conclusion to if they would play in Russia for Putin.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/aug/02/tiger-woods-liv-golf-offer-greg-norman

Big respect to Eldrick. That's a lot of cash to turn down even for him.

 

yes that’s a lot of money even for a billionaire to turn down particularly when you can hardly play . Bubba Watsons reasons for going are the best though , he’s getting allegedly £60m to go to LIV so he said he prayed with his wife and then decided to sign the contract

 

So much cash involved. If people want to accept it they shouldn't be knocked for doing so, but if they turn it down respect to them. As Greg Norman says in the link below from his interview last night the PGA Tour have sponsorship deals with Saudi companies so how LIV different? The current established tours with their closed shops don't like having more competition. I believe those that play for LIV shouldn't be allowed to play where they did before. It should be treated like other sports where if you're signed to a company that's the only place you perform. New stars will always be created to replace those who chase the money.

 

Typical that Stenson won his first event and got over 3 million

 

No matter what they say it’s a direct attack on the PGA tour in particular, I’ve tried to watch some of it on YouTube and for me the format is unwatchable as a competitive event . The UAE basically took over the European tour by stealth , sponsoring events, then adding tournaments in Dubai , then the season ending Race to Dubai and final sponsoring the whole tour renaming it DPWorld which is the UAE equivalent to LIV , you’d have thought the Saudis would have gone down that route instead of employing a bitter man with a grudge against the PGA and giving him a blank check book

 

Similar to what Ricky Gervais said about the actors and actresses at the golden globes - If ISIS rang up your agent and offered you rolls for obscene money, you'd snap their hands off

 

That’s spot on morals disappear when a massive cheque is on the line , Bubba Watson and his praying with his wife comment goes to a new level particularly as he has two adopted children who won’t be able to go to Saudi with him as adoption is illegal

 

For some their morals remain, Tiger Woods turned down more than $700m, Andy Murray has also said no to the Saudi cash.

Well done them.