Jonathan Jones/USA Today The LIV Golf Invitational Series is off for a month, deliberately staying away from the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup playoffs for the next three weeks — and clearly with the long-ago idea that perhaps those who joined the controversial new venture could to compete in these tournaments. It was clear when PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan issued indefinite suspensions to those who played in LIV events that they would not be allowed to do both. And then what was probably inevitable came true last week, when 11 LIV Golf players sued the PGA Tour for anticompetitive practices, with three of them—Talor Gut, Hudson Swafford and Matt Jones—seeking temporary bans to request the ability to play in the FedEx Cup Playoffs because they have qualified through previous results. So much for a quiet period in the war that is PGA Tour vs. LIV Golf. The first playoff event begins this week at FedEx St. Jude Invitational, with a decision expected on Tuesday. Many of the PGA Tour players have spoken out against “LIV 11”, clearly annoyed that they – as members of the Tour – have been sued by their peers. There is a strong sense among them that if LIV was the choice of those who left, they should stick with it—and not want to “have their cake and eat it too,” which has become the cliché of choice. “Their version is they pick the events they want to play on the PGA Tour,” Billy Horschel said at the Wyndham Championship. “Obviously, those would be the highest world-ranked events and the biggest purses. It’s disappointing. They decided to leave and go follow their employer. I know there are kids a lot more angry and frustrated about this than I am.” Said Will Zalatoris: “What they’re doing there is detrimental to our tour. You can’t have it both ways. A lot of guys will be pretty disappointed if they’re allowed to do both.” There is a good chance that the three players who want to be allowed to play this week under the temporary order will be given that opportunity. If it does, then the PGA Tour will likely make the decision to expand the field to 128 players. A few thoughts on all of this:

LIV players who went with the “play less, more free time” argument to make the move did themselves no favors. They are making for easy fodder now that there has been a lawsuit. Everyone who signed up to LIV was fully aware that the League schedule was going to be 14 events next year and that they had to play all the events. The PGA Tour requires 15 events to enter and you can play as many as you want. And those 15 include the four majors. A LIV player exempt for the four major games would play 18 games. He will definitely be asked to play in Saudi Arabia’s international tournament on the Asian Tour. And there are rumblings that contract players are either being asked or required to play two of the Asian Tour international series events. That would bring their total to 21. This has been a bad talking point all along, and it seems worse now that some LIV players also want to be able to play in PGA Tour events. There is also the other side. Not all LIV players followed through by saying they wanted to play less or suggested they didn’t want to compete in PGA Tour events. Several hoped a deal could be struck with the PGA Tour to do both. Phil Mickelson, for all his issues with PGA Tour politics, did not resign his membership. He said from the beginning in an interview with Sports Illustrated that he wished to remain a member and pointed out that as a Life Member he was not required to play 15 games. He felt he could do both. Kevin Na praised the PGA Tour for everything it had done for him, but resigned his membership because he did not want legal disputes. Others valued their time on the Tour and there was no hint that their move was due to problems with the Tour. Gut, for example, said at the first event outside London that he hoped to do both. “I’m fortunate to have gotten to a point where I’m one of the best players on the PGA Tour right now, and I just don’t see how it benefits the fans, the game of golf, to start throwing bans, suspensions, things of that nature.” , Guth said. “I’m optimistic, and that’s why I haven’t resigned from the Tour, because I hope to continue playing on the PGA Tour. And I hope that both LIV Golf and the PGA Tour can coincide. I don’t see any reason why it can’t happen.” Almost from the moment he signed on as LIV Golf Investments CEO and League commissioner, Greg Norman said he felt LIV could work within the structure of a bigger golf picture. He called it “additive” and said he had no problem with LIV players competing in PGA Tour events. He also made it clear that he felt golfers were independent contractors and should be able to play wherever they wanted. But Norman is far from compromising on many of his recent comments. And there’s a sense of vindictiveness associated with his attempt years ago to start a world golf tour that was effectively stopped by then-PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem. If nothing else, Norman should play well. LIV got off to a better start than ever envisioned. It has attracted far more players than anyone thought possible and will continue to do so, perhaps at a slow pace, but nonetheless detrimental to the PGA Tour. However, cooperation from the PGA Tour – and the major leagues – should be Norman’s goal. It only boosts LIV Golf if these things happen. *Finally, there’s Davis Love III, who a few weeks ago suggested players consider boycotting events and has been quite vocal in his comments about the new venture. “The whole situation is unfortunate. I didn’t try to single out the US Open as hitters or not – threatening not to play,” he said. “I was saying if the LIV guys sue and they’re allowed to play on the PGA Tour, that the players are fed up enough with it, we understand that we make the rules on the PGA Tour and the commissioner enforces our rules and I don’t want these guys to play, come pick our tournaments, that we hold all the cards, not Jay or not (PGA of America CEO) Seth Wu or (USGA CEO) Mike Wan. “They don’t hold all the cards, we hold all the cards. If we say to the FTC and Washington, no, we support the rules, we don’t want these guys playing, we don’t care what the courts are. let’s say, our only option really, the nuclear option is to say, okay, if they have to play in our competitions, we’re just not going to play.” That’s pretty bold, and while he didn’t back down, Love told a Fire Pit Collective podcast that he could see the two sides trying to work together. “Yes, 100 percent there can be a solution,” Love said. “I think Jay has a lot of forgiveness and because of his personality and his unbroken heart, he would love to find a way. Well, yes, if it wasn’t the week before the majors, if it wasn’t against the PGA Tour’s regular season, it could work. “We could move our eight $25 million tournaments and move our eight $25 million events and not require them to play every one of their 14 and we don’t require you to play 15 here. Things can change, yes.” LIV’s plan all along was not to compete with the PGA Tour’s legacy events, to avoid weeks before majors (though it played its first the week before the US Open), to have multiple tournaments (this year there are five) coming after the FedEx Cup playoffs. Two weeks ago, I described a way in which the two entities could collude, requiring significant involvement. LIV should reduce its number of events from 14. PGA Tour should reduce the 15 event requirement from LIV playing members. The sides need each other very much. For now, such a meeting of the minds seems a long way off. There is too much venom, too much hostility. In the meantime, a trial that could take years will play on in the background and the noise will not subside.

Taking the call from Tiger

Webb Simpson was hoping to make the US Presidents Cup team this year as the event is played in his Charlotte backyard at Quail Hollow Country Club.  But injury problems got in the way as he dropped from 27th in the world to 74th.  Simpson didn’t play from the Sony Open in Hawaii until the Players Championship and never caught up.
The next best thing is being an assistant captain and Davis Love III made it official when he named Steve Stricker and Simpson as captains along with previously named Zach Johnson and Fred Couples.
Stricker captained Team USA to victory in last year’s Ryder Cup and was also the Presidents Cup captain in 2017. Couples was a three-time Presidents Cup captain.  Johnson is the 2023 Ryder Cup captain and was the assistant in 2018. And Love captained the Ryder Cup twice while dishing out multiple assists.

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Love cited the need to get some new blood in the pipeline as well as the local knowledge of Quail Hollow that Simpson would bring.
But it was Tiger Woods—apparently quite involved behind the scenes according to Love—who accidentally let the secret out early.
Simpson said he was at a hot dog place in Wilmington, North Carolina, with his family two weeks ago when Woods called.  Simpson told him he had to call him back.
“He just mentioned to me that I live in Charlotte, Quail Hollow is my home, that he thought he would bring a lot to the team,” Simpson said.  “It meant a lot.  But honestly, I’m done with the phone call and I don’t know if it was official or not.  I don’t know if he wants me to be…