Former Ryder Cup skipper warns PGA Tour/LIV officials: "Golf is heading for a reckoning"
Former European Ryder Cup skipper Paul McGinley has warned the PGA Tour and LIV that golf is 'heading for a reckoning' somehow if their differences aren't resolved.
Former European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley has warned the PGA Tour and LIV that golf is 'heading for a reckoning'.
McGinley expressed concerns for the future of the sport in a recent podcast appearance with the Irish Independent.
The winning 2014 Ryder Cup captain reckons we are now at the point where 'nobody is winning' and players have far too much power.
"Its not sustainable now," he said.
"Financially the PGA Tour can not keep up this level unless something changes. LIV, for everybody who says the Saudis have got loads of money, they are not a charity.
"They are not going to keep giving money away and burning – whatever it is – $40 to $50million bucks per tournament.
"There's no traction really in terms of the public watching.
"There's no TV deal in place. There's no corporate sponsors in place. It's a big, big ask to be spending several billion dollars that they’ve already put in to it. Nobody is winning here.
"The only people that are winning are the players on both sides.
"If you're Shane Lowry, for argument's sake, you’re making three or four times the money you were before LIV.
"Life's never been better. And if you're Ian Poulter or Lee Westwood – you're making three, four, five times the money. Life’s never been better."
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McGinley's comments were made before the Sun newspaper reported that a $1bn deal between the PGA Tour and PIF will be announced shortly.
He continued: "But if you’re in the middle, the media, the TV companies, the people who go to the tournaments, over on the PGA Tour the sponsors, the charities who are getting a third or a quarter of what they used to get.
"All that money is being sucked out in order to pay these ridiculous prize funds which is more than what golf is producing.
"Golf is living outside its business model. It's not sustainable. Golf is heading for a reckoning somehow."
McGinley also didn't mince his words when it came to his thoughts on players having far too much power.
Patrick Cantlay, for example, has been accused of trying to snatch power.
The suggestion, from Golfweek, was laughed off by Cantlay.
Even Jordan Spieth, who sits on the board, found that accusation hilarious.
But there it is indisputable that the players have gained significant leverage with the introduction of LIV.
McGinley added: "Players have too much power over the game. I can say that as a player myself.
"They have too much veto in what goes on in the game. They're going to vote for what suits them best rather than what’s best for the sport.
"So there needs to be some kind of a coming together.
"There needs to be less power from players and a more unified product going forward that’s going to appeal to the public."
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