Women’s LIV Golf league could be difficult LPGA Tour players to refuse
NAPLES — Billions of dollars in startup cash. $20 million purses. $4 million winners’ checks.
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment decision Fund confirmed it would spare very little to make positive its controversial LIV Golfing Sequence got a foothold.
Now the target shifts to a possible women’s LIV Golf series and if a country that proceeds to discriminate versus girls will save some of that existence-changing revenue for them.
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CEO Greg Norman was requested by the Palm Seaside Put up in July if LIV Golf would enterprise into the women’s aspect.
“One particular hundred p.c. Fall the mic on that,” he said. “We have mentioned it internally, the possibility is there.”
That comment got the awareness of LPGA golfers. Some are sending out warning indicators to the LPGA Tour.
“I feel a great deal of ladies they would go since it can be a big change,” Spaniard Carlota Ciganda said this week from the CME Team Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf Club. “If they are asking you to go to Saudi and they are likely to pay you $5 million, what would you do? Would you stay right here? Would you go and take the cash?
“I realize both of those points. I will not assume it’s correct or mistaken. You have some political thoughts but at the same time this is our job and if you have an opportunity someplace else why not consider gain and go.”
Madelene Sagstrom, a 6-12 months LPGA veteran from Sweden, has noted the rivalry LIV designed with the PGA Tour, and the friction concerning people who defected from the tour and all those who have remained loyal.
Sagstrom is not certain the LPGA Tour could endure a similar conflict.
“I consider the LPGA will have to handle it otherwise than the PGA Tour,” Sagstrom stated. “We’re a minimal bit far more susceptible I would say.”
Karrie Webb, the 7-time important winner who life in Boynton Beach, explained to Golfweek in June she fears a LIV women’s league could “spoil women’s golf.” Webb grew up idolizing Norman, a fellow Aussie, but has posted her disappointment in her “childhood hero” .
Subsequent the Palm Seaside Post’s report in July, LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan instructed the London Times “she would interact in a conversation” with LIV if it signifies advertising women’s golfing. But she additional there are “a good deal of things to think about” just before the LPGA would do business enterprise with LIV Golfing.
Marcoux Samaan declined to speculate even more when requested this week about LIV entering the women’s golfing enterprise.
“As a steward of the activity, we’re just actually listening and finding out,” she explained. “We do not know what the intentions are. We’re genuinely just centered on us.”
The golfers’ concentrate undoubtedly has been on the LPGA and far more precisely the $2 million test for this week’s winner. But the disparity in the income on the LPGA Tour compared to the PGA Tour and LIV gets the interest of most women on the tour.
LIV distributed $255 million in prize dollars and bonuses for 8 functions this calendar year. That variety will bounce to $405 million for 14 functions upcoming yr. The PGA Tour purses for a 47-function 2022-23 period will increase to $428.6 million.
The LPGA approached $90 million for 34 tournaments this year. Included is the $7 million purse for this week’s Tour Championship.
Entire world No. 15 Charley Hull of England believes several of her friends would very seriously take into account a LIV invite if it integrated lifestyle-altering fork out checks.
“I believe maybe they would,” she explained. “I imagine it would be a very really hard one but if the LIV tour did arrive together and they did offer you you anything, you would be mad not to have a glance and take into account it.”
LIV Golfing, which will be rebranded as the LIV Golfing League in 2023, has drawn heavy criticism for the reason that of Saudi Arabia’s repeated human legal rights violations. And not only are women of all ages repressed, women’s rights activists and political prisoners reportedly have been sexually assaulted, tortured, and killed in Saudi Arabian detention cells.
But in contrast to the adult males, women’s golfing presently has ties to Saudi Arabia. Aramco, the Saudi Arabian petroleum and natural gas company, is in partnership with the Ladies European Tour. The Saudi-backed Aramco Crew Collection takes position throughout a few continents. A group sequence aligns with LIV Golf’s team concept that has develop into the most well-liked aspect of its men’s collection.
The Aramco Saudi Ladies Worldwide presented by PIF is Feb. 16-19 at Royal Greens Golfing and State Club in King Abdullah Financial Town and has a $5 million purse, up from $1 million in 2022.
Several LPGA golfers are sponsored by Aramco, some selling Golfing Saudi on shirts and hat. Georgia Corridor, ranked 31st in the earth, was last year’s winner of the Aramco Saudi Girls Intercontinental. She mentioned this week “a good deal of components would issue” if LIV begun a women’s league and she was pursued.
“Investors coming in like they are, placing a large amount of funds into golfing in basic is a great matter for women,” she said. “It is undoubtedly fascinating to see if there will be a LIV women’s tour.”
The remaining Aramco Group Collection party for the 2022 time was at Trump Golfing Hyperlinks Ferry Stage in New York and won by Lexi Thompson. Her relationship with Donald Trump could be a variable if she experienced a decision to make.
Thompson, No. 7 in the world and from Delray Seashore, is a longtime member at Trump Global in West Palm Beach and golfed with Trump though he was president. Trump has aligned himself with LIV Golf and future calendar year at least a few LIV activities will be held at his qualities.
Thompson and present entire world No. 1 Nelly Korda of Sarasota had been asked about a achievable potential union with LIV.
“No alternatives have been brought upon us or the tour,” Thompson reported. “I know Mollie said that she would have discussions but which is not in our management. We are just undertaking what we can on our tour.”
Korda won the particular person title at the Aramco Workforce Collection occasion at Sotogrande in Spain in August.
“My eyes are established on the LPGA,” she explained. “That’s all speculation to me. I am concentrating on the LPGA Tour and what’s in entrance of me and with all the LIV things heading on, that is all speculation and I don’t aim on speculations.”
Now, all eyes and ears will be on what Norman and LIV Golf have in store for the females.
