Golf has seen a lot of controversy over the short span it has been played. But what has caught the attention of many in the community, without a doubt, was the inception of the Saudi-backed League back in 2021. The Greg Norman-led LIV Golf received a lot of backlash from the very first moment it turned its head up in the sporting world. The new changes brought with them a lot of problems and divisions. Moreover, many players left the two circuits, namely the European and the PGA Tour, to join the wealthy PIF-funded league.

And, after a long tussle back and forth, good news finally reached the ears of the alternate circuit in the form of a merger. However, a lot of uncertainty still remains regarding the proposed alliance, even as the deadline for the same rapidly approaches. Moreover, misfortune struck the players on the Middle Eastern circuit as the Official World Golf Rankings denied the athletes points from the system. Besides, the legend of the game, Tiger Woods himself, has come up with an alternative for LIV Golf, the TGL. With all the factors working against LIV Golf, the question naturally arises: will the league have to turn back to the OWGR to save itself?

Does LIV Golf have nowhere else to turn to?

The Norman-led circuit saw itself land in hot waters after OWGR refused to award points to the golfers playing in the league. Citing the reasons for a different format as opposed to the 72-hole one that the traditional tournaments of the game follow, the chairman, Pete Dawson, of the board mentioned how the LIV athletes are not playing on a platform that can be assessed in an equal manner with the numerous players competing on the “other 24 tours,” all the while dubbing them as good and capable players.

Such a decision did prove to be a hamper of sorts for the professionals since they lost a chance to be qualified for many traditional tournaments, including the majors. And, the proposed transaction between the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and the DP World Tour is in significant doubt since there has been very little progress on the same. The two news stories combined spell bad news for the future of the athletes on the Middle Eastern circuit, especially in the case of playing in the majors.

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However, is it really so? Although only time will tell if the alliance does go through, leading to a better situation, the athletes’ hands aren’t completely tied. Many of the golfers in the PIF-funded league, including Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, and Phil Mickelson, among others, are able to play in the majors owing to their past victories. PGA Championship and Masters winners like Koepka and Sergio Garcia, respectively, have an exemption to the competitions for life, while British Open champs like Henrik Stenson, Cameron Smith, and Louis Oosthuizen can do the same till they are 60. Meanwhile, U.S. Open winners have been exempt for a decade. Well, although the other LIV golfers would have a hard time, the athletes who have won previously have another chance at the prestigious events.

Adding on, the golfers on the Middle Eastern circuit can play on the Asian Tour as well, opening up a whole different array of opportunities. The Hong Kong Asian Tour, which took place from November 9–12, saw a star-studded lineup with big names including Smith, Patrick Reed, Peter Uihlein, and Talor Gooch. Even though a lot of athletes in the PIF-funded league have their hands tied due to the current circumstances, they are not without options.

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The future of LIV golfers

If one looks at other aspects of the Saudi-backed league, including the money being offered, the golfers have a lot to gain on the alternate circuit too. Each event boasts a whopping $25 million pool, apart from the final team championship one in Miami, which has $50 million. This has led to players like Gooch earning much more. The 31-year-old, in just one season, raked in more than $35 million, as opposed to the $9.25 million from 123 PGA Tour starts. A hefty reward for winning a golf tournament, one can say! Surely much more than what one can earn on the other two circuits.

With all the benefits that the players are receiving in the Middle Eastern league, along with the other avenues that are present for them, it would be a stretch to say that the circuit has nowhere else to turn to. Although the OWGR, along with the two Tours, have left LIV Golf in an unfavorable situation, it isn’t a completely helpless situation for the league and its golfers. Having said that, it has truly been on a roller coaster ride of sorts over the past couple of years, from its inception to the present!

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