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Tour Talk & Golf News / TIGER WOODS PLAYS A ROUND OF GOLF WITH LIV CHAIRMAN
« Last post by KAKIGOLF on March 22, 2024, 09:40:02 AM »


TIGER WOODS GOLFS WITH YASIR AL-RUMAYYAN, THE MAN BEHIND THE SAUDI REBEL TOUR

Tiger Woods stayed behind following a pivotal PGA Tour meeting to enjoy a round of golf with LIV's chairman, Yasir Al-Rumayyan.

The meeting, held in the Bahamas, brought together Woods and other prominent figures from the golf world to engage with the influential Saudi businessman. Details of the meeting were kept confidential, but PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan described the discussions as productive, focusing on Al-Rumayyan's vision and motivations for investing in professional golf.

This encounter holds significant importance, particularly in light of Woods' previous criticisms of LIV Golf. Despite past tensions, Woods hinted at a shift in his stance regarding Saudi investment in the PGA Tour, emphasizing the potential for mutual benefit. However, the prospect of a deal remains uncertain, with notable resistance among players towards Saudi involvement.

Despite differing opinions among players, there is a shared recognition of the need for dialogue and potential reconciliation to advance the sport's interests.
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Tour Talk & Golf News / ANTHONY KIM JOINS LIV GOLF, DEBUTS IN JEDDAH
« Last post by KAKIGOLF on March 01, 2024, 12:17:57 AM »


US golfer Anthony Kim, absent from professional golf for nearly 12 years, has made a remarkable comeback by joining LIV Golf as a season-long wildcard player. His official return will take place at LIV Golf Jeddah, set from March 1 to 3 at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City.

Kim expressed his excitement, stating his eagerness to compete with the best players and prove his capability to win again.

LIV Golf commissioner and CEO, Greg Norman, hailed Kim's talent and determination, emphasizing the league's support for his journey back to the top.

Kim will compete in all remaining 2024 LIV Golf regular season tournaments as one of two wildcard players, vying for points in the league's individual standings and a spot on a team in 2025. With an impressive career history, including three PGA Tour victories and notable performances in major championships, Kim brings a wealth of experience and skill to the league.

Despite setbacks due to injury, Kim's return signifies a resurgence in his competitive spirit, poised to make an impact on the global golf stage once again.
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Tour Talk & Golf News / 2024 WM PHOENIX OPEN: FIRST HOVLAND WITHDRAWS, NOW SCHAUFELE
« Last post by KAKIGOLF on February 06, 2024, 03:04:14 PM »


Xander Schauffele makes surprise withdrawal from the 2024 WM Phoenix Open after Viktor Hovland

Viktor Hovland, the 2023 FedEx Cup champion, has pulled out of the WM Phoenix Open on Monday. He will be taking a break to prepare for the Genesis Invitational next week.

He is not the only star player to miss the desert event. Xander Schauffele, who is fifth in the world rankings, also withdrew from the WM Phoenix Open. He had a disappointing T-54 finish at Pebble Beach last week, his first time outside the top 10 in four events this year. He will also be playing at the Genesis Invitational next week.

Both Schauffele and Hovland had decent results at the WM Phoenix Open last year, finishing 10th and 42nd respectively. However, their absence will not affect the quality of the field this week.

Scottie Scheffler, the world number one, will go for his third consecutive victory at TPC Scottsdale. He will try to emulate Steve Stricker, who won the John Deere Classic three times in a row from 2009 to 2011.

Other big names in the field include Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler and Justin Thomas. They are among the nine players in the top 20 of the OWGR who will compete this week. The WM Phoenix Open may not be a marquee event this year, but it still offers a lucrative prize of $1.584 million out of a total purse of $8.8 million.

The 2024 WM Phoenix Open will be held from February 8 to 11 at the TPC Scottsdale-Stadium Course.


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Tour Talk & Golf News / ANTHONY KIM RETURNING TO GOLF WITH LIV
« Last post by KAKIGOLF on February 05, 2024, 12:26:44 PM »


According to reports, Anthony Kim will make his comeback to golf at LIV Golf’s Saudi Arabia tournament in Jeddah on March 1.

Kim dazzled the golf world more than 10 years ago with a remarkable performance on a Sunday at Augusta, showing his potential as a rising star.

But he did not stay in the limelight for long.

Kim went missing from the circuit, and rumors circulated that an old injury and a lucrative insurance policy prevented him from playing. A few years ago, someone in Los Angeles bumped into him and asked about his golf skills.

“Non-existent,” Kim replied.

Kim’s only PGA Tour victory was the 2010 Shell Houston Open, but now it seems he will switch to the Tour’s main competitor.

LIV Golf has reportedly been negotiating with Kim for a while, and even though he considered a comeback to the PGA Tour.

He will likely join LIV.

More on Anthony Kim:
https://www.kakigolf.com/forum/index.php/topic,6067.msg74327.html#msg74327
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Tour Talk & Golf News / RORY McILROY CHANGES HIS TUNE
« Last post by KAKIGOLF on January 31, 2024, 11:10:14 PM »

(Photo Credit: AFP)

No sanctions for LIV players rejoining PGA Tour, says McIlroy

Rory McIlroy has reversed his position on how the PGA Tour should deal with his colleagues who have left to join LIV Golf and has urged the tour to welcome back the LIV rebels without any sanctions. The Northern Irishman, who has won four majors, was previously one of the staunchest critics of the Saudi Arabian-funded series.

McIlroy said on Tuesday at Pebble Beach, Calif., "I think life is about choices. Guys made choices to go and play LIV, guys made choices to stay here. If people still have eligibility on this tour and they want to come back and play or you want to try and do something, let them come back.

“I think it’s hard to punish people. I don’t think there should be a punishment for - obviously I’ve changed my tune on that because I see where golf is and I see that having a diminished PGA Tour and having a diminished LIV Tour or anything else is bad for both parties. It would be much better being together and moving forward together for the good of the game. That’s my opinion of it. So to me, the faster that we can all get back together and start to play and start to have the strongest fields possible I think is great for golf.”

McIlroy had previously said that those who joined LIV should face “consequences to actions” because they “irreparably harmed this tour.”

The most recent player to make the switch to the new tour was England’s Tyrrell Hatton, who reportedly got more than $60 million from LIV.

McIlroy said of Hatton, “I’ve talked to him quite a bit about it over the past month. It got to the point where they negotiated and got to a place where he was comfortable with, and he has to do what he feels is right for him. So I’m not going to stand in anyone’s way from making … what they deem life-changing money.”

The PGA Tour, Strategic Sports Group and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, which finance LIV, are reportedly close to reaching a working agreement that would determine the future of professional men’s golf.

McIlroy, a former PGA Tour board member, said, “I feel like this thing could have been over and done with months ago. I think just for all of our sakes that the sooner that we sort of get out of it and we have a path forward, the better.”



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Tour Talk & Golf News / LIV SIGNS TYRRELL HATTON
« Last post by KAKIGOLF on January 30, 2024, 01:34:09 AM »

CREDIT: Getty Images/David Cannon

Tyyrell Hatton joining team Rahm after jumping to LIV

English Ryder Cup star, Tyrrell Hatton, has signed with LIV Golf in a deal reported to be worth up to $60 million. Hatton will be joining Jon Rahm’s Legion VIII team, and will make his debut in Mexico this weekend.

He will skip the AT&T Championship at Pebble Beach - a PGA event Hatton had planned to play in.

This will be a major setback for Luke Donald and Team Europe, who are gearing up for the Ryder Cup in New York next year.

Hatton joins Adrian Meronk, who also left Team Europe last week, following Jon Rahm’s move to LIV, which Viktor Hovland called ‘understandable’.

On Discovery’s FORE! podcast, Hovland said: “I totally understand why [Rahm] left. That’s a lot, a lot of money.

“And at least when the management of the PGA Tour has done such a bad job.

"Just to be clear: I’m not complaining about the position I’m in, and I’m very grateful for everything.

"But the management has not done a good job. They almost see the players as labour, and not as part of the members.

"After all, we are the PGA Tour. Without the players, there is nothing.”

Hatton will likely retain his DP World Tour card, but his chances of playing in the Ryder Cup are slim due to the sanctions on those who join the breakaway circuit.

Donald might hope for a rule change that allows LIV Golf’s players to participate in the Ryder Cup or face losing their title in New York in 2025.

Hatton is the 16th ranked golfer in the world.
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Caitlyn Jenner on Hailey Davidson competing in women’s golf

Hailey Davidson made history as the first trans golfer to win the NXXT Women’s Classic in Florida. But Davidson’s victory has stirred up a lot of controversy with many fans and critics having different opinions on the trans golfer’s win.

Now Olympic gold medalist Caitlyn Jenner has joined the discussion. She used to be supportive of Davidson playing in women’s golf. But Jenner recently made a personal appeal, which has added more fuel to the fire.

Caitlyn Jenner shared her thoughts on trans athletes in an article in the Daily Mail. She is also a transgender athlete and says she plays golf as a hobby, not competitively, with men and women of all ages. Jenner, in her own view, thinks, “Hailey Davidson should admit that golf is a fair sport and quit competing against women.”

The 74-year-old said this based on the fact Davidson is still stronger than most of her rivals despite transitioning. Davidson says she can hit a “250 yard drive on a good day.”

But Jenner fires back, saying, “A 250-yard drive would put Davidson among the top 13 longest-driving LGPA players today.” Before transitioning, Davidson couldn’t even make it in the PGA Tour, but is now aiming for a spot in the LPGA Tour. “How is that fair to women?” Jenner wondered.

Jenner also urged the LPGA Tour to change their gender policy set in 2010. Hailey Davidson also agrees with this issue, backing the Tour’s choice to poll players about gender policy.
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Tour Talk & Golf News / ANTHONY KIM PLANNING RETURN TO GOLF AFTER 12-YEAR ABSENCE
« Last post by KAKIGOLF on January 27, 2024, 08:09:35 PM »
Anthony Kim may be making a comeback to pro golf after long hiatus



After a long absence from the sport, a former golf sensation is making a comeback.

Anthony Kim, who was once considered a future star in golf, is preparing to return to the game after 12 years away from competition.

Kim’s last tournament was in 2012, when he was 26 years old. He withdrew after the first round of the Wells Fargo Championship, following two other consecutive withdrawals. He then underwent surgery to fix his Achilles tendon and vanished from the PGA Tour.

Kim had an impressive record, with three top-10 finishes in majors, including a third place at The Masters in 2010.

Now, at 38, Kim is ready to play again, but he faces a big challenge. He reportedly has an insurance policy worth $10 million that covers him in case of a career-ending injury, which he would lose if he came back from his injury.

Will Anthony Kim choose the PGA Tour or LIV Golf?

Kim has an advantage in the current golf scenario, as he has leverage due to the conflict between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. Both entities are interested in him and offer him different benefits.

The PGA Tour allows Kim to resume his career where he left off and play whenever he wants, with possible entries through his “past champion” status and sponsor exemptions. As a three-time winner on the PGA Tour, Kim would be a valuable addition to any event, as he is a well-known and unpredictable player.

However, the PGA Tour is not well prepared to deal with Kim’s $10 million issue. The tour could reportedly help him, though, through sponsorships and a place in the Player Impact Program.

LIV Golf’s strength is, as usual, financial, as it could easily pay Kim the $10 million upfront and offer him more money through prizes and sponsorships. The league was not very keen on Kim until some influential players, such as Dustin Johnson, advocated for him. Kim now reportedly has a one-year deal on the table that would cover his insurance policy. LIV’s lack of cuts also gives Kim the opportunity to improve his game gradually.

The downside for LIV Golf is logistical. If Kim signed with them, he would have to play as a “wild card” without a team. He also probably wouldn’t have enough time to join the LIV event in Mayakoba next week, and the Miami event in April is suggested as a possible debut.

In any case, this is the most we have heard about Anthony Kim in over a decade. Some images and mysterious messages have appeared here and there, like a random swing video in 2018 when his swing coach wrote “2021 is going to be special.”

This is someone who said golf was “a fond memory of mine” eight years ago, but now he might be back in 2024.
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Tour Talk & Golf News / MALE-BORN TRANS GOLFER WINS NXXT WOMEN'S CLASSIC
« Last post by KAKIGOLF on January 26, 2024, 01:35:34 AM »
Hailey Davidson, a transgender golfer, triumphs in a women’s golf event and advances towards the LPGA Tour



A transgender woman, Hailey Davidson, 30, has earned a place on a prestigious tour that aims to help female players grow professionally.

Davidson, who was born in Scotland but now resides in Florida, has been pursuing her dream of becoming the first transgender woman to get a Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tour card. She has made significant progress towards her goal by winning the NXXT Women’s Classic at Mission Inn Resort and Club near Orlando, Florida. This victory grants her access to the Epson Tour, which gives exemptions to its top five players.

The Epson Tour is the gateway to the LPGA, which Davidson has been aspiring for.

However, Davidson’s win has also sparked controversy online, with many pointing out how Davidson would have an advantage over players who were born female in terms of hitting distance.

The LPGA Tour changed its policy in 2010 to allow transgender women to compete, but this also means that Davidson’s participation takes away one spot from a cisgender woman.

The irony of Davidson’s win is that the exemptions were meant to enable female golfers to compete on the Epson Tour and offer them “unparalleled professional growth opportunities for women golfers.”

Davidson celebrated her win on X, writing: “I was finally able to get my 4th professional win after two playoff holes. Also moved me into 1st place in the season rankings for two Epson Tour exemptions.”

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Tour Talk & Golf News / WORLD NO. 39 ADRIAN MERONK SET TO JOIN LIV GOLF
« Last post by KAKIGOLF on January 25, 2024, 05:33:14 PM »
ADRIAN MERONK JOINING LIV GOLF, TYRRELL HATTON MAY AS WELL



Adrian Meronk, who secured his PGA Tour card for this season through the DP World Tour, is set to join the LIV Golf League next week as it kicks off its new season in Mexico.

Meronk, a four-time champion on the DP World Tour who missed out on the winning European Ryder Cup team, will team up with Martin Kaymer’s Cleeks squad. He came in second to Rory McIlroy on Sunday at the Hero Dubai Classic—reaching a career-best 39th in the world rankings—and had planned to play this week at the Farmers Insurance Open on the PGA Tour but pulled out before the first round Wednesday.

Another player who has shown interest in LIV Golf is England’s Tyrrell Hatton, who last weekend told reporters in Dubai that he was sticking with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour.

But LIV Golf has made another attempt to sign the Ryder Cup player who won the 2020 Arnold Palmer Invitational and a source said a deal is near but not final. He would join Jon Rahm’s team, a 13th team in the league which has not been officially announced yet.

The PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, which funds LIV Golf, are still in talks to create an alliance that would reunite the game.

But LIV Golf pressed to sign more players ahead of its season which starts on February 2.

Rahm was a huge signing in early December.
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