Alternative Tour

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By Hotsauce

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  1. Hotsauce

    Hotsauce
    Georgetown MA

    So there's been a lot talk around a possible alternative Tour called the Premier Golf League. It looks like the players are intrigued, the PGA Tour is perturbed, and fans... well... fans don't know what to think. I've seen many alternative leagues fail in other sports, but with golf, wherever the best players play, golf fans will watch. I'd hate to see the PGA Tour deteriorate, but I'm all for more golf, alternative formats, and keeping the game fresh. What are you thoughts?

  2. Chuck Z

    Chuck Z
    Mt Pleasant, SC

    Military
    Was searching for information regarding Alternative golf and was wondering if this is what you are referring to, probably not, at the tour level:

    The Alternative Golf Association, also known as Flogton ("not golf" backwards), is a group of Silicon Valley executives that encourages golf participation by relaxing or ignoring traditional rules to reduce player frustration.[1][2][3] According to the National Golf Foundation, there were declines in golfers and rounds played compared to 2005. Flogton aspires to stimulate golf as snowboarding helped skiing. Patrick J. Gallagher (CEO), Scott McNealy (Commissioner) and Bob Lurie are involved with Flogton. Flogton encourages non conforming equipment such as lubricant applied to club faces, wedges textured like cheese graters and Polara Golf Ultimate Straight balls.[1]

    The tour as it is seems to have a rather full year round schedule and the players are participating in numerous tournaments overseas. There are a lot of tours out there besides PGA in the US and I just wonder how it would work. I love the game of golf as it is and do not want to see it go from Caddyshack to Caddyshack II. Maybe not a good example, but I think you get my point. Canadian football works well in Canadian and would not see that working in the US. Football in the US is starting a new league again and we will see how that goes, like they did with the WFL, USFL and arena football. Golf is a traditional game and I kinda like it that way. If it ain't broke, no need to fix it........
  3. Hotsauce

    Hotsauce
    Georgetown MA

    That's interesting, but not at all what I'm talking about Chuck.

    Several media outlets have discussed the potential of 'the Premier Golf League,' SI.com describes:

    "Over the weekend representatives from The Premier Golf League announced plans for a league that would rival the PGA Tour. The PGL would consist of 18 tournaments around the globe, limited to the top 48 players in the world and would offer a prize purse in the $10 million range.
    As backers for the new league continue to make contact with tour pros, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan has informed players the PGL is backed by “Saudi Interests."

    While I believe the PGA Tour is moving in the right direction (better playoff schedule, WM spectacle, Zurich Team Event, Stableford format etc...) I'm intrigued by team events, smaller fields and more golf!
  4. Steve E

    Steve E
    Stockton, CA

    I agree with Chuck I enjoy golf with the rules set forth by the USGA and R&A..I think you can offer a different format such as what we see in the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup..plus the only way I see tour players wanting to jump over is the prize fund..If they can not get the top PGA players will they go after the other tours(Korn Ferry) should be interesting...
  5. Dale V

    Dale V
    Surprise AZ

    I can't see a Premier League being successful since the PGA Tour and European Tour started doing the double-points World Golf Events. It gives everyone that elevated level of field for a few key tournaments but still retains the player's relationships with their tours, key to the player's benefits and ability to lock into Champions Tour, not to mention the invitations to the four majors that they would probably forfeit. All the talk could be a driver in improving those World Golf Events. Maybe they add a couple more to sweeten the pot.
  6. Zak R

    Zak R

    I can definitely see a way where the tour does have success. The way i see it the golfers they are looking to attract are the big names, the koepkas, DJs etc. The only way this tour would have success is by having the big names playing in them. From those players perspectives they care about money and they care about majors as Koepka has been very up front about. This tour gives them the opportunity to play in events that have a much larger prize with less participants than your average pga tour event. Reports have said that this tour will not compete with the majors (none of which are controlled by the tour) so those participating would still be able to play in those events.
  7. Eric H

    Eric H
    Ridgway, PA

    I just listened to Peter Jacobson on the No Laying Up Podcast. It was awesome. He was talking about back in the late 80s or early 90s when Greg Norman wanted to start a different tour with less player, only the top ranked, and they held a meeting at one of the tour stops. All the big names were in there but specifically the King, Arnold Palmer, stood up and said he was offended at the idea. All the work he and the others did to build the PGA tour to what it was and giving playing opportunities to other players and the chance to make a living. Stood up and left the meeting. That "tour" would turn into what we know today as the WGC events. It was a great listen, go give it a download!
  8. Frank P

    Frank P
    Port St. Lucie, FL

    Military
    I can see an alternative tour working if they run some different formats and make it different from the weekly grind of stroke play. Even some mixed events with LPGA and Champions Tour players thrown in from time to time.
  9. Zak R

    Zak R

    Frank P said:

    I can see an alternative tour working if they run some different formats and make it different from the weekly grind of stroke play. Even some mixed events with LPGA and Champions Tour players thrown in from time to time.

    I Agree, to me stroke play every single week gets to be boring. I think by having less players in events it gives you much more flexibilty to do a ton of other formats, matchplay, even things like stableford or wolf etc etc.
  10. Gabe B

    Gabe B
    Eau Claire, Michigan

    I don't think it will last. there is so much money on the pga tour and the players are used to playing the tour. I think some players will try but after a short period of time the tour will adapt some new formats at events and player will stay within their comfort zones.
  11. JAM

    JAM

    Will Phil go rogue?
  12. Joshua B

    Joshua B

    The course has always been the star for me...I’d have to see what that line up looks like for the course selections...and hopefully a few lefties emerge to route for to boot!
  13. Kurt K

    Kurt K

    Right now, can't see it working. The PGA Tour will fight with everything they have. For one, players need a waiver to play in non-PGA Tour events. They won't give it. Play and they revoke your tour membership and you can't get into any of the other tournaments they control. This would also include the Players Championship. The Tour represents all players, not just the players at the top (world ranking/money earned).
  14. Chuck Z

    Chuck Z
    Mt Pleasant, SC

    Military
    With the format, they are looking to attract the top tiered players, and in particular Tiger Woods because of his drawing power. They need Tiger to make it go. Tiger needs the majors. If these guys sign with the Premier League the take the chance of losing the tour status. Phil is all in but he alone cannot carry the league. Brooks, Stenson, Els, Henson and DJ have shown some interest. Losing the tour card could be a big negative for not playing on that tour. The individual format only allows 48 players with big purses.

    The tour would be composed of 48 players competing in 18 tournaments from January through September, with 10 events staged in the United States and the other eight around the world. The events would be 54 holes with no cut and shotgun starts over the first two days to better showcase all the players during a television window.

    A lot of ifs with the Premier Tour. TV, sponsors, top players, players losing tour cards, etc, etc.....on paper sounds good, but in reality, might be a long shot......with respect to all opinions......
  15. Don O

    Don O
    Madison, WI

    If this even gets off the ground....
    Those 18 events will decimate any number of the PGA Tour Stops. Based on the money for those 10 stops in the US with a guaranteed star power, likely far more than 10 would wither and die w/o the "top 48".
    Even rolled into the PGA Tour, those 48 won't need/want to play much more than the other 3 majors.
    With the remaining PGA stops reduced to Korn Ferry stops, who will the top 48 be when Ernie, Phil, Tiger, and DJ are at or above 50?

    Sounds like the PGA would need to have fewer events and a few more setup as "invitational 3 days events" to allow the stars the chance to cash in and have more time off. Most of the European events that draw US PGA players guarantee money upfront. So maybe this is a negotiating ploy. The long schedule now tends to favor the PGA more than the players.

    Personally, I would ok with more open weekends to allow more coverage on the Champions Tour and the LPGA rather some of the lesser PGA stops where I don't recognize most of the players. Or a couple of actual Korn Ferry events.
  16. Chuck Z

    Chuck Z
    Mt Pleasant, SC

    Military

    Don O said:

    If this even gets off the ground....
    Those 18 events will decimate any number of the PGA Tour Stops. Based on the money for those 10 stops in the US with a guaranteed star power, likely far more than 10 would wither and die w/o the "top 48".
    Even rolled into the PGA Tour, those 48 won't need/want to play much more than the other 3 majors.
    With the remaining PGA stops reduced to Korn Ferry stops, who will the top 48 be when Ernie, Phil, Tiger, and DJ are at or above 50?

    Sounds like the PGA would need to have fewer events and a few more setup as "invitational 3 days events" to allow the stars the chance to cash in and have more time off. Most of the European events that draw US PGA players guarantee money upfront. So maybe this is a negotiating ploy. The long schedule now tends to favor the PGA more than the players.

    Personally, I would ok with more open weekends to allow more coverage on the Champions Tour and the LPGA rather some of the lesser PGA stops where I don't recognize most of the players. Or a couple of actual Korn Ferry events.

    Seems that I see lots of golf including the Champions events as well as the LPGA and Korn Ferry events. Late at night see overseas events. Never a lack of coverage for golf all over the world and I like it. They cover the overseas event where the world ranked players are playing, even though we may not recognize many of the other names. I watch a lot of golf Thursday thru Sunday and sometimes, other days during the week.
  17. Lance P

    Lance P
    Hillsborough, NC

    Don't the tour players have a PGA pension? Would/could they risk losing that by "jumping" to the start-up organization?
  18. Chuck Z

    Chuck Z
    Mt Pleasant, SC

    Military

    Lance P said:

    Don't the tour players have a PGA pension? Would/could they risk losing that by "jumping" to the start-up organization?

    Valid point.......also would their sponsors jump if they had to leave the regular tour.......their sponsors pay their bills big time........a lot of IFs........very interesting to see how this plays out.....We all love this wonderful game of golf, but is more tours the answer and creating a tour for only the elite an answer......I believe the elite want to be included in the four majors and they could be excluded with all requirements for qualifying for a major......again it is early and we can hope in our way prognosticate the finale of the Premier Tour.
  19. Chuck Z

    Chuck Z
    Mt Pleasant, SC

    Military
    Not great for the Premier Golf League!

    Golf Channel's Rex Hoggard..."Following weeks of speculation, and with nearly all of the game's top players taking a wait-and-see approach, the first domino has fallen in the mysterious bid to create an alternative global golf tour."

    "Last month at Torrey Pines, current world No. 1 Rory McIlroy said he needed to take some time to consider what the Premier Golf League was proposing, but on Wednesday at the WGC-Mexico Championship the Northern Irishman shut the door on the concept."

    "The more I've thought about it, the more I don't like it. The one thing as a professional golfer in my position that I value is the fact that I have autonomy and freedom over everything that I do," McIlroy said. "If you go and play this other golf league, you're not going to have that choice."

    I think more of the top tiered players will follow Rory's lead and those are the players the Premier Golf League need to survive.......could be a long road for the PGL........
  20. Allen L

    Allen L
    Clarington, OH

    Players will follow the money, the Premier Golf League would have to have some deep pockets to compete with the PGA. Course some competition isn't a bad thing.
  21. JD Dempsey

    JD Dempsey
    Savannah

    I would like to see a tournament with smaller galleries and no grandstands. Every time I snap hook a ball OB I think to myself, "If i was on tour the gallery would have stopped this ball before it went OB".

    I am not sure of the viability of another tour, but I wouldn't mind seeing how another organization could attempt to improve the product.
  22. Mike S

    Mike S

    I don't expect this to actually happen. however i do think this will push the PGA Tour to update and change to some of the wishes potentially like a proper off-season. Not saying it should be 4 months but even a 2 month full no golf off season to rest, recover and reset for the players. I think this would also help with new fans desire to watch as they will not have a tournament every week all year to follow.
    I understand this will be a hard ask as the tour has sponsors locked in for year round events and money is what it comes down to, however i hope its something they consider with other sponsors falling off due to contracts expiring in the coming years to revisit the off season issues.

    I also hope they use this new TV contract to leave open the possibility of agreed changes by both parties in the future to be able to adapt to the way media evolves. I hope they learned their lessons from this past contract and how much media coverage and demands have changed in the last few years.

    I think all these items including the "threat" of this new tour will ultimately push the PGA Tour for the better.
  23. Chuck Z

    Chuck Z
    Mt Pleasant, SC

    Military
    They will have to have the top tiered players to succeed and I do not feel they will sway from the PGA money, their sponsors and the majors to go for this short season league. Will the PGA work hand in hand with the Premier League, NO. Without the top tiered players will the patrons attend, NO. With respect to all opinions, just a traditionalist.

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