Saudi funded Golf Super League

[Gawain]

Apparently the Saudis dropped $5bn on this shambles before they caught themselves on!

My brother-in-law is a former club professional, who does a bit of Stewarding at Tour events, esp the Ladies Tour, now he's retired.

Anyhow he got invited to do the same at a LIV event at a nearby club in Herts last year. Said the whole thing was crap, and even then he couldn't see how it could ever succeed.

 

[kaebess]

I think they thought they could take all of golf. Didn't expect the amount of loyalty shown to the original tour by so many players, as always thought they could buy it all.
Rory being one of the most vocal against LIV, he needs more recognition on his stance than he currently gets. He should feel very justified.

 

[Jay Bee]

It was certainly a lot of outlay compared to revenue generated

I'm sure it was.
The intention from Saudi's perspective was never to make money, though, it's just one of their avenues for sportswashing.
What they will lose reputation wise by pulling the plug is up for debate though. If there was a lot of upside to taking over golf, surely ditching it brings an equivalent downside.

I've not followed the LIV stuff closely to be fair.

 

[gbems92]

If it was ever going to work they needed ALL the big hitters. Without rory and scottie, maybe even tiger at the time, the pull wasn't enough. Rahm, Hatton and cam smith were good players but don't appeal to golf fans like Rory

 

[Hullbee]

If it was ever going to work they needed ALL the big hitters. Without rory and scottie, maybe even tiger at the time, the pull wasn't enough. Rahm, Hatton and cam smith were good players but don't appeal to golf fans like Rory

I reckon they were very very close with Rory thought they had him

 

[Gawain]

I reckon they were very very close with Rory thought they had him

From April 2024:
“I honestly don’t know how these things get started,” McIlroy told [interviewer] Lewis. “I’ve never been offered a number from LIV, and I’ve never contemplated going to LIV. Again, I think I’ve made it clear over the past two years that I don’t think it’s something for me."
'For the rest of my career': Rory McIlroy reiterates stance amid LIV Golf rumor