The LIV Tour – essentially the most controversial touring circus in sporting historical past – will quickly be on Australian shores, however will it’s good for Australian golf?
the details:
- The LIV Tour will probably be coming to Adelaide for an occasion in April
- Australian golf legend Carrie Webb is puzzled over whether or not the controversial Tour will probably be good for the game on this nation
- Whereas it is going to increase the game’s profile, Webb is anxious in regards to the origin of the Tour’s funding and the shortage of alternatives it is going to present younger Australian golfers.
The Saudi-backed breakaway golf league will descend on Adelaide in April for the third occasion of the inaugural LIV Golf League, the place 48 of the world’s greatest gamers will battle it out for a staggering $20 million prize.
LIV, wherein Australian legend Greg Norman serves as CEO, has ignited heated controversy since its launch. Australian golf legend Carrie Webb has been divided over whether or not she will probably be good for the game on this nation.
“I believe it could be good to have golf in Australia in April when it is not, and that places golf within the headlines,” Webb instructed ABC Grandstand.
“As soon as the summer season of golf is over right here, the one headlines are whether or not the Aussie does effectively abroad.
“It is good that Adelaide has such a giant occasion, I beloved it once we performed there on the Australian Open all these years – the South Australian followers had been an enormous help, so it is nice for them and nice to have one of the best Australian gamers again.
“However by way of giving alternatives to different younger Australians to play, it does not. The 48 gamers journey around the globe and play collectively and so they do not present any alternatives aside from [for] These 48.
“In case you take a look at it pretty much as good for golf, what avenues are good for golf? Some are good and a few aren’t. You possibly can select it nonetheless you need.”
Webb mentioned her important level of competition with the LIV idea was how the dizzying contracts supplied to the world’s high gamers for defecting from the PGA Tour strengthened the worst aspect of {golfing} stereotypes.
And whereas there are points of the brand new tour that would assist appeal to a brand new fan base to the game Webb loves, the 48-year-old is uncomfortable with the best way the Saudi Arabia-backed tour has been funded.
“The messages from the LIV tour will not be what I want to see about golf. Leaping from essentially the most profitable spherical and going to a different spherical to get more cash, that is the stigma of golf we’re making an attempt to eliminate — it is a wealthy man’s sport,” Webb mentioned. These messages will not be one of the best.”
“However there are issues in regards to the LIV Tour that I believe are compelling. The workforce facet is compelling and might create new, youthful followers.
“On the finish of the day, I am not in opposition to new competitors in golf or new excursions, it is simply the best way it is being dealt with and, for me, fairly frankly the best way it is being funded.
“The best way you are funded is the largest hurdle for me.”
Creating the game in Australia is one thing near Webb’s coronary heart and she or he believes the crop of incoming feminine golfers is among the many strongest the nation has ever produced.
With famous person Minjee Lee capturing one other main championship final yr and the likes of Hannah Inexperienced, Grace Kim and Steve Kiriakou shining brilliant, the long run seems to be brighter than ever.
Webb mentioned, “She (Mingie Lee) had an awesome yr final yr and actually got here into her personal. I am means forward of her this yr, she’s constructing a extremely nice profession, so I will be in search of her to play effectively.” .
“I used to be in search of Hannah Inexperienced to interrupt into the winners circle, aside from not profitable the LGPA, that was the one factor she did not do, it was her most constant yr.
“We’ve got Steve Kiriakou, she performed very well in her rookie yr and it took her a few months to settle in however as soon as she performed very well.
“Gracie Kim, she’s a expertise and a star within the making, I believe she’s going to get by means of some nerves early within the LGPA early within the yr, and she or he’s going into this large time.
“However she’s prepared, she simply has to assume she’s able to take the following step and as soon as she thinks the sky is the restrict for her.”
Webb will take to the course herself at subsequent month’s Victorian Open as she returns to the occasion for the primary time since 2020.