Yesterday’s LIV was the best golf day I have witnessed in years! The team thing even got me excited. Short tight golf course kept the boys thinking, great to see.
The PGA never "put in their time and energy developing players". They took advantage of professional golfers running a secret "non-profit" society that generated many billions.
These guys on this site sound like the democrats defending their policies to the American population. The PGA, just like unions, had its place in the beginning and then the greedy fat cats stepped in and took control. The players were the value, the administrators thought they were the show and gradually screwed them. Zinger is one of them and they dropped him without a second thought (which was no great loss). Watching network PGA golf was literally like watching grass grow. The PGA and the Royals are a bunch arrogant, greedy old farts who only thought of themselves and now they are paying the price. LIV saw an opening and took it. The smart players saw the opening and they took it. Good on them.
What the PGA Tour does is provide cookie cutter 3 shot golf courses, McIlroy has even commented on that before. Regardless of whether the course is easy or hard, if the setup is different from the PGA Tour Template McIlroy struggles. The courses in Dubai follows the Template which is why he does well If he showed up on a random DP course I suspect he'll shoot his usual -10 to -20 and finish 5-10 shots back
Agree with DanielSong39 on the cookie cutter course. Hong Kong was an excellent example of a non-PGA "easy for long hitter" style course. It demanded shot shaping and accurate play. Bryson Dechambreau started off trying to over power it and quickly changed his game. I would have liked to see how Rory McK. would fare on that test. I see comments about LIV playing "no-name" courses, etc. and just laugh. PGA has made a point of pulling the teeth on some formerly great courses so their pampered pets can score well. I don't recall many false fronts on the PGAT, or some of the other features we got to bedevil the players shooting it out in Hong Kong. Bottom line, LIV is going for the World while the PGA is trying desperately to drag golf back to the 1970's. Zinger has it right, the PGAT is now a feeder tour for LIV. And it deserves exactly what it gets.
@@whiskeytangosierra6 I am a Golf obsessed nut. I love to play. I am a freak who can spend hours on the range. I love to study the golf swing and watching the professionals. I love the clothes, shoes and the golf clubs. What I can't stand however is the manufactured hatred between the Tour and a roaming Exhibition. The PGA in their arrogance, with their secrecy and greed didn't listen to some of their best and made the choice for some to leave, an easy one. I dont like the carnival atmosphere of LIV, the constant music would drive ne nuts (and I'm an audiophile). The Team thing would be fun...I guess...once or twice a year but I couldn't give a damn. And the OTT promotion/celebration is enough to make me ill...it never stops. I much prefer the PGA but really miss some on LIV. It's a shame it came to be and part of me believes the Saudis are snickering in the corner as they know most can be bought. Now the PGA has made Eldrick a member of the Board and it's laughable. Has ever written a business plan, led strategic discussions on business development, community investment? He'll make hundreds of millions with this new emerging PGA and he and his friends (the usual suspects) will win even more cash awards for their contributi9n to the game...what a farce. Just give me GOLF...I like the game in it's purest form, the rest is but a sideshow.
@@whiskeytangosierra6 - when LIV first came out I started calling the PGA the AAA minor league. The players can wait till they get called up to BIG SHOW.
Scottie Scheffler just won Arnold Palmer, great golfer I really like him, it's his 1st win in 51 weeks yet he's the undisputed number 1 in the world according to the OWGR, what a joke, LIV Hong-Kong was a 10 times better tournament to watch today with both individual and team titles coming down to the wire. PGATOUR has a big problem, this is a fact.
Agreed. I've said for at least 6 months now that Scheffler shouldn't be called 'world #1' even just on the PGAT alone you can't be #1 when you can't putt. Fair enough he won by putting well this weekend, but like you said it's been 51 weeks and players like Hovland, Koepka and Rahm were much better last year. Rahm was the #1 player on PGAT last year, he's still playing great now but he can't even get into a playoff on LIV because the competition is so high and shotgun starts are the truth - same conditions for all.
I was watching the API for only 1 reason: my son was carrying the score placard for McIlroy and English. What a snoozer! NBC was showing Scheffler almost exclusively as the rest - McIlroy, Lowry, and Thomas - were choking big time. I watched a few minutes of the LIV but turned back to see if I could see my son out there. Never did.
Good to see Sheffler not putt horrible and get a win. He may be getting back to number 1 talk with niemann and others. But he should not be number 1 right now.
We were watching API until Sheffler had five shot lead. Turned channel to LIV and enjoyed the show! Great finish and very exciting! It was great watching the top players compete! BTW Rory laid an egg Sunday.
Liv tournament was particularly interesting this week in Hong Kong because of the old school venue. The course was short in length and had a variety of holes that required more strategy that brought the shorter hitting and accurate players in contention. The leaderboard was crowded and had players and teams that are not normally in contention along side the usual great players. PGA gets it wrong by lengthening the courses and stunting the ball when they should be shortening the courses and designing them to make using drivers more penal and riskier on off hits. Long irons off tees with long iron approaches make for more interesting golf different from bomb and pitch golf.
USA is importing 100 million dollars a day in Saudi oil at the moment, $100,000,000 x 366 days this year = $36,600,000,000 (36 Billion) just this year. LIV is pocket change to PIF all paid for by Americans
That man's putting is scary good for having 12 years off, the faster greens will be trickier for him but right now he's progressing nicely since returning from the shadow realm
You especially note it when the pgat has these no cut or low cut events. The idea is nice but you have players that aren’t in contention and have on paper nothing to play for. With all 4 players counting on Sunday, you’ve gotta bring it for your team
I stopped watching most of the PGA tournaments the day I realized the tour was going to try to block not only the best players from playing on the LIV tour, but all players. As a free market capitalist, I always believe more competition is better for the consumer.
Been saying this for a while as well, many PGA pros want to get the Majors exemptions before signing to LIV until the OWGR got sorted and now LIV gave OWGR the bird.
The PGA tour has a problem. It got used to decades of dominance which ingrained arrogance and apathy. LIV came along and challenged that domination. The PGA went from denial, to hatred, to copying LIV formats, in an obvious realisation that they have to try to cope with this challenge. The biggest thing that Greg Norman realised? That golf is a truly global sport and that the USA should not have a monopoly. Courses don’t have to be 7,400 yards tracks with short rough. LIV Hong Kong was electric. Anthony Kim served up a 5 under par, we saw 2 holes in 1 and the tournament came down to a 3 way play off.
Incorrect guys, golf is declining in the USA but its booming everywhere else in the world. 330 million people in the USA and 7.6 billion in the rest of the world. The odds for LIV are undeniable
PIF's strategy is good....investing in the Euro tour seems a good fit. Tiger doesn't want anyone else to play with his new toy (PGAT) so good luck with the tent simulator thing
Watching golf and caring about pro golfers is declining. In my youth, I idolized the PGA pros that slept in their cars, had outlandish personalities, etc. The money has turned even today's secondary tour players into mini corporations that all act the same. The fall was inevitable.
@@nbt3663 It certainly did during the pandemic period, but that has begun to unwind. Today's kids aren't much for a 4 to 5 hour activity that isn't constant action. Participation peaked in 2007, but had been in decline. And with the erosion of the middle class, many can't afford it either.
Good chat….wish we had a Zing n Payne out there today….sadly that golf LIV or PGA does not have someone (s) to wear some throwback clothes, Derby’s, high top socks. Give me sumfin (from my G’sons words) the LIV event was epic. Congrats to Abraham at LIV & Scotty for the Arnold Palmer.
LIV Golf is ONLY possible because the Saudi PIF is single handedly supporting its huge funding. I'm not sure the LIV model will ever turn a profit. That said, I for one love the LIV concept. Great players, interesting personalities, exciting competition and exotic locales. If LIV keeps moving in this direction it will soon be the Big Dog of professional golf.
It’s not cheap to break through ‘the establishment’ but they will eventually make a profit. They don’t seem too concerned either way. The Saudis have a lot of marketing to do themselves.
Dead on Coo. NBC and CBS must know this. What exactly is their strategy for growing the number of viewers? And who exactly enjoys that viewing experience - a couple, few shots then back to commercial?
Zinger is simply speaking the truth. He doesn't mince words, he doesn't say the "politically correct" thing, he's just brutally honest. He sees things as they are and calls them as he sees them. (And, this is likely why NBC canned him from their PGAT broadcasts.) The PGA Tour seems to be ignoring this reality but it's apparent to even the most casual observer that the best golfers are taking the money and going to LIV.. When Jon Rahm exited to LIV, it was an earthquake moment and the Tour lost its brightest star. Now, the Golf Channel talking heads are singing hosannas to Scottie Scheffler but I'm simply waiting until he bails on Jay Monahan and company as Rahm did. Who will be the next one to be dubiously crowned as the PGAT #1 after Scheffler bails? Zalatoris? zzzz...Lowry? zzzz...Homa? zzzz...Loudmouth Rory who choked big time this past Sunday? zzzz... With the Tiger times merely a memory now, what appeal to any of these golfers have? LIV is where the BEST play now. PS Why doesn't the PGA give the Ryder Cup captaincy to Zinger again? The man was a master when his team whacked the Euros in 2008. Zach Johnson was godawful and it's time we had a tough and accomplished Ryder Captain again. Just my $0.02.
Scottie Scheffler is great but boring to watch. Jordan Spieth has fallen so far as all the players I like to watch now are all on the LIV TOUR! Jason Day - Adam Scott - Rickie Fowler are all popular and would be better off at LIV now too!
Adam and Jason do not want to lose eligibility. Rickie still has a chance to be a lifelong golden boy for the pga tour so it’s a tough decision. And he has to consider the majors as well. The only thing holding back a true world tour of superstars is the owgr and majors. That’s it’s. It’s not the pga tour or congress or anyone but the owgr and the majors.
Good show. I'd love to learn how LIV evaluates a player for a signing bonus. Yes, LIV going after major winners has been a pattern since inception. But they're dealing with 50+ contracts. What goes into their formula?
A little late to the viewing, but watched the 1st episode of Swing on NFlix last night, and JTs comment about those that went to LIV was intriguing. I bet the lack of love is reciprocated. Pompous arse he is.
Possibly. Creation of a true World Tour would be a good thing in my opinion. The PGA Tour has been preeminent but at the expense of other golf tours - the wraparound schedule really killed off the Australian events for example. What I find most distasteful in all of this at the moment is the amount of money in the game.
well zinger is right i watch LIV on sat and sun brilliand then i watched arneys on the weklend and that is one of the top PGA GAMES no contest LIV so much better end of
Hey that makes sense. There is no point for the PGA tour to increase purse sizes from its sponsors. The PGA is a national regional tour - so why not allow the PGA to continue as a feeder tour to LIV & other International Tours? This keeps the tradition of the PGA. If PGA is all about traditions - then why increase PGA prize money? PGA players are supposed to be just playing for traditional trophies.😀
Azinger obviously said the wrong thing defending Phil. Pauls contract couldn't be that much. But when you gamble on the Tour that is burning bridges faster than a hobbit civil war. They can't count on the tour to pay its bills, and thats a problem. Remember the tour borrowed against its tv contract. Im.think8ng Azinger simply got loosed lipped, and they felt he wasnt trust worthy for the big boy club.
Spot on, if the Networks are cutting corners the TV money is drying up for the PGA! In a competitive tour eco system, Peter Malnati isn't winning a PGA tour event.
They really need to get the merger finalised, I dont want LIV to cannabilise the PGA tour but it will if the PGA doesnt take a knee or come to a meeting ground with them. The combination of massive payouts and a fresh international platform is to hard to compete with long term
Solution? - accept two tours running concurrently (like the NFL AND AFL). Players play on an order of merit with a view to a matchplay tournament at the end for the top four players from each tour deciding who the Superbowl Champion Golfer of the Year is. We could also have relegation and promotion play-offs from the feeder tours of each - DP World for LIV and Corn Ferry or equivalent for PGA. This sort of Pyramid would create meritocracy and allow new fresh talent in to the big leagues. Fans could follow their players like they follow a soccer or american football team. Players would sign to their respective tours for a contract of 3 years. Each tour would have 70 players and 30 events with no cut running from Feb/March to September/October in a clearly defined golfing season. The top 50 players from each tour would qualify for the 4 majors and maybe The Players These would be the only tournaments they played in together apart from the tour matchplay finale and of course, The Ryder Cup every couple of years.
PGA has become too exclusive in how they choose venue for touraments. LIV played in HK!!! Unheard of for PGA to even considered. I enjoyed watching top golf played in HK.
So 300,000 watched LIV last tournament. 1.8 watched PGA. Six times as many. Enjoy your LIV “league”. Millions more watched women’s basketball. LIV is below women’s basketball!! Bwahaha 🤣
Many young people stream what they watch and do not pay for regular tv. NBC continues holding the pga tour hostage for years as a pay to view, whereas LIV is free to watch on TH-cam and CW. LIV plays to the sensibility of all players playing in the same conditions and 4 hours and its done. The pga is boring and the viewer is tortured to watch the same channel favorites for way too long. With LIV you get to see more player and many shots, not all putting and guys walking. The pga did it to themselves
Give it a chance Jack. The pro game needs a MUCH wider audience if it is to continue as a top tier sport. Has to go more global as US market can’t support it alone. Global is more interesting in any event as we see in soccer.
@@ThinkingManShow The Tour was usurped by a criminal state in order to buy a respectful reputation. And you’re fine with that? I played world tours as well and it’s not close. There’s no place like home. Let me say in closing honor, decency and integrity are not just words, they’re a code to live by and that’s what the PGA Tour stood for from its formation. Not anymore.
Look for Zing to show up in the booth on LIV occassionally. Hong Kong was awesome. Shorter course proved to be a challenge for all. Teams were crazy on final day. Tried watching the API on Sunday, but all I got to see was a few minutes of golf (mostly putting) and a truck load of commercials.
Golf fans who’ve seen this in real time have thought the same thing: you win a major and get ~5 years of exemptions why wouldn’t you sign with LIV. The signature events on the pgat aren’t as legacy building as people thought. It really is the majors and that’s where legends are made. That said, I don’t even know what the pgat does but implementing parts of LIV (no cut, reduced fields, bigger money, player equity) fails without adapting the format. My only solution: the pgat becomes the American League, same format as LIV or if they want four rounds just to be unique go for it, and then each year there is a tournament of the top 4 teams from LIV and the PGat. DPWT, int series, and the old pgat and kft will feed LIV and the American League, but keep the owgr as is so players who are already on teams have an incentive (qualifying for majors) to play events sporadically
Luke Donald was number one in the world at one stage - bit more than accomplished golfer - another great listen - being an Aussie we have soft spot for poms as that’s where our convict ancestors come from!!
When Nance isn't on the weekend broadcast the level of talent and entertainment from the booth drops to zero. When NBC and ESPN gain the microphones it is an assault to the senses. Nance is guilt of giving the Tour a tongue bath by the minute, but his tone and focus are always spot on. Zinger talked so much it was excruciating to have to listen, as bad as Collinsworth in football. Good riddance. But the point that NBC is seeking cost savings is important. A growing sport with increased value brings added revenues, not less.
Thx User-oy. Zing not great in the booth which is opposite how he is outside the booth. Calling golf is not at all easy. Miller and Maltbie made it look easy.
It doesn't seem to me that the PGAT actually builds players. Anyone who wants to play in events must pay a fee, and pay all their expenses. The tour does nothing besides running the event. They even dress the caddies in monkey suits for the sponsors. When you are hurt, it is see ya later fella.
Zinger needs to replace Manahan, to try and turn the PGA around, the players adore him... but he's dead straight.....Tiger is out of The Palmer and the Players, will he make the cut at the Masters.... not...
Monohan definitely needs to go! Jay has caused the most chaos. Instead of working with LIV, he tried to destroy them. Stupid mistake, but he hasn't paid a penalty.
Hey! Bob Brown called it First! PGA a feeder tour for LIV! Please make sure to mark me at the top of the Royalty List. I don't want to be short changed on royalties for calling it first! LOL
Someone has probably already made this observation. The PGA Tour would be in a very different place today had Tiger not arrived and dominated. I recall how much publicity he received, even before playing on the Tour. The old guard PGA - Arnie, Jack etc. lifted the Tour out of obscurity in their day. Tiger came along at the perfect time to generate huge interest in golf. Without Tiger, who would have been the superstar everyone wanted to watch on Sunday? Tiger created a temporary boost to the PGA Tour. Reality has now reared it's ugly head revealing that the PGA Tour is not much without Tiger.
True. And demographics are playing a huge role. The shift away from television has hurt all sports, and if you are the weakest of the big sports, then you will be hurt more quickly.
So this was about the dilemma facing broadcasters in a post Tiger world? Azinger is not the font of all knowledge and clearly has an axe to grind. I don't miss his opinions and as for your assessment / dismissal of Luke Donald, he is also a winning Ryder Cup captain, former number one player in the world and 18 time winner worldwide. As a European watcher of the PGA tour I have found it refreshing that the recent winners, Knapp and Eckroat have had the space to come through and played some impressive golf to win those events so in that regard some of the so-called big name players being absent was a positive. As far as the PGA tour is concerned, they should have agreed a deal with LIV to form part of a world wide tour when they were offered the chance. That's where the future lies with at least one, probably two, huge golf tournament per month, throughout the year, including the four majors.
Thanks Algernon - we acknowledge Donald as a player and particularly his very fine captaincy of the Ryder Cup in Rome. That has nothing to do with being a TV broadcaster and that is the point. He’s “cheap” as far as NBC sees it. What’s your opinion of the viewing experience on NBC and CBS with the high frequency commercial load?
@@ThinkingManShow The commercial interruptions are not as frequent here. The PGA tour events are aired via Sky who act as a conduit for whichever US broadcaster is on air. When there is a commercial interruption your side, Sky commentators will carry on with any feed ongoing or cut away to a studio for some swing analysis etc. I don't believe that a UK audience would tolerate the number of commercial breaks that you have and it would probably drive people away from watching golf.
OK a few comments about Azinger The media likes to sensationalize things for clicks, Azinger was not "fired". Broadcasters are independent contractors hired at an at-will basis so the contract can be renewed or terminated by either party at any time for any reason with no repercussions. The reason Azinger was replaced was because he was not good. His voice quality, content, and timing are not professional quality. He also costs more than a replacement would have cost. Most companies replace employees when they can get a better one for lower cost. I'm sure he feels like he was thrown under the bus hence his comments. He promoted PGA Tour and US government propaganda for the last 2 years because that was his job. He felt he did that job well but NBC did not agree so his contract was not renewed. What we're seeing is a pushback on the 2 years of work that he did.
Thx Daniel. Seems nbc is keen on hiring a cheap replacement as they audition. Makes the Zinger termination look like more cost cutting as they’ve been doing aggressively with golf channel.
@@ThinkingManShowMakes me wonder why NBC doesn't let Dan Hicks go. He was good in his prime but he's lost a step. Surely there are talented broadcasters that are 30+ years younger who are looking for a chance (Hicks himself was one of those up and comers at one point)
Jim Nantz is an even better example, his performance has degraded even further than Hicks I actually enjoy watching no namers do broadcasting because at least they hire professionals for those positions instead of celebrities or former professional level quality announcers who are kept on due to nepotism
Not in the U.S. but in the global arena. PGAT is going through a down cycle like other pro-sports, NFL, NBA and MLB. They survived it and unless the PGA has new ideas to adapt to the new climate, they are going to be a minor league and sponsors will look to spend their money somewhere else.
None of this is ‘hit and giggles’ DS. Plenty of people have bad words for the job zinger has been doing, it’s part of why he is gone. He’s not worth his asking price. I’m not sure LIv is clamoring to get him. Maybe in a couple more years he makes a comeback with a refreshed act. But as you say the guy has had quite a life. Maybe it’s time to enjoy his personal life more and do some smaller jobs. Some guys with recent majors like Clarke want to get to number 1 in the owgr before going, which is soooo silly considering no one respects the owgr like at all right now. As you say: All the best players are not in the majors. The majors really need to be careful they don’t end up like the owgr and the pga tour…major diminished…Which is possible because as we know is all the same people with all the same interests and questionable moves. Zinger is a bit bitter now but nothing he is saying is news to any of us. It’s funny I’m totally ok with cussing during live sports by the athletes but am totally against studio hosts getting themselves all riled up and cussing on GC. One is very much part of being a professional and the other is not. masters winners are more likely to move. Because all golfers really want is a lifetime (ish) tee time at the masters. How much longer with all 4 of those 4 be super bowls? Brooks’ thing is being ‘too cool for school’ but the guy is very engaged with HIS team. No doubt. Good show guys.
@@ThinkingManShowfor sure. That team wrinkle is what makes it so much more fun. Doesn’t it? It’s like those mean teachers who love to organize group projects; make everyone suffer a little more than just doing it on their own, because it builds character and makes it more interesting. And btw can’t wait to hear your takes of jays 1 hour dance around today.
The PGA tour is fine as new players come to light every weekend. They're shooting the scores well under par needed to win tournaments. No one cares what Azinger has to say. He's a hasbeen that no longer plays ( not even the champions tour) an got dismissed from broadcasting because he's unlikable.
My only complaint about LIV coverage now is that they will show a player, even one of the very top players like Cam Smith who is putting for a birdie, he's at -2, sinks the putt and ends up at -2. The last LIV Tournament, don't recall who it was, he hits his second shot on a part 4, hole in two - Eagle!!! Say his score showing on the screen show as --4 BEFORE THE EAGLE. It shows that he is Great shot! YES! An Eagle. His score after the Eagle -4. What happened? Did he get a two stroke penalty somehow? Shouldn't his score be -6? Hmmm.... I've tried to contact LIV about this because it happens a lot - LIVE! Now you probably will not see this happen with the guys at the top of the tournament - good! PLEASE LIV Golf - STOP doing that. It is annoying but worst than that it is doing the exact opposite of what you want to accomplish. You're favorite player, Cam Smith, sinks a birdie putt from 20 feet! Great! So why isn't his score after the putt being reflected. They are showing you the score of the player BEFORE he putts the ball in for a birdie, OR has a hole in two so to speak which is pretty rare. IT IS DEFLATING!
@alienrenders yep. This is the difference. If it already happened the score is already updated. As you say if it's live it will update after the putt drops. Very interesting last night because I pay very close attention I knew Niemann made a hole in one before they showed his shot because his score just before had gone from 6 to 8 under. Many people hate the pylon but I love watching it change constantly
@@kennethmckinney2532 It's like you haven't seen a game and you don't want to know the score. When you see a birdie or an eagle, you want to see the score updated. I'm only talking about when they show the score and the shots, like say the 2nd shot.
Serious question: is this podcast supported in any way by LIV, the PIF, or an affiliate and do either of you have any connection or past dealings with the PGA TOUR? You started when LIV emerged. What's the connection, or better yet, why the timing?
often wondered this myself, but if I were to guess I would say that Content Creators saw LIV golf hand them a whole bunch of saleable content on a silver platter, and they jumped at the chance...I mean even the PGAT shills have been talking LIV golf since its inception because it gets clicks....perhaps nobody noticed but the PGAT was probably at a point where talking about it was as dreary as having to watch it, case in point the NLU guys constantly slamming the broadcasts and formats and players for years, then LIV comes along and all of a sudden they've got a spring in their step for the PGAT and start slamming LIV, because, free content
Thank you 🙏. I had the same question myself. It’s all pro LIV and anti-establishment. I think we can all agree CEO’s are screwing their employees in every business but feeling sorry for pro golfers worth $100 million doesn’t make sense. Something amiss
I am glad someone is showing/highlighting LIV news or about LIV news/tournaments as main media established outlets seem to be sleeping about LIV Golf tournament news or are intentionally avoiding to have articles about their tournaments.
I watch the LIV Tour and would rather watch it than a PGA Tour event but most golf fans don't like the model. Yes LIV has Rahm, DJ, Cam Smith, Koepka, Dechambeau etc. but most of the 18 players 39 to 53 have not been competitive in most of the tournaments. Kaymer, Westwood and Mickelson have been terrible. I don't see how you can say LIV has a stronger field than a PGA Tour event with 120+ players.
I would be in support of LIV Golf if they played a 72 hole tournament! 54 holes is Senior tour level of golf. Plus they have that crazy shot gun start for each round. The PGA tour will have new stars and the future will be brighter for them and the liv golfers are getting older and older. NBC shot themselves in the foot when they closed down the Florida studio and eliminated all the different shows they had. Comcast and Las Vegas trying to make golf a gambling sport now. Zinger was an ok announcer nothing great, Nick Faldo was better.
as much as I despise PIF for buying off golf and destroying what Ive known about golf my whole life - you cant deny these people for making money (the golfers especially) the reality now is that Golf is massive all over the world where as its dying in the US and LIV is different, fresh almost, with individual LIV teams about to be bought for hundreds of millions by companys like Ferrari, Porsch, Apple, Coca Cola, Tesla, JP Morgan, Titleist...you get the picture...sadly the PGA tour is going to take a back seat now and Tiger just cant do Tiger things anymore to single hdaidly pull that train down the track - if the PGA tour is a feeder tour? so be it, so what? they did to little to late and their time has come - it was a good run but guess what golf fans? - golf will still go on reagrdless of wherever or whatever the PGA tour becomes.
There are always reasons to be optimistic Kinsley. Appreciate the way you framed your commentary. We should do a show soon inspired by your thoughts on why we should all be optimistic. 👍
Can I ask a silly question. What is LIV’s revenue source? Their TV revenue last year was $3 million. PGAT was $400 million. PIF investment has been $2 billion. Revenue $3 million. Is that a sustainable business model? LIV will die in 2 years when Yasir pulls the plug. Watch and see.
I'm not a LIV viewer and never will be. Those guys that went to LIV are forgotten. They will not be inducted into the Hall of Fame. I'd like to see the pga not allow LIV golfers into a majors tournaments. The LIV golfers sold their souls to a circus tour. You're wrong about the pga tour.
Azinger should go to LIV. Arlo is terrible, Feherty is passed it and Foltz is average. I would like to see Zinger and Mickelson commentate on LIV. LIV should also get a quality female commentator and some past players to commentate on course. Sue ann and Don are average on course commentators.
'LIV should also get a quality female commentator' Like who? Arlo does a very good job considering he was new to golf when he joined LIV. Please name a female commentator who can hold the coverage together for 5 hours better than Arlo.......good luck 😆 'Don' aka Dom does a great job on course as well. It's a shame Troy didn't stay on, she could hit the ball for miles and the players respected her and liked her doing on the range interviews - but she's no commentator.
So let me get this straight. Zinger said he wanted to do TV for 5 more years. NBC went cheap because millennials are also cheap and won’t pay for cable. So disgruntled former employee says PGA Tour is feeder tour for LIV. Question: where did the LIV players come from? Oh that’s right the PGA Tour. They poached them. Definition of poach is skim from the top. Not exactly respected in business. So if Xander wins a major, he’s gone. Great, get out there and rest on your laurels! So essentially you’re saying playing for LIV is filthy rich guys playing filthy rich guys for no real purpose? Great business model! I don’t think Zinger goes to LIV as don’t think he likes Norman and wants to join Greg’s Goons 😂. Arnies Army vs Greg’s Goons. Who ya got?
The USA is not the only market. It's doing well in Asia ,Australia and S America from what I understand. Plus, Rahm and Meronk probably added 2 other countries to the list. LIV doesn't have to "beat" the PGA in the US to survive. It has an entire world to draw from.
@macheesmo3 couldn't have said it better. As an American I can honestly say we think we own golf. It's a big world out there and they are watching on various platforms...
as much as I despise PIF for buying off golf and destroying what Ive known about golf my whole life - you cant deny these people for making money (the golfers especially) the reality now is that Golf is massive all over the world where as its dying in the US and LIV is different, fresh almost, with individual LIV teams about to be bought for hundreds of millions by companys like Ferrari, Porsch, Apple, Coca Cola, Tesla, JP Morgan, Titleist...you get the picture...sadly the PGA tour is going to take a back seat now and Tiger just cant do Tiger things anymore to single hdaidly pull that train down the track - if the PGA tour is a feeder tour? so be it, so what? they did to little to late and their time has come - it was a good run but guess what golf fans? - golf will still go on reagrdless of wherever or whatever the PGA tour becomes.
The TOUR will always watchable because those young unknowns have gone through the grinder to get there and they are hungry. The real drama and competition is there, not an exhibition of pre-paid fat and happy stars. Sorry.
@@jimmerhardy "the real drama and competition is there..." this alleges no drama and compelling exists anywhere else, which is not a fact. You have fallaciously asserted an opinion as a fact.
@@macheesmo3 Okay, what drama does LIV generate? Will Smith ever win again? Will the LIV players ever get standing or is this the end to their competitive careers? For many, the team idea has resonated, so where's the drama? I watched for months and came away realizing LIV was boring compared to the PGAT. There, the burning desire and incentives are real.
Oh yeah Aberg sure 'grinded' his way onto the Ryder Cup squad by playing as a pro for a few months then got gifted Adrian Moronk's spot who did far more to deserve the pick than Aberg. The PGAT also tried to sign Anthony Kim recently despite not playing for 12 years so don't forget that either.
LIV Hong Kong was great, the final day was dramatic and hectic which has become LIV's trademark. Excellent year so far for LIV. Azinger has a point.
The PGAT doesn't even come close to LIV.
LIV HK had more big names than API.
Yes, by a bunch!@@encinobalboa
@@Ball_Striker Yep, it feels slow paced compared to LIV, and when the PGAT do get some tension and drama - it cuts to cheesy commercials in between
@@encinobalboa It certainly did. PGAT should invite the top LIV players to the Players....but they won't because they are stubborn not smart
Yesterday’s LIV was the best golf day I have witnessed in years! The team thing even got me excited.
Short tight golf course kept the boys thinking, great to see.
Absolutely. And the legend of the crushers 24 grows.
The PGA never "put in their time and energy developing players". They took advantage of professional golfers running a secret "non-profit" society that generated many billions.
These guys on this site sound like the democrats defending their policies to the American population. The PGA, just like unions, had its place in the beginning and then the greedy fat cats stepped in and took control. The players were the value, the administrators thought they were the show and gradually screwed them. Zinger is one of them and they dropped him without a second thought (which was no great loss). Watching network PGA golf was literally like watching grass grow. The PGA and the Royals are a bunch arrogant, greedy old farts who only thought of themselves and now they are paying the price.
LIV saw an opening and took it. The smart players saw the opening and they took it. Good on them.
What the PGA Tour does is provide cookie cutter 3 shot golf courses, McIlroy has even commented on that before.
Regardless of whether the course is easy or hard, if the setup is different from the PGA Tour Template McIlroy struggles.
The courses in Dubai follows the Template which is why he does well
If he showed up on a random DP course I suspect he'll shoot his usual -10 to -20 and finish 5-10 shots back
Agree with DanielSong39 on the cookie cutter course. Hong Kong was an excellent example of a non-PGA "easy for long hitter" style course. It demanded shot shaping and accurate play. Bryson Dechambreau started off trying to over power it and quickly changed his game. I would have liked to see how Rory McK. would fare on that test.
I see comments about LIV playing "no-name" courses, etc. and just laugh. PGA has made a point of pulling the teeth on some formerly great courses so their pampered pets can score well. I don't recall many false fronts on the PGAT, or some of the other features we got to bedevil the players shooting it out in Hong Kong.
Bottom line, LIV is going for the World while the PGA is trying desperately to drag golf back to the 1970's. Zinger has it right, the PGAT is now a feeder tour for LIV. And it deserves exactly what it gets.
@@whiskeytangosierra6 I am a Golf obsessed nut. I love to play. I am a freak who can spend hours on the range. I love to study the golf swing and watching the professionals. I love the clothes, shoes and the golf clubs. What I can't stand however is the manufactured hatred between the Tour and a roaming Exhibition. The PGA in their arrogance, with their secrecy and greed didn't listen to some of their best and made the choice for some to leave, an easy one. I dont like the carnival atmosphere of LIV, the constant music would drive ne nuts (and I'm an audiophile). The Team thing would be fun...I guess...once or twice a year but I couldn't give a damn. And the OTT promotion/celebration is enough to make me ill...it never stops. I much prefer the PGA but really miss some on LIV. It's a shame it came to be and part of me believes the Saudis are snickering in the corner as they know most can be bought. Now the PGA has made Eldrick a member of the Board and it's laughable. Has ever written a business plan, led strategic discussions on business development, community investment? He'll make hundreds of millions with this new emerging PGA and he and his friends (the usual suspects) will win even more cash awards for their contributi9n to the game...what a farce. Just give me GOLF...I like the game in it's purest form, the rest is but a sideshow.
@@whiskeytangosierra6 - when LIV first came out I started calling the PGA the AAA minor league. The players can wait till they get called up to BIG SHOW.
Just watching a 3 man LIV playoff. Was there. PGA Tour event this week?
You were in Hong Kong? Not many Americans hopping on a plane to go to Hong Kong to watch golf I’d guess.
You should lay off the Big Mac's!!!!@@Macattack11639
Scottie Scheffler just won Arnold Palmer, great golfer I really like him, it's his 1st win in 51 weeks yet he's the undisputed number 1 in the world according to the OWGR, what a joke, LIV Hong-Kong was a 10 times better tournament to watch today with both individual and team titles coming down to the wire. PGATOUR has a big problem, this is a fact.
Agreed. I've said for at least 6 months now that Scheffler shouldn't be called 'world #1' even just on the PGAT alone you can't be #1 when you can't putt. Fair enough he won by putting well this weekend, but like you said it's been 51 weeks and players like Hovland, Koepka and Rahm were much better last year. Rahm was the #1 player on PGAT last year, he's still playing great now but he can't even get into a playoff on LIV because the competition is so high and shotgun starts are the truth - same conditions for all.
I was watching the API for only 1 reason: my son was carrying the score placard for McIlroy and English. What a snoozer! NBC was showing Scheffler almost exclusively as the rest - McIlroy, Lowry, and Thomas - were choking big time. I watched a few minutes of the LIV but turned back to see if I could see my son out there. Never did.
OWGR is a joke , everyone now admits it ! Pgat and their buddies really F d it up here ...
It was awesome 🎉
Good to see Sheffler not putt horrible and get a win. He may be getting back to number 1 talk with niemann and others. But he should not be number 1 right now.
We were watching API until Sheffler had five shot lead. Turned channel to LIV and enjoyed the show! Great finish and very exciting! It was great watching the top players compete! BTW Rory laid an egg Sunday.
True Brian. The LIV final round was a good watch all around. Hong Kong a cool setting. Greens were quick and true even in damp conditions.
Liv tournament was particularly interesting this week in Hong Kong because of the old school venue. The course was short in length and had a variety of holes that required more strategy that brought the shorter hitting and accurate players in contention. The leaderboard was crowded and had players and teams that are not normally in contention along side the usual great players. PGA gets it wrong by lengthening the courses and stunting the ball when they should be shortening the courses and designing them to make using drivers more penal and riskier on off hits. Long irons off tees with long iron approaches make for more interesting golf different from bomb and pitch golf.
I would make a case many of the best players are being shut out too often by bombers presides.
I love watching LIV, 5 1/2 hour rounds. Better than 10 minute highlight video at PGA.
As do I but I put it at 1.5x speed. Nothing lost but 90 min. faster. PGA is like watching paint dry.
5 hours coverage, 3 hours of commercials on PGAT broadcasts.
@@Diogenes-ty9yy Indeed., their numbers are so low that they cannot get a good rate per minute so they have to run a lot of them.
USA is importing 100 million dollars a day in Saudi oil at the moment, $100,000,000 x 366 days this year = $36,600,000,000 (36 Billion) just this year. LIV is pocket change to PIF all paid for by Americans
Thank sleepy Joe for making other oil countries rich, including Iran, instead of lowering cost in this country. We are being led by idiots.
And the dimwitted Donald Trump wants us back where we were enjoying Peace, Prosperity, Secure Borders AND Energy Independent. "What an idiot"!
They could buy rahm 8 times just for fun.
Did you see AK throw down a 65! in the final round?
That man's putting is scary good for having 12 years off, the faster greens will be trickier for him but right now he's progressing nicely since returning from the shadow realm
Rolling the rock like a 10 year old with no fear of missing
At 6700 yards. Could never make it on PGATOUR. He’s where he belongs. Getting paid to do nothing.
@@Macattack11639sure bro.
I really seeing now how the team aspect on liv is making that part of it great for the players, fans and golf.
HONG KONG CHINA !
The whole mix of teams and single play is great...
team golf is bs cmon now unwatchable
You especially note it when the pgat has these no cut or low cut events. The idea is nice but you have players that aren’t in contention and have on paper nothing to play for. With all 4 players counting on Sunday, you’ve gotta bring it for your team
@@drdontpassone8164extremely watchable. What are you talking about ?
I stopped watching most of the PGA tournaments the day I realized the tour was going to try to block not only the best players from playing on the LIV tour, but all players. As a free market capitalist, I always believe more competition is better for the consumer.
Been saying this for a while as well, many PGA pros want to get the Majors exemptions before signing to LIV until the OWGR got sorted and now LIV gave OWGR the bird.
The PGA tour has a problem. It got used to decades of dominance which ingrained arrogance and apathy. LIV came along and challenged that domination. The PGA went from denial, to hatred, to copying LIV formats, in an obvious realisation that they have to try to cope with this challenge. The biggest thing that Greg Norman realised? That golf is a truly global sport and that the USA should not have a monopoly. Courses don’t have to be 7,400 yards tracks with short rough. LIV Hong Kong was electric. Anthony Kim served up a 5 under par, we saw 2 holes in 1 and the tournament came down to a 3 way play off.
Pelley allowed the Euro Tour to become much weaker...terrible management
Incorrect guys, golf is declining in the USA but its booming everywhere else in the world. 330 million people in the USA and 7.6 billion in the rest of the world. The odds for LIV are undeniable
Yanky doodle dandies only care about ‘murica.
Dereck we are growing faster now than wr were in the early 90's. Golf is not declining in the states. But yes its booming world wide.
PIF's strategy is good....investing in the Euro tour seems a good fit. Tiger doesn't want anyone else to play with his new toy (PGAT) so good luck with the tent simulator thing
Watching golf and caring about pro golfers is declining. In my youth, I idolized the PGA pros that slept in their cars, had outlandish personalities, etc. The money has turned even today's secondary tour players into mini corporations that all act the same. The fall was inevitable.
@@nbt3663 It certainly did during the pandemic period, but that has begun to unwind. Today's kids aren't much for a 4 to 5 hour activity that isn't constant action. Participation peaked in 2007, but had been in decline. And with the erosion of the middle class, many can't afford it either.
Good chat….wish we had a Zing n Payne out there today….sadly that golf LIV or PGA does not have someone (s) to wear some throwback clothes, Derby’s, high top socks. Give me sumfin (from my G’sons words) the LIV event was epic. Congrats to Abraham at LIV & Scotty for the Arnold Palmer.
LIV golf is awesome 👏- they KNOW what they are doing.
LIV Golf is ONLY possible because the Saudi PIF is single handedly supporting its huge funding. I'm not sure the LIV model will ever turn a profit. That said, I for one love the LIV concept. Great players, interesting personalities, exciting competition and exotic locales. If LIV keeps moving in this direction it will soon be the Big Dog of professional golf.
Actually, the destinations are covering the Prize money with tourism dollars. Although you would have been correct when they first started.
The PIF could lose a billion a year on LIV and it would be barely a rounding error on their annual interest alone
100%
It’s not cheap to break through ‘the establishment’ but they will eventually make a profit. They don’t seem too concerned either way.
The Saudis have a lot of marketing to do themselves.
One thing the PGAT and NBC are not cutting is the ridiculous amount of commercials. A commercial every 5 minutes makes the broadcast unwatchable .
Dead on Coo. NBC and CBS must know this. What exactly is their strategy for growing the number of viewers?
And who exactly enjoys that viewing experience - a couple, few shots then back to commercial?
Zinger is simply speaking the truth. He doesn't mince words, he doesn't say the "politically correct" thing, he's just brutally honest. He sees things as they are and calls them as he sees them. (And, this is likely why NBC canned him from their PGAT broadcasts.) The PGA Tour seems to be ignoring this reality but it's apparent to even the most casual observer that the best golfers are taking the money and going to LIV.. When Jon Rahm exited to LIV, it was an earthquake moment and the Tour lost its brightest star. Now, the Golf Channel talking heads are singing hosannas to Scottie Scheffler but I'm simply waiting until he bails on Jay Monahan and company as Rahm did. Who will be the next one to be dubiously crowned as the PGAT #1 after Scheffler bails? Zalatoris? zzzz...Lowry? zzzz...Homa? zzzz...Loudmouth Rory who choked big time this past Sunday? zzzz...
With the Tiger times merely a memory now, what appeal to any of these golfers have? LIV is where the BEST play now.
PS Why doesn't the PGA give the Ryder Cup captaincy to Zinger again? The man was a master when his team whacked the Euros in 2008. Zach Johnson was godawful and it's time we had a tough and accomplished Ryder Captain again. Just my $0.02.
Stepford golfers
Zinger is speaking HIS truth. He's disgruntled since he's been dismissed.
Great video as always guys.
Small error: Azinger finished 3rd in the Open in 1987 at Muirfield, not 1993. Norman won the Open at St. George’s in 1993 over Faldo, and Langer
Scottie Scheffler is great but boring to watch. Jordan Spieth has fallen so far as all the players I like to watch now are all on the LIV TOUR! Jason Day - Adam Scott - Rickie Fowler are all popular and would be better off at LIV now too!
Adam and Jason do not want to lose eligibility. Rickie still has a chance to be a lifelong golden boy for the pga tour so it’s a tough decision. And he has to consider the majors as well.
The only thing holding back a true world tour of superstars is the owgr and majors. That’s it’s. It’s not the pga tour or congress or anyone but the owgr and the majors.
Good show. I'd love to learn how LIV evaluates a player for a signing bonus. Yes, LIV going after major winners has been a pattern since inception. But they're dealing with 50+ contracts. What goes into their formula?
Yes LIV is now the better product
TW probably offered Wyndham Clark 50million to stay. Someone did.
A little late to the viewing, but watched the 1st episode of Swing on NFlix last night, and JTs comment about those that went to LIV was intriguing. I bet the lack of love is reciprocated. Pompous arse he is.
Interesting that the last 3 big signings are European....I think plan B might be invest in Euro tour, save the euro tour and sign up Rory
Possibly. Creation of a true World Tour would be a good thing in my opinion. The PGA Tour has been preeminent but at the expense of other golf tours - the wraparound schedule really killed off the Australian events for example. What I find most distasteful in all of this at the moment is the amount of money in the game.
I think Rory has a long term deal set up with the Prince....we shall see...
You guys need to go live on Thursday and Friday morning. 😊
AS it should be!
well zinger is right i watch LIV on sat and sun brilliand then i watched arneys on the weklend and that is one of the top PGA GAMES no contest LIV so much better end of
Hey that makes sense. There is no point for the PGA tour to increase purse sizes from its sponsors. The PGA is a national regional tour - so why not allow the PGA to continue as a feeder tour to LIV & other International Tours? This keeps the tradition of the PGA. If PGA is all about traditions - then why increase PGA prize money? PGA players are supposed to be just playing for traditional trophies.😀
They don’t have to be a full on feeder tour if they just let the boys come back and play.
@@oahujuniorgolfassociationc6656 There must be several good options. Why don’t they choose one at least?
LIV Hong Kong was great. Azinger is right. The PGAT isn't interesting.
PGAT egocentric commissioner could of / should of worked with LIV.
…failure to do so is resulting in widespread Golfing industry financial chaos
Azinger obviously said the wrong thing defending Phil. Pauls contract couldn't be that much. But when you gamble on the Tour that is burning bridges faster than a hobbit civil war. They can't count on the tour to pay its bills, and thats a problem. Remember the tour borrowed against its tv contract. Im.think8ng Azinger simply got loosed lipped, and they felt he wasnt trust worthy for the big boy club.
Spot on, if the Networks are cutting corners the TV money is drying up for the PGA! In a competitive tour eco system, Peter Malnati isn't winning a PGA tour event.
Wyndam Clark wanted DJ, Brooks, Cam money... that's why he didn't go
They really need to get the merger finalised, I dont want LIV to cannabilise the PGA tour but it will if the PGA doesnt take a knee or come to a meeting ground with them. The combination of massive payouts and a fresh international platform is to hard to compete with long term
Wonder if Liv would pick up Zinger to call some tournaments..
Do we want him is the question ?
I’m ok w zinger. But he has plenty critics.
Solution? - accept two tours running concurrently (like the NFL AND AFL). Players play on an order of merit with a view to a matchplay tournament at the end for the top four players from each tour deciding who the Superbowl Champion Golfer of the Year is. We could also have relegation and promotion play-offs from the feeder tours of each - DP World for LIV and Corn Ferry or equivalent for PGA. This sort of Pyramid would create meritocracy and allow new fresh talent in to the big leagues. Fans could follow their players like they follow a soccer or american football team. Players would sign to their respective tours for a contract of 3 years. Each tour would have 70 players and 30 events with no cut running from Feb/March to September/October in a clearly defined golfing season. The top 50 players from each tour would qualify for the 4 majors and maybe The Players These would be the only tournaments they played in together apart from the tour matchplay finale and of course, The Ryder Cup every couple of years.
All the best players were never only playing on the PGAT, that's propaganda. There were always other tours where great players were based (Euro Tour)
Not only that the players were all spread out with the pga tours 8000 annual events.
PGA has become too exclusive in how they choose venue for touraments. LIV played in HK!!! Unheard of for PGA to even considered. I enjoyed watching top golf played in HK.
So 300,000 watched LIV last tournament. 1.8 watched PGA. Six times as many. Enjoy your LIV “league”. Millions more watched women’s basketball. LIV is below women’s basketball!! Bwahaha 🤣
LOL.. OKAY.. I'll stay over here... @@Macattack11639
Many young people stream what they watch and do not pay for regular tv. NBC continues holding the pga tour hostage for years as a pay to view, whereas LIV is free to watch on TH-cam and CW. LIV plays to the sensibility of all players playing in the same conditions and 4 hours and its done. The pga is boring and the viewer is tortured to watch the same channel favorites for way too long. With LIV you get to see more player and many shots, not all putting and guys walking. The pga did it to themselves
2 to 3 of the 2024 Major winners will be LIV golfers...
as a former Touring Pro, he’s exactly right. Breaks my heart. I’ll never watch a single shot from that tour.
Give it a chance Jack. The pro game needs a MUCH wider audience if it is to continue as a top tier sport. Has to go more global as US market can’t support it alone. Global is more interesting in any event as we see in soccer.
@@ThinkingManShow The Tour was usurped by a criminal state in order to buy a respectful reputation. And you’re fine with that? I played world tours as well and it’s not close. There’s no place like home. Let me say in closing honor, decency and integrity are not just words, they’re a code to live by and that’s what the PGA Tour stood for from its formation. Not anymore.
Look for Zing to show up in the booth on LIV occassionally. Hong Kong was awesome. Shorter course proved to be a challenge for all. Teams were crazy on final day. Tried watching the API on Sunday, but all I got to see was a few minutes of golf (mostly putting) and a truck load of commercials.
A very large truckload of commercials. Thx Tdev.
Azinger doesnt add much on the commentary. LIV has issues with boring Feherty. If was Norman I'd grab Dottie Pepper....
@@outtakes69 Dottie is good. She'd be a good addition.
Golf fans who’ve seen this in real time have thought the same thing: you win a major and get ~5 years of exemptions why wouldn’t you sign with LIV. The signature events on the pgat aren’t as legacy building as people thought. It really is the majors and that’s where legends are made.
That said, I don’t even know what the pgat does but implementing parts of LIV (no cut, reduced fields, bigger money, player equity) fails without adapting the format.
My only solution: the pgat becomes the American League, same format as LIV or if they want four rounds just to be unique go for it, and then each year there is a tournament of the top 4 teams from LIV and the PGat. DPWT, int series, and the old pgat and kft will feed LIV and the American League, but keep the owgr as is so players who are already on teams have an incentive (qualifying for majors) to play events sporadically
Luke Donald was number one in the world at one stage - bit more than accomplished golfer - another great listen - being an Aussie we have soft spot for poms as that’s where our convict ancestors come from!!
Ours too. 👍
So many bots.
When Nance isn't on the weekend broadcast the level of talent and entertainment from the booth drops to zero. When NBC and ESPN gain the microphones it is an assault to the senses.
Nance is guilt of giving the Tour a tongue bath by the minute, but his tone and focus are always spot on. Zinger talked so much it was excruciating to have to listen, as bad as Collinsworth in football. Good riddance.
But the point that NBC is seeking cost savings is important. A growing sport with increased value brings added revenues, not less.
Bring in Namath!!He golfs alot and certainly not dumb!
Thx User-oy. Zing not great in the booth which is opposite how he is outside the booth. Calling golf is not at all easy. Miller and Maltbie made it look easy.
Word....Nance is dull beyond belief....Collinsworth awful...
It doesn't seem to me that the PGAT actually builds players. Anyone who wants to play in events must pay a fee, and pay all their expenses. The tour does nothing besides running the event. They even dress the caddies in monkey suits for the sponsors. When you are hurt, it is see ya later fella.
Azinger is concerned about the PGA tour. Jay Monahan is worried about his pocket.
I heard the same f bomb watching the PGA today. Both tours should fine the player.
It's not good but I do it with golf frustration so when Matthew Wolf does I commiserate with him and understand the frustrating!!
Shouldnt be signature events. All should be equal except majors and players. Players play full fields every week whenever they want
Zinger needs to replace Manahan, to try and turn the PGA around, the players adore him... but he's dead straight.....Tiger is out of The Palmer and the Players, will he make the cut at the Masters.... not...
Monohan definitely needs to go! Jay has caused the most chaos. Instead of working with LIV, he tried to destroy them. Stupid mistake, but he hasn't paid a penalty.
Hey! Bob Brown called it First! PGA a feeder tour for LIV! Please make sure to mark me at the top of the Royalty List. I don't want to be short changed on royalties for calling it first!
LOL
Someone has probably already made this observation. The PGA Tour would be in a very different place today had Tiger not arrived and dominated. I recall how much publicity he received, even before playing on the Tour. The old guard PGA - Arnie, Jack etc. lifted the Tour out of obscurity in their day. Tiger came along at the perfect time to generate huge interest in golf. Without Tiger, who would have been the superstar everyone wanted to watch on Sunday? Tiger created a temporary boost to the PGA Tour. Reality has now reared it's ugly head revealing that the PGA Tour is not much without Tiger.
True.
And demographics are playing a huge role. The shift away from television has hurt all sports, and if you are the weakest of the big sports, then you will be hurt more quickly.
So this was about the dilemma facing broadcasters in a post Tiger world? Azinger is not the font of all knowledge and clearly has an axe to grind. I don't miss his opinions and as for your assessment / dismissal of Luke Donald, he is also a winning Ryder Cup captain, former number one player in the world and 18 time winner worldwide.
As a European watcher of the PGA tour I have found it refreshing that the recent winners, Knapp and Eckroat have had the space to come through and played some impressive golf to win those events so in that regard some of the so-called big name players being absent was a positive. As far as the PGA tour is concerned, they should have agreed a deal with LIV to form part of a world wide tour when they were offered the chance. That's where the future lies with at least one, probably two, huge golf tournament per month, throughout the year, including the four majors.
Thanks Algernon - we acknowledge Donald as a player and particularly his very fine captaincy of the Ryder Cup in Rome. That has nothing to do with being a TV broadcaster and that is the point. He’s “cheap” as far as NBC sees it. What’s your opinion of the viewing experience on NBC and CBS with the high frequency commercial load?
@@ThinkingManShow The commercial interruptions are not as frequent here. The PGA tour events are aired via Sky who act as a conduit for whichever US broadcaster is on air. When there is a commercial interruption your side, Sky commentators will carry on with any feed ongoing or cut away to a studio for some swing analysis etc. I don't believe that a UK audience would tolerate the number of commercial breaks that you have and it would probably drive people away from watching golf.
What effort did PGA put in to develop players, they did no such thing except spend money promoting who they thought would be popular to watch.
OK a few comments about Azinger
The media likes to sensationalize things for clicks, Azinger was not "fired". Broadcasters are independent contractors hired at an at-will basis so the contract can be renewed or terminated by either party at any time for any reason with no repercussions.
The reason Azinger was replaced was because he was not good. His voice quality, content, and timing are not professional quality. He also costs more than a replacement would have cost. Most companies replace employees when they can get a better one for lower cost.
I'm sure he feels like he was thrown under the bus hence his comments. He promoted PGA Tour and US government propaganda for the last 2 years because that was his job. He felt he did that job well but NBC did not agree so his contract was not renewed. What we're seeing is a pushback on the 2 years of work that he did.
Thx Daniel. Seems nbc is keen on hiring a cheap replacement as they audition. Makes the Zinger termination look like more cost cutting as they’ve been doing aggressively with golf channel.
@@ThinkingManShowMakes me wonder why NBC doesn't let Dan Hicks go. He was good in his prime but he's lost a step. Surely there are talented broadcasters that are 30+ years younger who are looking for a chance (Hicks himself was one of those up and comers at one point)
Jim Nantz is an even better example, his performance has degraded even further than Hicks
I actually enjoy watching no namers do broadcasting because at least they hire professionals for those positions instead of celebrities or former professional level quality announcers who are kept on due to nepotism
Is LIV attracting younger viewers in the US or anywhere else?
Not in the U.S. but in the global arena. PGAT is going through a down cycle like other pro-sports, NFL, NBA and MLB. They survived it and unless the PGA has new ideas to adapt to the new climate, they are going to be a minor league and sponsors will look to spend their money somewhere else.
None of this is ‘hit and giggles’ DS.
Plenty of people have bad words for the job zinger has been doing, it’s part of why he is gone. He’s not worth his asking price. I’m not sure LIv is clamoring to get him. Maybe in a couple more years he makes a comeback with a refreshed act. But as you say the guy has had quite a life. Maybe it’s time to enjoy his personal life more and do some smaller jobs.
Some guys with recent majors like Clarke want to get to number 1 in the owgr before going, which is soooo silly considering no one respects the owgr like at all right now.
As you say: All the best players are not in the majors. The majors really need to be careful they don’t end up like the owgr and the pga tour…major diminished…Which is possible because as we know is all the same people with all the same interests and questionable moves.
Zinger is a bit bitter now but nothing he is saying is news to any of us.
It’s funny I’m totally ok with cussing during live sports by the athletes but am totally against studio hosts getting themselves all riled up and cussing on GC. One is very much part of being a professional and the other is not.
masters winners are more likely to move. Because all golfers really want is a lifetime (ish) tee time at the masters.
How much longer with all 4 of those 4 be super bowls?
Brooks’ thing is being ‘too cool for school’ but the guy is very engaged with HIS team. No doubt.
Good show guys.
Thx Oahu. The Koepka thing, team v individual interest is something to monitor.
@@ThinkingManShowfor sure.
That team wrinkle is what makes it so much more fun.
Doesn’t it?
It’s like those mean teachers who love to organize group projects; make everyone suffer a little more than just doing it on their own, because it builds character and makes it more interesting.
And btw can’t wait to hear your takes of jays 1 hour dance around today.
The PGA tour is fine as new players come to light every weekend. They're shooting the scores well under par needed to win tournaments. No one cares what Azinger has to say. He's a hasbeen that no longer plays ( not even the champions tour) an got dismissed from broadcasting because he's unlikable.
My only complaint about LIV coverage now is that they will show a player, even one of the very top players like Cam Smith who is putting for a birdie, he's at -2, sinks the putt and ends up at -2.
The last LIV Tournament, don't recall who it was, he hits his second shot on a part 4, hole in two - Eagle!!! Say his score showing on the screen show as --4 BEFORE THE EAGLE. It shows that he is Great shot! YES! An Eagle. His score after the Eagle -4. What happened? Did he get a two stroke penalty somehow? Shouldn't his score be -6? Hmmm....
I've tried to contact LIV about this because it happens a lot - LIVE!
Now you probably will not see this happen with the guys at the top of the tournament - good!
PLEASE LIV Golf - STOP doing that. It is annoying but worst than that it is doing the exact opposite of what you want to accomplish. You're favorite player, Cam Smith, sinks a birdie putt from 20 feet! Great! So why isn't his score after the putt being reflected. They are showing you the score of the player BEFORE he putts the ball in for a birdie, OR has a hole in two so to speak which is pretty rare.
IT IS DEFLATING!
It's been happening since the beginning and I've watched every event. It kills the suspense but honestly it doesn't bother me anymore...
Yeah they need to have the guy running the score updates in the truck so he can be told to hold up before they run a highlight
It's because it's already happened. I agree it's annoying. If they show it live, then it will update as expected.
@alienrenders yep. This is the difference. If it already happened the score is already updated. As you say if it's live it will update after the putt drops. Very interesting last night because I pay very close attention I knew Niemann made a hole in one before they showed his shot because his score just before had gone from 6 to 8 under. Many people hate the pylon but I love watching it change constantly
@@kennethmckinney2532 It's like you haven't seen a game and you don't want to know the score. When you see a birdie or an eagle, you want to see the score updated. I'm only talking about when they show the score and the shots, like say the 2nd shot.
Serious question: is this podcast supported in any way by LIV, the PIF, or an affiliate and do either of you have any connection or past dealings with the PGA TOUR? You started when LIV emerged. What's the connection, or better yet, why the timing?
Good question....im.gonna guess crickets on thier behalf to any real answer but none the less an excellent question
often wondered this myself, but if I were to guess I would say that Content Creators saw LIV golf hand them a whole bunch of saleable content on a silver platter, and they jumped at the chance...I mean even the PGAT shills have been talking LIV golf since its inception because it gets clicks....perhaps nobody noticed but the PGAT was probably at a point where talking about it was as dreary as having to watch it, case in point the NLU guys constantly slamming the broadcasts and formats and players for years, then LIV comes along and all of a sudden they've got a spring in their step for the PGAT and start slamming LIV, because, free content
When I first saw them they didn't talk golf at all but logic, problem solving and such.
Thank you 🙏. I had the same question myself. It’s all pro LIV and anti-establishment. I think we can all agree CEO’s are screwing their employees in every business but feeling sorry for pro golfers worth $100 million doesn’t make sense. Something amiss
I am glad someone is showing/highlighting LIV news or about LIV news/tournaments as main media established outlets seem to be sleeping about LIV Golf tournament news or are intentionally avoiding to have articles about their tournaments.
The PGA Tour doesn't develop anything . Get real
I watch the LIV Tour and would rather watch it than a PGA Tour event but most golf fans don't like the model. Yes LIV has Rahm, DJ, Cam Smith, Koepka, Dechambeau etc. but most of the 18 players 39 to 53 have not been competitive in most of the tournaments. Kaymer, Westwood and Mickelson have been terrible. I don't see how you can say LIV has a stronger field than a PGA Tour event with 120+ players.
There is an old saying..Quality v quantity
I guess you missed Phil at the Jedha
I would be in support of LIV Golf if they played a 72 hole tournament! 54 holes is Senior tour level of golf. Plus they have that crazy shot gun start for each round. The PGA tour will have new stars and the future will be brighter for them and the liv golfers are getting older and older. NBC shot themselves in the foot when they closed down the Florida studio and eliminated all the different shows they had. Comcast and Las Vegas trying to make golf a gambling sport now. Zinger was an ok announcer nothing great, Nick Faldo was better.
as much as I despise PIF for buying off golf and destroying what Ive known about golf my whole life - you cant deny these people for making money (the golfers especially) the reality now is that Golf is massive all over the world where as its dying in the US and LIV is different, fresh almost, with individual LIV teams about to be bought for hundreds of millions by companys like Ferrari, Porsch, Apple, Coca Cola, Tesla, JP Morgan, Titleist...you get the picture...sadly the PGA tour is going to take a back seat now and Tiger just cant do Tiger things anymore to single hdaidly pull that train down the track - if the PGA tour is a feeder tour? so be it, so what? they did to little to late and their time has come - it was a good run but guess what golf fans? - golf will still go on reagrdless of wherever or whatever the PGA tour becomes.
There are always reasons to be optimistic Kinsley. Appreciate the way you framed your commentary. We should do a show soon inspired by your thoughts on why we should all be optimistic. 👍
Can I ask a silly question. What is LIV’s revenue source? Their TV revenue last year was $3 million. PGAT was $400 million. PIF investment has been $2 billion. Revenue $3 million. Is that a sustainable business model? LIV will die in 2 years when Yasir pulls the plug. Watch and see.
I don’t agree with zinger, the guys that want money go to live many more stay put
Don't kid yourself. The players are like everyone else and are working to make the most money they can.
I'm not a LIV viewer and never will be. Those guys that went to LIV are forgotten. They will not be inducted into the Hall of Fame. I'd like to see the pga not allow LIV golfers into a majors tournaments. The LIV golfers sold their souls to a circus tour. You're wrong about the pga tour.
You would like to see the PGA Tour remain a monopoly and run the Majors?
@@ThinkingManShow yes, LIV is a side show
Azinger should go to LIV. Arlo is terrible, Feherty is passed it and Foltz is average. I would like to see Zinger and Mickelson commentate on LIV. LIV should also get a quality female commentator and some past players to commentate on course. Sue ann and Don are average on course commentators.
I really like Dom Boulet, Sue ann Heng is pretty bad tho
'LIV should also get a quality female commentator'
Like who? Arlo does a very good job considering he was new to golf when he joined LIV. Please name a female commentator who can hold the coverage together for 5 hours better than Arlo.......good luck 😆 'Don' aka Dom does a great job on course as well. It's a shame Troy didn't stay on, she could hit the ball for miles and the players respected her and liked her doing on the range interviews - but she's no commentator.
Agree..Arlo is a bit annoying
My suggestion will be Paul Azinger and Colin Montgomie with David Feherty.
So let me get this straight. Zinger said he wanted to do TV for 5 more years. NBC went cheap because millennials are also cheap and won’t pay for cable. So disgruntled former employee says PGA Tour is feeder tour for LIV. Question: where did the LIV players come from? Oh that’s right the PGA Tour. They poached them. Definition of poach is skim from the top. Not exactly respected in business. So if Xander wins a major, he’s gone. Great, get out there and rest on your laurels! So essentially you’re saying playing for LIV is filthy rich guys playing filthy rich guys for no real purpose? Great business model! I don’t think Zinger goes to LIV as don’t think he likes Norman and wants to join Greg’s Goons 😂. Arnies Army vs Greg’s Goons. Who ya got?
The elephant in the room you missed (because you’re paid off hacks) No ones watching LIV guys…
The world is. Keep up the stupid unprovable talking points
The USA is not the only market. It's doing well in Asia ,Australia and S America from what I understand. Plus, Rahm and Meronk probably added 2 other countries to the list.
LIV doesn't have to "beat" the PGA in the US to survive. It has an entire world to draw from.
@macheesmo3 couldn't have said it better. As an American I can honestly say we think we own golf. It's a big world out there and they are watching on various platforms...
as much as I despise PIF for buying off golf and destroying what Ive known about golf my whole life - you cant deny these people for making money (the golfers especially) the reality now is that Golf is massive all over the world where as its dying in the US and LIV is different, fresh almost, with individual LIV teams about to be bought for hundreds of millions by companys like Ferrari, Porsch, Apple, Coca Cola, Tesla, JP Morgan, Titleist...you get the picture...sadly the PGA tour is going to take a back seat now and Tiger just cant do Tiger things anymore to single hdaidly pull that train down the track - if the PGA tour is a feeder tour? so be it, so what? they did to little to late and their time has come - it was a good run but guess what golf fans? - golf will still go on reagrdless of wherever or whatever the PGA tour becomes.
The TOUR will always watchable because those young unknowns have gone through the grinder to get there and they are hungry. The real drama and competition is there, not an exhibition of pre-paid fat and happy stars. Sorry.
"No true Scotsman " logical fallacy
@@macheesmo3 I know what it means but in what way is the statement a fallacy?
@@jimmerhardy "the real drama and competition is there..." this alleges no drama and compelling exists anywhere else, which is not a fact. You have fallaciously asserted an opinion as a fact.
@@macheesmo3 Okay, what drama does LIV generate? Will Smith ever win again? Will the LIV players ever get standing or is this the end to their competitive careers? For many, the team idea has resonated, so where's the drama? I watched for months and came away realizing LIV was boring compared to the PGAT. There, the burning desire and incentives are real.
Oh yeah Aberg sure 'grinded' his way onto the Ryder Cup squad by playing as a pro for a few months then got gifted Adrian Moronk's spot who did far more to deserve the pick than Aberg. The PGAT also tried to sign Anthony Kim recently despite not playing for 12 years so don't forget that either.
PGA is a feeder tour now. Imagine if Scottie and Rory left the PGA?