USA Today via Reuters
PGA, Golf Herren THE PLAYERS Championship – press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz March 13, 2020 Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA PGA commissioner Jay Monahan speaks to media after the cancellation of the 2020 edition of The Players Championship golf tournament at TPC Sawgrass – Stadium Course. The tournament was cancelled at the conclusion of the first round due to the developing Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hagy-USA TODAY Sports, 13.03.2020 08:13:15, 14176856, NPStrans, PGA, TPC Sawgrass, The Players Championship, Jay Monahan, COVID-19, TopPic PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xAdamxHagyx 14176856
USA Today via Reuters
PGA, Golf Herren THE PLAYERS Championship – press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz March 13, 2020 Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA PGA commissioner Jay Monahan speaks to media after the cancellation of the 2020 edition of The Players Championship golf tournament at TPC Sawgrass – Stadium Course. The tournament was cancelled at the conclusion of the first round due to the developing Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hagy-USA TODAY Sports, 13.03.2020 08:13:15, 14176856, NPStrans, PGA, TPC Sawgrass, The Players Championship, Jay Monahan, COVID-19, TopPic PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xAdamxHagyx 14176856
While various sports have seen an uptick post-pandemic, golf has been rejuvenated like never before. Viewership and social media interactions have gone over the roof in this new world, which has been a sign of good things for every golf body around, including the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.
However, with both organizations celebrating new benchmarks earlier this year, are there any claims of one copying the other? A well-experienced Twitter user certainly felt so, which led to a sea of debate surrounding the issue.
Has the PGA Tour been caught copying LIV’s tactics?
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The preceding week witnessed yet another clash between the two golf bodies, whose feud extends beyond golf courses. While the PGA Tour conducted the AT&T Byron Nelson in Dallas, LIV Golf returned to the United States for an event in Tulsa.
Both had their own sets of highs and lows, but a common occurrence caught the eye of a close observer. A Twitter user, Mark Lye, has claimed that the PGA Tour is showing more shots than usual in its live coverage, a strategy used by the Saudi-backed league.
via Imago
Golf: LIV Golf – Second Round Oct 29, 2022 Miami, Florida, USA Pin flag for the first hole during the second round of the season finale of the LIV Golf series at Trump National Doral. Miami Trump National Doral Florida USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xJohnxDavidxMercerx 20221029_jdm_sx1_025
He claimed that the American organization was taking notes from the cash-rich league on how to enhance its own Tour. Furthermore, he asserted that he was an experienced figure in golf broadcasting, having worked for CBS and Golf Channel for 18 years.
One thing I am noticing on today’s coverage of Dallas PGA Tour….they are showing far more shots than in the past. This is a total “copy” of LIV” telecast, which shows many more shots than typical. So…not only is the Tour copying LIV with guaranteed $, so is TV coverage.
— mark lye (@letitflye) May 14, 2023
Evidently, fans reacted quickly to Mr. Lye’s claims, arguing over the coverage matter. Here’s a selection of such tweets:
What I’m noticing is how much better the play is on the PGA tour. 4 tied at -19. 6 more at -18. Pretty similar difficulty of courses with DJ leading LIV at -17. Great week to spotlight how bad LIV golf is as a whole.
— Paul Phillips (@pphilly49) May 14, 2023
Big stretch there Mark.
— Todd Bailey, PGA (@ToddABailey) May 14, 2023
Mark, you’re trying far too hard
— Michigan Golf Live (@mglbill) May 14, 2023
“PGA aka CBS, doesn’t show enough shots”
Okay we’ll show more shots.
“They are copying LIV”.If the world had less people like Mark, we’d be in a much better place.
— MT21 (@MThi_59) May 14, 2023
Sit down.
— teejgolfer (@TEEJGOLFER) May 15, 2023
Give me a break probably has to do with so many people on the leaderboard – lots in contention – this is the problem with LIV supporters is everything is because of them. Just let me watch both and shut up
— Jamie Reidel (@jamiereideltsn) May 14, 2023
C’mon Mark, CBS is the top Golf broadcasting network. They have been broadcasting Golf since before you were born, and you think it took the lightweight LIV tour to show them how? Laughable.
— Jimmy Dale Hewitt (@JimmyDaleHewitt) May 14, 2023
What goes through your head when you hit send on that Mark? Copying LIV?
— Iron Tryon (@justhititpure) May 14, 2023
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Are there similarities in the PGA Tour’s upcoming future that align with LIV Golf?
The situation isn’t the first occurrence of the PGA Tour’s alleged amendments that have the same panache as the LIV Golf Series. One of the latter’s biggest USPs is its no-cut events with guaranteed prize money, which were ridiculed heavily by players and pundits alike.
However, there are claims of certain improvements in future seasons of the PGA Tour. Reportedly, the Jay Monahan-led PGA Tour is fancying its chances with eight designated events with limited fields and without a cut, some of the hallmarks of LIV Golf.
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The revamped schedule and format are set to be unveiled from the 2024 season onward, but not without vociferous criticism from its very own. Is the PGA Tour indeed turning into another LIV Golf? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
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