‘Blasphemy!’: Fans Hurl Insults at LIV Golf’s Format After Nail-Biting Scottie Scheffler Thriller at Sawgrass

THE PLAYERS Championship delivered another thrilling show in 2024. Packed with unforgettable moments, like the “better than most” putt from Doug Ghim and the stellar records being broken by the world number 1 golfer. Audiences in Florida witnessed an exciting competition and spectacular golf.

Following the resounding success of THE PLAYERS Championship, the everlasting feud and comparisons between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour came to light, this time with respect to the infamous shotgun start, that LIV Golf dearly follows. In the Saudi-funded league, golfers tee up at the same time on different holes, whereas the PGA Tour pros have different tee times.

The tension of the final round reached its climax when the winner was not decided until the final putt. With one shot victory, Scottie Scheffler  became the first ever player to defend the TPC title. That sure happened, but if the PGA Tour was following the shotgun start, that might not have been the case. Why? Well, because then, rather than ending his game at the 18th hole, Scheffler would have finished at the third hole, and who knew what result that might have yielded?

Traditionally a golf course follows a rhythm! The 16-18 holes of the TPC Sawgrass are “as good as it gets” and they signify excellence. The iconic 17th hole is where the tension and pressure really builds and for the golfer, everything is at stake! With no shotgun start in picture, the golfers can pay attention “on what’s happening and get the context of the situation.” But, in the case of the shotgun format, “guys are whacking it all over the course” and it is “impossible” to play with utmost attention.

Tyrrell Hatton, who defected to LIV Golf in January, 2024 for $65 million also expressed his discomfort with shotgun starts. He said that he is “ not in love with the shotgun start” but liked the “idea of kind of being on the golf course at the same time.” The golfer claimed that for that to happen, conventional two-tee start will also just do fine!

Now it seems that after the $25 million event has ended, fans also seem to agree with the English golfer. The Twitter post garnered a lot of attention on social media, and fans had a lot of things to say about LIV Golf’s beloved shotgun start!

What do fans think of the shotgun start format utilized by LIV Golf?

Many golf fans agreed with what Rick Golfs had to say on the internet. Let us delve into finding out what exactly fans thought!

If the course is not played in order, some fans don’t even feel like they are playing golf. This is not us saying but a golf fan shared their honest thoughts!

One fan commented that not following the shotgun pattern makes the game more fun and “dramatic” to watch as they can see the leaderboard toppers chasing the win.

One golf fan proposed a unique format; a hybrid of both formats to enhance the excitement of the tournament.

Claiming it as the sole reason of not liking golf, one fan appeared to be stern with their opinion.

One golf fanatic pointed out that they think that all the pros should start from the same hole instead of random ones at championship tournaments.

One fan had quite the bold opinion and even suggested that they would stop watching the tournaments such as the Masters and THE PLAYERS if shotgun start method was to be followed.

A fan pointed out the “blasphemy” that would happen if the Masters adopted a similar shotgun start format.

The backlash against the shotgun format is still growing as every individual have their taste to enjoy the golf. But the success at THE PLAYERS serves as a reminder towards the traditional style of golf and how it appears to holds more value for fans!

Read More: How Much Did Scottie Scheffler Make in 2024? The World No.1’s ‘Prize Money Record’ Explored