Only a few days remain before LIV Golf UK will kick off at the JCB Golf and Country Club. The event is returning to the UK for the third time and is scheduled for July 26th. You would think that fans have started warming up to the Saudi-funded league after three years, but that is not the case. At least for some fans. LIV Golf faced some criticism for the event from fans for its uncanny resemblance to one of the PGA Tour’s events.

LIV Golf’s official X handle shared a photo of their new tee marker that is going to be present on the greens of JCB Golf Club. In the caption, they wrote, “The @JCBmachines tee markers are 🔥#LIVGolf.” Now, you must be wondering how this garnered criticism. What does it resemble too? 

The only problem with this marker is its vivid resemblance to the PGA Tour event, the John Deere Classic. For John Deere, the tee markers are a similar representation of a backhoe loader. Many PGA Tour events such as the Wells Fargo Championship, RBC Canadian Open, and Valspar Championship have distinct tee markers. John Deere’s ee markers are also considered to be among the best on the Tour. LIV Golf’s UK event has gotten an exactly similar tee marker with JCB’s Backhoe Loader on top of a LIV Golf logo base.

This uncanny resemblance has infuriated the PGA Tour fans. They kept on drawing comparisons between the two rival leagues, and how they approach things. One thing that was also brought into discussion was LIV Golf’s originality.

The golf community rejects the JCB Tee Marker

One of the fans stated, “So they put a John Deere toy on top of a box? Got it.” John Deere Classic was established in 1971 and thus has a much greater fan following. Likewise, their symbolic tee marker will always have a sense of originality. With similar-looking toys on top of their respective bases, LIV Golf’s very first JCB venue received much criticism. They almost appear to find the tee marker another version of John Deere’s.

A LIV Golf supporter had made a statement to defend the tee marker. They replied, “Because John Deere is the only tractor company in the world. Got it.” Although he suggested that JCB had all rights to put their toy on top of the LIV Golf box because it has its own identity as a tractor company, much like John Deere, the fan was again silenced by the previous commenter. They had further argued, “The John Deere has used toys as tee markers for years. @livgolf_league has another innovation. Take the John Deere and put it in a box. Got it. 🤦”

According to them, even though JCB is a tractor company, they could have still chosen some other innovative way of representing the tee markers, especially when they are well aware of John Deere Classic’s long-term tee marker.

Another fan wrote, “How is this not the same as what the John Deere Classic does?” With the very same query as others, the fan tried to find a difference between the two tee markers but failed. The only difference, however, is in the color and the logo. Tee markers have always been something extremely individual to any event; hence, the fans seemed quite agitated by the lack of originality on LIV’s end.

“Growing the game is amazing,” said another fan sarcastically. LIV Golf has indeed tried to grow, and with their motto, “Golf but louder,” they have been trying. Their announcement of individual home courses for every team is one such initiative. LIV Golf has tried to slowly take progressive steps in the golf world with lucrative purses, and turning events into a party with concerts. However, with the first look at their tee marker, fans have again charged the Norman-led league.

Yet another fan reflected, “Copying a PGA tour event’s tee markers is lame. John Deer classic says hello.” Following this, the fan posted a photo of a John Deere Classic tee marker just to reemphasize why he made the statement. LIV Golf and the PGA Tour, although they have different game formats, do have some similarities in the larger view. For instance, both league claim to grow the sport, and prioritize the fans. Both of them have been accused of copying each other in the past. Much like how LIV Golf’s tee marker is said to be a copy of the PGA Tour, the PGA Tour also faced similar accusations after using something similar to the LIV Golf drone tracer.

“Absolutely hilarious that LIV’s first title sponsor is a John Deere competitor,” said yet another fan. JCB, the construction and agricultural machinery manufacturer, and LIV Golf signed their multi-year title sponsorship deal earlier this year, in March. As an outcome of this contract, the last LIV tournament that is happening this season outside of the USA is at the JCB Golf & Country Club in Rocester, England. However, the fans are quite disappointed with the tee marker that LIV Golf produced for their inaugural event with the new sponsors.

Do you think LIV is copying the American Tour, or is it their right to do so with their own brand identity? Let us know in the comments below.