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  Debate

Debate

Is Greg Norman's LIV Golf the future of the sport, or just a passing trend?

Tyrrell Hatton is no stranger to having a tough time on the PGA Tour. The premier golfing tournament in the world can be lonely, as players are mostly left to their own devices. For Tyrrell Hatton, the challenges the tour posed resulted in poor form and many angry outbursts.

On September 21, 2024, he reflected on the difference in the environment that LIV Golf offered to players, especially younger players such as 20-year-old Caleb Surrat, and said, “I would say it’s probably a nicer environment in the sense that you can maybe lean on other guys that are more experienced, whereas if you’re a young lad playing on the PGA TOUR or DP World Tour and you don’t know many guys out there, then it can feel more — I’d say it would feel more lonely and you’re kind of figuring it out a little bit more yourself.”

He also attributed the supportive atmosphere to the difference in the format of LIV Golf. The tournament features both a team and an individual competition, so there is a much higher incentive to help your teammates do well.

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USA Today via Reuters

He also noted that his teammate and individual champion, Jon Rahm, was the go-to person in terms of learning for Surrat, given his experience and the success he has achieved in golf. “I guess Caleb had looked to Jon more so with Jon’s experience of winning more tournaments and things like that.” Indeed the 2-time major winner has a lot of achievements to his name including being World No 1 at one point.

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However, the captain of their team, Jon Rahm, missed the semifinals of the LIV Golf Team Championship with severe flu-like symptoms. Tyrrell Hatton then needed to step up in his place and lead the team, being the next most experienced and successful golfer on the team. So, how did they do in the semis?

No Rahm, no problem for Legion XIII

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Surrat and Hatton’s team, Legion XIII, faced off against Phil Mickelson-led HyFlyers GC in the semifinals of the Team Championship in Dallas. With Jon Rahm absent from the team, his place was taken by reserve player John Catlin, who faced Cameron Tringale in a singles match. Tyrrell Hatton faced Andy Ogletree, and the foursomes were played by Caleb Surratt and Kieran Vincent against Phil Mickelson and Brendan Steele.

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Is Greg Norman's LIV Golf the future of the sport, or just a passing trend?

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Legion XIII made an impressive showing as a top-seeded team, with the foursome resulting in a 4&3 win, as the pair won five holes on the back nine to close out the match. Tyrrell Hatton also won his match with a 5&4, similarly winning seven holes on the back nine. They will go into the finals hoping to win the Team Championship in Tier 1 of the competition.

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