After its inception in 2021, LIV Golf has been on the receiving end of its fair share of controversies and backlashes. Regardless, one can’t deny the changes that the Saudi-backed League has brought to the golfing community. And, this time around, it’s Ludvig Aberg who has been dragged to the PIF-funded circuit’s spotlight, albeit unknowingly.
The young golfer has been rising through the ranks of the golfing world in nothing short of a stylish fashion. However, a little while back, a renowned writer attributed the success of the Swede, who is a PGA Tour player, to the Middle Eastern league, leaving a lot of people surprised and taken aback!
Ludvig Aberg’s success, all thanks to LIV Golf?
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The 24-year-old has been experiencing an amazing year owing to his exceptional skills and techniques. The young golfer has managed to display on the course. Moreover, he even clinched the title of champion in the 2023 RSM Classic that took place not too long ago with a breathtaking performance. However, Alan Shipnuck has a different reason for all the success that has come Aberg’s way.
The author uploaded a tweet on his social media handle, mentioning how LIV Golf signing young golfers such as Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra, James Piot, and David Puig “forced” the PGA Tour to take matters into their own hands. This joint move by the players and the Middle Eastern league led the circuit to “upgrade” the PGA Tour University.
The body that helped bridge the gap between collegiate and professional golf underwent changes such as increasing the number of graduates who earned membership for the tour from 15 to 20, all the while reaffirming those golfers to receive exemptions into a new PGA Tour Q-School. The American sportswriter mentioned that such changes, which came as a result of the PIF-funded league, helped in the successful rise of the 1X PGA Tour champ, dubbing it as nothing short of a “butterfly effect.”
LIV signing Chacarra, Piot, Puig, etc forced Ponte Vedra Beach to hugely upgrade PGA Tour U, which helped launch Ludvig into the stratosphere. Butterfly effect continues to be felt.
— Alan Shipnuck (@AlanShipnuck) November 19, 2023
Well, the golf analyst did put forward a controversial statement this time around. However, what the author said did not sit well with many golf fans as they took to his post to respond to the comparison.
Shipnuck’s opinion throws the golf world into a frenzy
Even the writer would have expected such a response to his tweet on social media. Many people commented on the post, ranging from reactions against the analyst himself to criticism of the alternate circuit. Let us take a quick look at some of them.
Many couldn’t get their head around the unpopular opinion uploaded on the internet. And, a fan rightfully expressed his dissatisfaction and disbelief with the same as he responded to the post. But, following the same, Shipnuck himself came forward to clarify what he said.
Nope, just noting that his pathway to the Tour became much easier after pro golf’s structural changes.
— Alan Shipnuck (@AlanShipnuck) November 19, 2023
The author is known for dishing out controversial statements in the golfing community. Another follower alluded to it as he mentioned how, while doing the same can help him sell more of his books. It isn’t right to give credit for the Swede’s success.
lmao what a stretch. don’t give LIV credit for aberg Alan. i know it’ll help your book sales but take a break from the shilling for 5 seconds
— BurdMan (@favnarcissist) November 19, 2023
However, the next person who came did not attack the writer but the golfers he mentioned in his tweet. He went ahead to dub them as unknown players who failed to make it on the pro circuit, all the while giving a subtle jab to the trio.
Sorry, I am a golf fan but who are these guys? Sounds like a 1) soccer player from Mexico 2) Oregon wine 3) former MLB player who did some unsavory things that got him banned .. in other words the layman doesn't care?
— Chris Binstadt (@Binstadt) November 20, 2023
Another enthusiast expressed his strong disagreement with the statement and stronger support for the PGA Tour as he took to the comments. The golf fan pointed out how there is a limited field, numbering 48, for the Saudi-backed league all the while referring to the opposite situation in the latter’s case.
I totally disagree. LIV has a very limited field of 48 players in total ! They can just keep signing players out of college. They have nowhere to put them. PGAT opened the door a week ago but wider for college players because of the quality of college golf.
— LA (@sennawcf1) November 19, 2023
Here comes another criticism for one of the three mentioned players. The follower went ahead to mention how according to him the golfer, Piot, was never a PGA Level player.
Come on piot was never a pga level player
— . (@cassel191919) November 19, 2023
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Shipnuck is known for making a lot of statements. He is especially famous for his revelations on Phil Mickelson and the subsequent controversies that came as a result of the same. And another enthusiast alluded to the same as he pointed out how much of a stretch his statement was.
This has to be the biggest stretch in golf. You’ve already been called out by players on both tours for talking nonsense.
— Darren (@Angry_Golfer91) November 20, 2023
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Although the absence of players like Chacarra, Piot, and Puig on the PGA Tour might have helped in a smoother ride, it alone can’t be attributed to the pro’s success since he has proven it many times on the greens. Well, Aberg sure is a talented player!
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