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Is the PGA Tour's latest jab at LIV Golf a sign of desperation or just good old rivalry?

There is rarely a moment when Tiger Woods goes unrecognized by anyone in the golf fraternity. The 15-time major winner has been inarguably one of the best golfers and the best needle mover in the golf world. So, for someone to deny him entry at a major event would be impossible, right? To everyone’s dismay, it isn’t impossible and has already happened with Woods.

The tale of Woods being denied entry to the Open Championship was shared by PGA Tour pro, Michael S. Kim on X. As the pro narrated the exciting story of Woods being a savage, it indirectly turned into a hilarious diss for the PIF-backed league, LIV Golf.

A tale told by Michael S. Kim of Tiger Woods’s popularity  

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On the occasion of the 152nd Open, the Korean pro, Michael S. Kim, narrated that every player at the British Open receives a clip as a credential to enter the locker room and anywhere around the venue. But in the mid-2000s, Tiger Woods forgot his clip. He tried to enter the locker room but was immediately stopped by security. The guard asked for his credentials, but instead of the clip, Woods did a massive flex that only he could pull off.

Kim further added on how the guard was fixated on the clip, then he continued the anecdote and said, “Tiger looks around, sees a massive billboard with his name and face on it, points to it, says that’s my credentials and walked into the locker room.” Things only ‘El Tigre’ could do with his aura and legendary status in the game. It was an interesting incident, but it quickly turned into a LIV Golf diss.

A fan asked Kim how long the clip credential had been used, as they believed LIV Golf started it. Kim, evidently without any intentions of disrespecting the breakaway circuit, asked the fan, “Haha did liv start in the mid 2000s?” Highlighting how using a clip as a credential was not started by the Saudi-backed league, as it had its first season only in 2022, nearly two decades after the Woods incident.

What’s your perspective on:

Is the PGA Tour's latest jab at LIV Golf a sign of desperation or just good old rivalry?

Have an interesting take?

The fan quickly accepted their mistake and relayed that they didn’t notice the mid-2000s part of the story. Nonetheless, the latest hidden gem put forth what a savage Woods had been in the game of golf and indirectly showed the legacy he holds over any new league, particularly LIV Golf. Unfortunately enough, in recent days, this has not been the only mockery the disruptive league has received at the hand of a PGA Tour pro.

Viktor Hovland mocks LIV Golf and its format

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Since the start of LIV Golf in 2022 to this day, there have been various rumors about Viktor Hovland joining the disruptive league. The Norwegian pro has denied those speculations again and again. This time as well, in his protest to shun the rumors and speak his fealty to the PGA Tour, Hovland sort of dissed the breakaway circuit.

In an exclusive interview with The Sunday Times, the 24-year-old pro said, “I did not think their product was appealing enough to go.” And put forth that the lucrative deals offered by LIV Golf could not entice him as he has never been a materialistic person and has already made a ton on the PGA Tour.

On the other hand, Hovland opined that LIV might have been a pathway for him 20 years from now when he might be thinking about retirement. But for now, the PGA Tour is the best place for his professional career. Unintentionally, Hovland’s statements mocked LIV Golf’s existence and how it cannot entice a top player like him to join the league, as it doesn’t have a rich legacy like the PGA Tour.

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LIV Golf has yet to prove its worth as the league is only in its third season, whereas the PGA Tour has been a name since the 1960s. Perhaps in a few years, the breakaway circuit will overcome the criticism it currently faces, whether intentional or unintentional.