The LIV Tour – essentially the most controversial touring circus in sporting historical past – will quickly be on Australian shores, however will or not it’s good for Australian golf?
the details:
- The LIV Tour will probably be coming to Adelaide for an occasion in April
- Australian golf legend Carrie Webb is puzzled over whether or not the controversial Tour will probably be good for the game on this nation
- Whereas it should enhance the game’s profile, Webb is anxious concerning the origin of the Tour’s funding and the shortage of alternatives it should present younger Australian golfers.
The Saudi-backed breakaway golf league will descend on Adelaide in April for the third occasion of the inaugural LIV Golf League, the place 48 of the world’s finest gamers will battle it out for a staggering $20 million prize.
LIV, through which Australian legend Greg Norman serves as CEO, has ignited heated controversy since its launch. Australian golf legend Carrie Webb has been divided over whether or not she will probably be good for the game on this nation.
“I believe it might be good to have golf in Australia in April when it is not, and that places golf within the headlines,” Webb advised ABC Grandstand.
“As soon as the summer time of golf is over right here, the one headlines are whether or not the Aussie does properly abroad.
“It is good that Adelaide has such a giant occasion, I cherished it after we performed there on the Australian Open all these years – the South Australian followers had been an enormous help, so it is nice for them and nice to have the very best Australian gamers again.
“However when it comes to giving alternatives to different younger Australians to play, it does not. The 48 gamers journey all over the world and play collectively they usually do not present any alternatives aside from [for] These 48.
“In case you take a look at it nearly as good for golf, what avenues are good for golf? Some are good and a few aren’t. You may select it nonetheless you need.”
Webb stated her fundamental level of competition with the LIV idea was how the dizzying contracts supplied to the world’s prime gamers for defecting from the PGA Tour strengthened the worst facet of {golfing} stereotypes.
And whereas there are features of the brand new tour that would assist appeal to a brand new fan base to the game Webb loves, the 48-year-old is uncomfortable with the best way the Saudi Arabia-backed tour has been funded.
“The messages from the LIV tour aren’t what I want to see about golf. Leaping from essentially the most profitable spherical and going to a different spherical to get extra money, that is the stigma of golf we’re making an attempt to eliminate — it is a wealthy man’s sport,” Webb stated. These messages aren’t the very best.”
“However there are issues concerning the LIV Tour that I believe are compelling. The crew side is compelling and might create new, youthful followers.
“On the finish of the day, I am not in opposition to new competitors in golf or new excursions, it is simply the best way it is being dealt with and, for me, fairly frankly the best way it is being funded.
“The way in which you are funded is the largest hurdle for me.”
Creating the game in Australia is one thing near Webb’s coronary heart and he or she believes the crop of incoming feminine golfers is among the many strongest the nation has ever produced.
With celebrity Minjee Lee capturing one other main championship final yr and the likes of Hannah Inexperienced, Grace Kim and Steve Kiriakou shining shiny, the long run appears to be like brighter than ever.
Webb stated, “She (Mingie Lee) had an incredible yr final yr and actually got here into her personal. I am approach forward of her this yr, she’s constructing a very nice profession, so I will be in search of her to play properly.” .
“I used to be in search of Hannah Inexperienced to interrupt into the winners circle, aside from not successful the LGPA, that was the one factor she did not do, it was her most constant yr.
“We now have Steve Kiriakou, she performed very well in her rookie yr and it took her a few months to settle in however as soon as she performed very well.
“Gracie Kim, she’s a expertise and a star within the making, I believe she’s going to have just a little little bit of early LGPA nerves early within the yr, as she will get into this essential time.
“However she’s prepared, she simply has to suppose she’s able to take the following step and as soon as she thinks the sky is the restrict for her.”
Webb will take to the course herself at subsequent month’s Victorian Open as she returns to the occasion for the primary time since 2020.