Major champion struggling to ‘see future’ in LIV concept

Former major champion Webb Simpson has argued that it’s hard to ‘see a future’ in LIV Golf’s team format.

The 39-year-old has been a member of the PGA Tour Policy Board for over two years and, while the two sides are closer to a deal, he claims the concept is a stumbling block in reunification.

It comes exactly one year after Simpson, and other members of the PGA Tour Policy Board, met Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of the Public Investment Fund, for the first time.

“I think we’re definitely closer because I think at that time SSG (Strategic Sports Group) was brand new,” he told Sports Illustrated. “They were getting their feet wet.

“I think now there is an understanding more of who he (Al-Rumayyan) is, what he wants, what he’s trying to accomplish with LIV. At least we have a better understanding.

“On paper, maybe it doesn’t look like we’re any further. I do believe we are.”

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Of course, fans of the PGA Tour are familiar with team golf at the biannual Ryder Cup and President Cup, while LIV wants to remain a 14-event team-based league.

Such extremities are proving a challenge to navigate and bring under one umbrella, and that’s where Simpson struggle to see the gaps being bridged.

“To me, it’s hard to get your mind around the team concept,” he said. “I’ve gotten that feedback from golf fans.

“You can get your mind around the Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup once a year. But the franchise model or Formula 1 model on the PGA Tour, it’s hard to see a future in that.”

Other ideas have been brought to the Policy Board table, but Simpson isn’t convinced a compromise on a team schedule would work.

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“I’m not on the transaction committee, so I don’t know how Yasir is with other forms of TV golf, where we incorporate PGA Tour, DP World Tour and the LIV tour,” he said. “It’s complicated.

“We’ve presented at least at the board level other team options that aren’t just franchises like they have for the whole year. More like different points on the calendar where there is an appetite for fans to see some type of team stuff.

“Then it goes back to the idea that the beauty of a team sport is you get behind that team for the season. You ride their highs and lows.

“Is four times a year really going to work? Will that satisfy what Yasir wants?”

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Tryst Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.