Three weekends ago Tiger Woods was in the news for several reasons. First, he was at Saint Andrews to compete in The Open, and second, well, he’s Tiger and he’s always news. Also on that Friday, Forbes estimated he is breathing that most rarefied air enjoyed only by billionaires. This column, however, is about strong comments by him and others directed towards the rookie golfers who have signed up with LIV.

Jon Rahm, golfs’ number three ranked player, shared his sentiments in an interview at the U.S. Open last month in the press tent. He doesn’t think three rounds of shotgun golf are for him. He also believes competition delivers the best golf, and LIV’s no cut format fails to promote that. He bears no grudge toward anyone who joins that league however, saying that money is great, but he and his wife discussed what lifestyle changes they would make if his estimated 16 million net worth were upgraded by a few hundred million dollars. Their conclusion? They are happy and really big money just wouldn’t impact their life. He’s 27. The Spaniard says he plays for the love of the game. He went on to speak of golf’s history and legacy, naming tournaments that mean something, like Torrey Pines, Jack Nicklaus’ Memorial, and Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill. Just a few of the great courses and outstanding stewards of everything golf stands for. He seems to have a genuine reverence for the game, while not judging others for their choices. Did I mention he’s 27?

In an address to the media, Martin Slumbers, R&A (Royal and Ancient) CEO said that banning players from next year’s Open is not their objective, but they retain the right to change “the exemptions and qualifications” criteria based on several factors, including global appeal. That certainly sounds to me like a nod to OWGR. For the uninitiated, that’s the Official World Golf Ranking, a two-year sliding scale, updated weekly, that ranks professional golfers across at least a couple dozen tours. That ranking is part of the criteria used to invite golfers to play in tournaments. The four majors automatically invite the top 50 players to compete each year. It’s also a factor in drawing the European side of the Ryder Cup team. LIV is not currently one of the tours in OWGR’s calculus, hence those golfers will lose points by virtue of not competing in ones that are.

Tiger echoed Rahm’s comments about a no cut format. “What these players are doing for guaranteed money, what is the incentive to practice? What is the incentive to go out there and earn it in the dirt?” he asked. “Some of these players may not ever get a chance to play in major championships (or) walk down the fairways at Augusta National.” To me, that tells the true story of the SGL. The G stands for greed, not golf-that’s the deal. This isn’t about sports, it’s all about money, and in a perverse way, the things Saudi cash can get greedy Westerners to do for it. Have you seen the cartoonish logos designed for the teams in LIV? I’ll bet they are having a good laugh back at the palace in Riyadh.  

Mr. Slumbers also said the values of golf are integrity, personal responsibility and respect. Tiger, after his first round on the Old Course, his worst ever there, had this to say- “I had my chances to turn it around and get it rolling the right way and I didn’t do it. Looks like I’m going to have to shoot a 66 tomorrow….guys did it today and that’s my responsibility tomorrow.” I think Mr. Slumbers has found his man. Compare and contrast that with Rory McIlroy, who was barking all over the course at Bay Hill, how good shots went unrewarded. Well, somebody won that tournament (Scottie Scheffler) while Rory cried, sorry, tied, for 13^th. This is Arnold Palmer’s tournament, and if he were still alive, guess who wouldn’t get an invite next year?

Is LIV good for the USGA? At this watershed moment, they are siphoning off talented amateur golfers who are money focused, not values oriented. As a group, they seem less steeped in the history of the game and the life lessons it teaches than those currently on the PGA tour. We know that MBS is a really bad person. Phil and the others joining his tour are aware (how could they not be) of dark deeds done under the prince’s ring. Phil has no moral compass to lead these new recruits; his attitude over Jamal Khashoggi’s murder is cavalier at best. Thus as he plies the river of riyal to the safe harbor of his bank account, there is no quality leadership to be found in the SGL.

Somewhere in the harvesting of amateurs, those without a deeper understanding of the character of golf, seem to gravitate towards LIV. With all the guaranteed money on offer, it’s difficult to turn down. That incentive brings young amateurs (mostly), those without the intrinsic values that are at the core of the game, into the SGL. When I was a kid, I launched a driver into the woods farther than my ball dribbled off the tee, and I knew right then I didn’t have it.  I’ve since learned what ‘It’ is, but I still don’t possess it. I know it starts with the right stuff, a set of values generationally delivered. Then the player applies those values to grow, not just as a golfer, but as an individual. With a set of well-founded principles, he or she grows into a more complete person.

Since he won his first major, the Masters in 1997, Tiger knew he wasn’t playing for the money, but for legacy. Did I mention he was 21 then? He knew he wasn’t going to win The Open last week. He was there to support the game of golf, not himself. From an early age, Earl had instilled an indelible set of values in his son; most of them took. Don’t let the Forbes ranking fool you, it was never about the money.

Why is Turkey so gassed up over Sweden and Finland?

This one is kind of sticky, so I’ll break it down to each of its parts to reveal what Erdogan is up to.

First, this has come to the fore over Finland and Sweden’s shock (and fear) of Russia’s unilateral war to take over Ukraine. Let’s skip all the pretenses put forth by Putin- wipe out fascism, Ukraine invited us in, somebody stole my lunchbox at recess-and recognize how genuinely startling that invasion has been to those two countries. Finland shares an 830-mile border with Russia, and if I was a Finn, I’d be running around with my hair on fire right about now. So, why aren’t they?

The answer is that this is old hat to them. Since 1918, they’ve been invaded thrice by Russia/Soviet Union. Lots of back and forth, shifting borders and so on, but they are still there. There are also natural protections, with plenty of heavily wooded forests and bogs.

In addition to that, they have a network of civilian defense shelters that is both large and robust. Located in population centers, they can withstand a 100-kiloton nuclear bomb, and can accommodate sixty-five percent of the five and half million people living there. The math checks out, as at the rest of them would be topside opening up a can on the largely-unhappy-to-be-there Russian soldiers, who are ill-fed, underequipped and would rather be anywhere else in the world. Their bunkers are also modern by our standards, as most of the elementary school basements (if they exist) we would seek shelter in wouldn’t protect us from a stiff wind. Sorry kids, just duck under your desks, you’ll be fine.

As to their fighting force, Finland’s standing army is only 22,000 strong, but with universal male conscription they have plenty of boots. All recruits serve six to twelve months, based on skill level. The grunts are in and out in six, with the higher technically skilled levels doing the twelve. So it not like a lifetime commitment, unless maybe you’re in a hot war. You can also get called back for ‘kertausharjoitus’, or refresher training, from 40-100 days until you’re 50 to 60 years old, depending on rank. While that seems like a pain in ass, is it worse than being treated like a doormat by Russia? Probably not, so their multitiered preparedness and the outcome of previous skirmishes keeps Russian invasion a dim prospect at best.

In Sweden’s case, they share no land border with Russia. Hence a direct invasion would seem improbable, especially with Finland providing a buffer zone directly between them.

The wildcard here, of course, is Putin. Leaders in the know are aware he is very ill, possibly fatally so. That makes him even more dangerous, with less to lose and a desired legacy to leave. Oddly, more than doubling Russia’s border with NATO seems the unintended consequence of his efforts. Thus, his bellicosity and reckless decisions have brought about the interest of these two states in joining the club.

This club has, as one of its key membership requirements, unanimous approval of its existing members. That current number is 30, from the heavy hitters like the U.S. and U.K. to countries, um, let’s say less heavy hitting, like North Macedonia and Montenegro. Get a map.

Enter Erdogan. Ailing in the polls, due in no small part to crippling 70% inflation, he needs something positive to bolster his sagging approval ratings. He voted against Finland and Sweden applications, ostensibly because they were soft on the Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK), a militant (he, along with the US and the EU, say terrorist) faction of Kurds active inside Turkey. He anticipated that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would drive them to apply for NATO memberships and knew he could use that to his advantage. That’s when he said no to their being allowed to join, calling Sweden and Finland “safe houses” for terrorists. But that’s not why.

The PKK has campaigned for a separate territory inside of Turkey for decades, often violently. While Erdogan sites this as reason enough to reject potential new NATO members who are soft on them, he has an ulterior motive. Recognizing the value of his yes vote, he has negotiated behind the scenes with the US on what he really wants. F-16 jets, which Biden has just announced on June 30th, he will sell them, pending congressional approval. He also said there was no ‘quid pro quo’. Sure, sure. That’s not obvious at all. But it doesn’t make Erdogan look bad by any measure. It makes him look wise, and the U.S appear clumsy and slow footed. Well, I have to say it. Good on Erdogan for reading the political landscape correctly, seeing the opportunity farther out than anyone else, and being the smartest NATO member in the room. I wish the U.S. had more forward-looking people in leadership roles, because right now we look purely reactionary and, dare I say it, stupid.

This is a golf story-don’t worry, it’s not a worship story of The Wee Iceman and how he practiced ‘till his fingers bled, or the story of Francis Ouimet and the 1913 U.S. Open. Nope, not delving into the storied career of Big Jack, or even the incredible Tiger. We are even passing on Rick Reilly’s loving life lessons of golf and Redford’s emotionally moving Story of Bagger Vance. Today, we skip the hero worship and the awe-inspiring champions of the game for something much more vital to today’s sport. The business of the game. The powerful, all-encompassing- and new driver of the sport: money. Its power is something to behold.

 I’m stepping into the middle of this story because it’s actually several stories that weave into one. And it’s about to get very loud very fast. First, Mr. Mickelson has become the current scourge of the PGA by being the star recruit of the upstart LIV Golf enterprise. He’s actually being hated on by two groups. First, the folks who run the soon-to-be non-monopolistic PGA, and second, by everyone else that recognize the Saudis for who they are. The charismatic golf champion and branding specialist Greg Norman, a.k.a. the Shark from Australia, is the front man for the Saudi upstart golf league, creating the first real challenge to the PGA. What’s happening here is hard to miss, even for non-golf fans. The only thing that’s absent is my take on it.

So, you’re welcome.

Last November, sports reporter and author Alan Shipnuck spoke with Phil on the phone, who issued his now famous remarks about the Saudis being “Scary MF’ers”. Still, he could work with them. No problem. At the time of the interview, Phil couched the idea of joining the budding Super (not Saudi) Golf League (SGL) as leverage for the players to pry more money out of the PGA coffers. He recognized though, how bad they were, indeed clicking off a brief list of evil deeds done by MBS during the call. So, in considering this option, Mr. Mickelson enters into it with his eyes wide shut. And his wallet wide open. In addition to a $25 million purse for each of the eight three-day tourneys, there’s another tier of bonuses for the winning teams, as well as some extravagant signing bonuses. I have seen speculation between $100 to $200 million for Phil inking up.

The benefits for the golfers are obvious- a shorter work week, only eight matches for the year with LIV, and time to play the four majors on the side.  About the only remaining thing they need is a bigger boat to haul all that cash.

As they tee off for the inaugural LIV event this weekend, numerous PGA players have signed on. The roster is top heavy with several readily recognizable names, some majors winners, then rapidly followed by names lesser known. The good news for those LIVers who still want to compete in the four majors: at the moment, that looks promising. As the big four are not governed by the PGA, it seems that organization’s lifetime suspension of those who joined LIV, will be, how should I say, short LIVed. The governors of the U.S. Open said anyone who has already qualified is welcome to play. The remaining two majors, the British and the PGA (oddly not governed by the PGA-wait, what?) have a bit more time to survey the situation as it unfolds. My guess is they will continue to allow all qualifiers so as not to lose a healthy bit of cash flow at the gate. Who wants to see a bunch of third tier players duking it out at Augusta National?  And with limited crowds in attendance, TV revenues are sure to follow, creating a self-inflicted, possibly fatal, wound.

 Here’s the last piece of this story to date. All of they players are being recruited and shepherded by the aforementioned Greg Norman, CEO of LIV Golf Investments. Recently he made a statement that the company he is CEO of doesn’t answer to the Saudi government or it’s King, Muhammed bin Salman al Saud (or MBS for short, because MBSAS sounds too much like a boy band, I guess). Did I mention that all of the money, $2 Billion plus U.S., for this golf startup springs from the fount of the House of Saud? He further said that while Khashoggi’s assassination-not his exact words-was terrible, ‘The Saudi’s are changing their ways that led to that. And do you know how, he queried? Answering his own question, “Through Golf!” Did he even get that in such a statement he was defining sportswashing?

A couple of things come to mind. Either they don’t have newspapers in Australia, or Mr. Norman has been in the outback sun to long. If he’s not careful, he’ll be heading home early. In a golf bag.