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.