LIV Golf

LIV Golf has denied "incomplete and inaccurate" reports that it is nearing a television deal with Fox Sports to broadcast its tournaments on FS1.

LIV Golf calls recent reports about alleged broadcast deal with Fox Sports “incomplete and inaccurate.” LIV says in a a statement that it is involved in “active discussions” with several companies about broadcasting league. pic.twitter.com/Hm1MvLpPOs

— Al Butler (@ALaboutSports) September 28, 2022

That statement comes after Eamon Lynch of Golfweek reported that an agreement between LIV Golf and Fox is close, but it has yet to be finalized.

If the reported deal were to happen, it would see LIV pay Fox Sports for airtime rather than Fox paying LIV a rights fee, which typically doesn't happen in sports. LIV Golf would reportedly also be responsible for production and ad sales related to its tournaments.

Although LIV reportedly asked for a guaranteed time slot on network TV and a rights fee for the second year of any deal, that proposal was rejected by Fox.

While a deal with Fox could still be agreed upon, LIV says it is still currently in talks with "several" companies.

Until this point, viewers have only been able to watch LIV Golf's events streaming on YouTube or the LIV Golf website, which has perhaps capped its growth and prevented it from reaching the widest possible audience.

Still, LIV has been hugely impactful in the golf world, primarily because of its penchant for poaching big-name golfers from the PGA Tour.

Many notable players have made the leap from the PGA Tour to LIV, including Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed, Brooks Koepka and Bubba Watson.

It can be argued that the biggest defection was that of world No. 3 Cameron Smith of Australia, who won a LIV tournament in Chicago this month.

LIV Golf, which is financially backed by Saudi Arabia's public investment fund, has been able to lure high-profile golfers thanks to large guaranteed contracts, massive tournament purses, a lighter schedule and shorter tournaments that last 54 holes rather than the traditional 72.

Critics argue the tour is one of several attempts by Saudi Arabia to engage in sportswashing—using sports teams, leagues and events to distract from a nation's misdeeds and improve its reputation globally.

Only three tournaments remain on LIV Golf's 2022 schedule. All of them will be held in October with Thailand, Saudi Arabia and Miami as the hosts.

Phil Mickelson, Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford and Ian Poulter requested to remove themselves from the antitrust complaint filed against the PGA Tour, according to Eric Prisbell of Sports Business Journal.

ESPN's Mark Schlabach provided a statement from LIV Golf spokesman Jonathan Grella, who said the development doesn't alter the ongoing case:

Nothing has changed. The merits of the case —  the PGA Tour's anti-competitive conduct — still stand and will be fully tested in court. And we look forward to that. LIV stands with the players whom the PGA Tour has treated so poorly, but we also recognize that to be successful, we no longer need a wide array of players to be on the suit. We have our players' backs and will press our case against the PGA Tour's anti-competitive behavior.

Mickelson indicated weeks earlier he was weighing whether to continue being a part of the suit.

"I haven't done anything yet, but now that LIV is involved, it's not necessary for me to be a part of it," he said on Sept. 15, per Schlabach. "I currently still am [part of the lawsuit]. I don't know what I'm really going to do. The only reason for me to stay in it is damages, which, I don't really want or need anything."

The six-time major champion was one of 11 golfers who filed the federal antitrust suit against the PGA Tour in August.

The lawsuit came after the Wall Street Journal's Louise Radnofsky and Andrew Beaton reported in July the Department of Justice was examining whether the PGA Tour violated any antitrust laws.

Among their claims, the plaintiffs in the suit allege the tour "threatened" golfers who pursued a move to LIV and applied pressure to other outside parties "to coerce players to abandon opportunities to play in LIV Golf events." The golfers also believe the indefinite suspension they received from the PGA Tour has damaged their careers.

The PGA Tour earned a minor legal victory on Aug. 9, when a federal judge declined to grant a temporary restraining order to Gooch, Swafford and Matt Jones that would've allowed them to compete in the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

District Court Judge Beth Freeman determined the contracts the three signed with LIV Golf were "based upon players calculation of what they were leaving behind." As a result, they couldn't prove they were unduly harmed.

LIV Golf players have written a letter to the governing board of the official world golf rankings calling for the organization's tournaments to be included in the ranking system.

LIV players have sent this signed letter to Peter Dawson, chairman of the governing board of the OWGR, pleading for world ranking points. pic.twitter.com/iM8TXu3SEO

— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) September 20, 2022

"To maintain trust, we urge you—as one of the true statesmen of sports—to act appropriately to include, on a retroactive basis, the results of LIV Golf events in OWGR's ranking calculations," the players wrote to chairman Peter Dawson.

In addition to recognizing the top players in the sport, the world rankings are used to determine invites for tournaments, including majors. Players can accumulate points at events from recognized competitions, including the PGA Tour, DP World Tour (European Tour) and Asian Tour, but LIV Golf has not yet received approval.

"An OWGR without LIV would be incomplete and inaccurate, the equivalent of leaving the Big 10 or SEC out of the U.S. college football rankings, or leaving Belgium, Argentina, and England out of the FIFA rankings," the LIV Golf players added.

LIV Golf has lured some of the biggest names in the sport in recent months, including Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Cameron Smith and Brooks Koepka. Most received large guaranteed contracts along with the promise of shorter schedules.

The lack of world ranking points is still an issue, especially if it prevents players without exemptions from competing in future events.

"I suppose there's a lot on the line with the ranking points, getting into majors, stuff like that," Smith said Sunday after his LIV Golf win. "There needs to be (a resolution) quite soon, I think. The field here is strong enough and deep enough to where it warrants that, and hopefully it's soon."

Though the fields are filled with top talent, the rule differences could be enough to keep LIV Golf out of the ranking system. Each tournament features just three rounds with only 48 players and no cuts.

Another holdup could be the OWGR governing board, which includes PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan. The recent letter says four of eight members of the board have "connections" to the PGA Tour, which "views LIV Golf as an antagonist."

It could create an uphill battle for those in the new organization looking for recognition.

LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman will meet with United States lawmakers on Capitol Hill this week to discuss the organization's ties to Saudi Arabia and other factors.

"LIV Golf is coming to the Hill this week to meet with lawmakers from both parties," LIV Golf spokesperson Jonathan Grella told ESPN's Mark Schlabach. "Given the PGA Tour's attempts to stifle our progress in reimagining the game, we think it's imperative to educate members on LIV's business model and counter the Tour's anti-competitive efforts."

The newly created organization is funded by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, which is controlled by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Norman will also discuss his encounters with the PGA Tour, which is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice's antitrust division for potential anticompetitive behavior, per Louise Radnofsky and Andrew Beaton of the Wall Street Journal.

The PGA Tour has been aggressive in its fight against LIV Golf, suspending players who take part in the new league while revoking membership for some players in 2022-23.

Several players and LIV Golf have filed an antitrust suit against the PGA Tour.

LIV Golf has still been able land numerous big names over the past several months, including Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Cameron Smith and Brooks Koepka.

Norman will get a chance to justify his organization's business model, which could include a new television rights deal.

The Saudi ties are still a concern for some considering numerous accusations of human rights violations against Saudi Arabia. The 9/11 Families United group has protested against the newly formed league.

Mickelson notably cited these issues before joining LIV Golf.

"They're scary motherf--kers to get involved with,” he told Alan Shipnuck in February. "We know they killed [Washington Post reporter and U.S. resident Jamal] Khashoggi and have a horrible record on human rights. They execute people over there for being gay. Knowing all of this, why would I even consider it? Because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour operates."

The comments were enough for several players to back out after previously committing to LIV Golf, Norman said.

Cameron Smith has his first win on the controversial LIV Golf circuit. It only took him two tries.

The star golfer shot a three-under 69 in Sunday's final round to finish 13 under for the tournament, besting Dustin Johnson and Peter Uihlein by three strokes apiece at the LIV Golf Invitational-Chicago.

Johnson's 4 Aces GC won the team event at 24 under, beating Smash GC by just one stroke.

Seeing Smith win so soon in his LIV journey is no surprise, seeing as he won the British Open and is ranked No. 3 in the official World Golf Rankings. He did look a bit shaky at times on Sunday, especially after bogeys on Nos. 4 and 5, though five birdies from there helped solidify his lead for good.

NVM 😬 Cam Smith retakes the lead

📺https://t.co/BrRKpCqGX5#LIVGolf #LIVGolfChicago pic.twitter.com/WKtcLqWGdf

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) September 18, 2022

Extending his lead 😤

📺https://t.co/NBTxcCJHoj#LIVGolf #LIVGolfChicago pic.twitter.com/EZTpURwKQF

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) September 18, 2022

WINNER WINNER 🏆#LIVGolf #LIVGolfChicago pic.twitter.com/utkNDnqYEP

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) September 18, 2022

"I think I have to prove to myself, and some other people, that I'm still a great player," Smith said after his victory. "I'm still out here to win golf tournaments. Proud of how I hung in there today, didn't really have my best stuff I think, the first eight or nine holes. But stuck it tough and made a few good putts coming in, it was nice."

🗣 from the Winner#LIVGolf #LIVGolfChicago pic.twitter.com/4mzZEHpXKE

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) September 18, 2022

One of the critiques against players who defected to the LIV Golf breakaway league is that they were chasing a big payday rather than the trophies, prestige and competition of the PGA Tour, a narrative that Smith seemed to be referencing in his remarks.

A number of PGA Tour players have been outspoken against LIV Golf for a number of reasons, from the accusations of sportswashing aimed at the Saudi-backed league to the fact that the huge sums of money LIV Golf has promised its players has fractured the golf world between competing entities.

"I have always said I play for trophies, not for money," Shane Lowry told reporters last week. "That's why I didn't entertain it, to be honest. The reason I have never even contemplated it is I don't think it is good for the game."

But a number of high-profile players, including Smith, followed the money. And he earned a lot of it Sunday, with his victory worth at least $4 million.

Smith and Johnson are undoubtedly two of the better players in the world. That has the possibility to create an interesting rivalry between the pair, even if they won't have the chance to sharpen their skills against the broader field of talented players the PGA Tour offers.

Dustin Johnson's three-stroke lead is no more following a disappointing Round 2 on Saturday in the LIV Golf Invitational Series event at Rich Harvest Farms in the Chicago area.

Following an impressive first round that saw him finish nine under par, Johnson finished the second round one over to bring his two-day total to eight under. A few hiccups from Johnson allowed Cameron Smith to capture the lead entering Sunday's third round.

Smith finished Round 2 four under par for a two-day total of 10 under. He holds a two-stroke lead over Johnson and a three-stroke lead over Peter Uihlein.

Here's a look at the leaderboard after Day 2:

---

LIV Golf Chicago Leaderboard

1. Cameron Smith: -10

2. Dustin Johnson: -8

3. Peter Uihlein: -7

T4. Laurie Canter: -6

T4. Charl Schwartzel: -6

T6. Charles Howell III: -5

T6. Bryson DeChambeau: -5

T6. Lee Westwood: -5

T9. Matt Jones: -4

T9. Joaquin Niemann: -4

T9. Louis Oosthuizen: -4

T9. Matthew Wolff: -4

Full leaderboard available at LIVGolf.com

---

After a blazing first round, Johnson had a disappointing performance Saturday. He slipped up on the third hole, carding a bogey, and on the fourth hole, carding a double-bogey.

The 38-year-old carded a birdie on hole No. 8 but otherwise shot for par.

Luckily for Johnson, he's just two strokes off the lead, which is very much still there for the taking.

Smith had one of the best performances of the day, carding three birdies on the front nine and two birdies and a bogey on the back nine to capture the lead.

Closing the gap to 1

📺https://t.co/NBTxcCJ9yL#LIVGolf #LIVGolfChicago pic.twitter.com/feMPaqA1ug

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) September 17, 2022

Cam's caddy must be numb to shots like this 😂

📺 https://t.co/NBTxcCJ9yL#LIVGolf #LIVGolfChicago pic.twitter.com/38l5Gl4wWk

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) September 17, 2022

Cam smith sinks it to hold on

📺https://t.co/NBTxcCJ9yL#LIVGolf #LIVGolfChicago pic.twitter.com/OLEhmnhHOY

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) September 17, 2022

CAM SMITH TAKES THE LEAD!

📺https://t.co/NBTxcCJ9yL#LIVGolf #LIVGolfChicago pic.twitter.com/6fnKhuDHMN

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) September 17, 2022

Smith in the lead with 1 round to go#LIVGolf #LIVGolfChicago pic.twitter.com/dEy12mhdH0

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) September 17, 2022

Smith, who finished tied for fourth in his LIV Golf debut event last weekend in Boston, is searching for his first win since switching to the Saudi-backed league from the PGA Tour.

Uihlein had perhaps the best performance of Round 2. He entered Saturday tied for 21st at one under but finished the second round in third place at seven under after finishing Round 2 six under par.

Uihlein carded two birdies and a bogey on the front nine before a blazing back nine that saw him card five birdies.

The third round at Rich Harvest Farms will take place Sunday.

Phil Mickelson said it's time for LIV Golf and the PGA Tour to "come together" for the betterment of the sport after a monthslong rivalry.

Mickelson, one of the first high-profile golfers to make the jump to LIV, said the breakaway tour is "here to stay," so it's time to settle the differences.

"The best solution is for us to come together," Mickelson told reporters Friday. "I think that the world of professional golf has a need for the old historical 'history of the game' product that the PGA Tour provides. I think that LIV provides a really cool, updated feel that is attracting a lot of younger crowds."

His comments come after he confirmed Thursday he'll consider removing himself from an antitrust lawsuit filed by several LIV players against the PGA Tour.

"Both are good for the game of golf and the inclusion of LIV Golf in the ecosystem of the golf world is necessary," Mickelson said. "As soon as that happens, we all start working together. It's going to be a really positive thing for everyone."

LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman told Tom Minear of The Australian on Tuesday he's tried to make contact with PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan with no success, which left them little choice but to move forward without an agreement between the sides.

"That's why we are where we are today," Norman said. "We tried awfully hard—I know I did personally for the past year. ... When we knew we were never going to hear from them, we just decided to go."

LIV attracted numerous notable players, including Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Cameron Smith and Sergio Garcia, with a variety of perks and life-changing money. The tour is financially backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.

Its tournaments are 54 holes (one round shorter than the PGA Tour) with no cut, and the purse is typically around $25 million for a standard event. A season-ending competition next month in Miami will have a $50 million payout.

All of that is on top of lucrative guaranteed contracts. Mickelson signed a deal worth around $200 million in June, per Brentley Romine of Golf Channel.

The PGA Tour responded by barring players who appear in a LIV tournament from its own events, and several longtime Tour players, including Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, have been forceful in their public comments against the rival league.

"I think that what they've done is they've turned their back on what has allowed them to get to this position," Woods told reporters at the Open Championship in July.

McIlroy said in June younger players going to LIV were "taking the easy way out," and he's maintained a stance LIV players should be banned from the 2023 Ryder Cup.

Monahan also reiterated last month there are no plans to reinstate LIV golfers.

So, while Mickelson and LIV appear open to a truce, it doesn't seem like the PGA Tour and its members feel the same way at this stage.

LIV Golf is only available to watch through YouTube streaming, but that could change as the organization negotiates television rights for future events.

"All I can tell you is that the interest coming across our plate right now is enormous," CEO Greg Norman told ESPN Chicago's Kap & J. Hood on Wednesday (h/t James Colgan of Golf.com). "We're talking to four different networks—and live conversations where offers are being put on the table."

According to Justin Byers of Front Office Sports, there could be as many as six bidders for LIV Golf with Fox considered the "leading contender." Other major networks like NBC, ESPN and CBS are unlikely to compete because of their relationships with the PGA Tour.

Any new television deal wouldn't begin until 2023, as LIV Golf’s chief media officer, Will Staeger, told Gerry Smith of Bloomberg on Thursday.

The Saudi Arabia-backed startup is in its first season, featuring an eight-event schedule. In 2023, the league will have 14 events.

LIV Golf has gained prominence with its ability to sign big names from the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, including Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Sergio Garcia and more. Last month, Cameron Smith, then the No. 2 player in the world rankings and the reigning Open Championship winner, was the latest prominent player to make the switch.

However, LIV has been roundly criticized as many see it as an avenue for Saudi Arabia to engage in sportswashing—using sports teams, leagues and events to distract from a nation's misdeeds and improve its reputation globally. The Saudi Public Investment Fund has also recently invested in hosting Formula 1 and WWE events and purchased the Premier League's Newcastle United in 2021. The current Saudi regime has been accused of numerous human rights violations, including the murder of Washington Post reporter Jamal Khashoggi, the jailing of dissidents, the bombing of Yemen and the oppression of women, girls and the LGBTQ+ community.

The league has offered large guaranteed contracts and prize pools to lure top players, as well as shorter schedules and three-round tournaments.

LIV Golf is behind the PGA Tour in viewership, though.

As John Ourand and Austin Karp of Sports Business Journal noted, the league's July tournament in New York averaged 74,000 viewers on its online stream during the final round Sunday. The PGA Tour's Rocket Mortgage Classic averaged 2.5 million viewers on the same day.

It will likely take a television deal for LIV Golf to take the next step as a serious organization.

Phil Mickelson may no longer be a part of LIV Golf's lawsuit against the PGA Tour.

Mickelson said Thursday he is considering removing his name from the Saudi-backed league's federal antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour, according to ESPN's Mark Schlabach:

"I haven't done anything yet, but now that LIV is involved, it's not necessary for me to be a part of it. I currently still am [part of the lawsuit]. I don't know what I'm really going to do. The only reason for me to stay in it is damages, which, I don't really want or need anything."

On June 9, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan suspended 17 players, including Mickelson, who is a six-time major champion, from competing in PGA Tour events after they played in LIV Golf's inaugural event at the Centurion Club in London.

Mickelson and 10 other LIV Golf players filed suit against the PGA Tour last month after they were suspended for joining the breakaway circuit. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California for the purpose of challenging the bans and other restrictions placed on players.

In addition, the lawsuit alleges that the PGA Tour engaged in "anticompetitive behavior" to control its hold on professional golf.

Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford and Matt Jones were also seeking a temporary restraining order as part of the lawsuit so they could compete in the FedEx Cup playoffs. However, a federal judge denied the request.

LIV Golf joined the lawsuit against the PGA Tour as a plaintiff on Aug. 27.

Mickelson would be the fifth player to remove his name from the lawsuit, joining Carlos Ortiz, Abraham Ancer, Pat Perez and Jason Kokrak, who did so last month.

Mickelson has been one of the faces of LIV Golf and was one of the first players to join the Saudi-backed league, which reportedly paid him $200 million to ditch the PGA Tour, per Brentley Romine of Golf Channel.

He has been heavily criticized for joining LIV Golf and, before joining, the 52-year-old made controversial comments about the Saudi Arabians who are funding the breakaway circuit via their private investment fund, while speaking with author Alan Shipnuck, per Schlabach:

"They're scary motherf--kers to get involved with. ... They killed [Washington Post reporter and U.S. resident Jamal] Khashoggi and have a horrible record on human rights. They execute people over there for being gay. Knowing all of this, why would I even consider it? Because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour operates."

The Saudi Arabian government has a history of human rights abuses and has been accused of "sportswashing," an attempt to improve its image through athletics.

Two major streaming platforms reportedly turned down the chance to acquire the media rights to LIV Golf.

According to Andrew Beaton and Joe Flint of the Wall Street Journal, both Apple and Amazon passed on becoming the streaming home of the fledgling tour.

As a result, the Saudi-backed golf league has had to resort to streaming its tournaments on YouTube and Facebook. LIV Golf also signed a streaming deal with DAZN in June, in addition to contracts with international television networks such as Eleven Sports, Sky Deutschland, SPOTV and SuperSport.

Per Beaton and Flint, neither Apple nor Amazon expressed any interest in striking a deal with LIV Golf, and no serious negotiations ever took place. The same is reportedly true for television networks such as ESPN, CBS, NBC and Fox.

Dan Rapoport of Barstool Sports added that Apple's reported lack of interest in LIV Golf had to do with the company's belief that the league is "too toxic."

The biggest controversy surrounding LIV Golf is the fact that it is financially backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. Saudi Arabia has a history of significant human rights violations, and one popular theory is that the country is investing heavily in sports leagues like LIV Golf in an effort to improve its image across the world.

With Saudi Arabia's backing, LIV Golf has been able to offer top golfers huge contracts, as well as massive prize money pools in its tournaments.

LIV has also appealed to golfers by holding far fewer tournaments than the PGA Tour and making them three rounds in length rather than four.

As a result, LIV Golf has brought in several big names, including Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed, Bubba Watson and Cameron Smith.

Interest in LIV Golf's tournaments has seemingly been capped by the fact that it doesn't have a major streaming or television contract, however, and that may continue to be the case until a deal can be reached.