Golf

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:

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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.

Dustin Johnson is leading the field after one day of action in the LIV Golf Invitational Series event at Rich Harvest Farms in the Chicago area.

Johnson, who finished Friday's Round 1 nine under par, holds a three-stroke lead over the second-place Cameron Smith, who finished tied for fourth in his LIV Golf debut event last weekend in Boston.

Johnson is aiming for his second straight LIV Golf event victory after winning last weekend in Boston with a playoff eagle.

Here's a look at the leaderboard after Day 1:

---

LIV Golf Chicago Leaderboard

1. Dustin Johnson: -9

2. Cameron Smith: -6

3. Matthew Wolff: -5

T4. Matt Jones: -4

T4. Charles Howell III: -4

T4. Henrik Stenson: -4

T4. Lee Westwood: -4

T8. Charl Schwartzel: -3

T8. Louis Oosthuizen: -3

T8. Bryson DeChambeau: -3

Full results available at LIVGolf.com

---

Johnson had an impressive showing on the front nine, carding six birdies to move to six under for the day.

The 38-year-old continued his strong outing on the back nine, carding three birdies to keep Smith off the lead.

#4ACESGC back on 🔝

📺https://t.co/Rqj4Ovomgd#LIVGolf #LIVGolfChicago pic.twitter.com/HZQTa0igDR

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) September 16, 2022

.@DJohnsonPGA having himself a field day

📺https://t.co/Rqj4Ovomgd#LIVGolf #LIVGolfChicago pic.twitter.com/SdPeYEkEpE

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) September 16, 2022

.@DJohnsonPGA on 🔥 going into day 2#LIVGolf #LIVGolfChicago pic.twitter.com/ziunMJcDhH

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) September 16, 2022

Smith also had a solid afternoon and is primed to continue putting pressure on Johnson in Round 2 on Saturday. He carded three birdies on the front nine before carding another three on the back nine.

Although Bryson DeChambeau is tied for eighth place at three under, he remains within striking distance of the lead and could make a run on Saturday after carding five birdies and a double-bogey in the first round.

Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson enter Saturday tied for 11th at two under, and Joaquin Niemann and Ian Poulter are tied for 21st at one under par.

With three more rounds to go, this event is anyone's for the taking, and there will be significant pressure on Johnson to continue playing at a high level to hold onto his lead.

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.

Former professional golfer and current social media influencer Paige Spiranac is one of the most followed people in the game of golf—boasting 3.6 million followers on Instagram—but that fame has come with its fair share of hateful comments from internet trolls.

Earlier this week, Spiranac revealed she had to delete a lot of comments on one of her most recent Instagram videos because she had been receiving hateful comments, many of which were body-shaming remarks.

"Honestly the amount of men calling me 'fat' on this post is next level lol," Spiranac said Wednesday night, per TMZ Sports. "I've had to delete so many comments, which I almost never do."

The 29-year-old also said that she has struggled to maintain her "ideal weight," adding that she works out and diets right, but that "it doesn't come naturally to me."

"It can be defeating when people call out body insecurities," Spiranac said.

Spiranac said she intends to share more about her fitness and diet routines moving forward to help people who "feel a similar body pressure."

Over 90 golf carts were destroyed in a fire at Randolph Golf Course in Tucson, Arizona, per Vic Verbalaitis of the Arizona Republic.

The Tucson Fire Department was dispatched to the area at about 2:30 a.m. local time early Tuesday morning. The department also captured images of the incident:

GOLF COURSE FIRE ⛳️ 🔥 #TucsonFire responded to the Randolph Golf Complex on Alvernon last night, where a fire in a golf cart storage area destroyed dozens of carts. The fire also damaged some solar panels. No injuries or transports #TFD pic.twitter.com/0jEXAdjLrD

— Tucson Fire Department (@TucsonFireDept) September 13, 2022

With the help of additional arriving units, crews were able to call this fire under control by 2:45. The fire destroyed or damaged more than 90 carts and the solar panel covered storage area. No injuries. The cause of the fire remains under investigation #TFD pic.twitter.com/f1hAg4kMNw

— Tucson Fire Department (@TucsonFireDept) September 13, 2022

The solar panels covering the storage area were also destroyed, but no person was injured in the fire. The department is still investigating the cause of the fire.

The public, city-run course has been open since 1925 and previously hosted the LPGA Welch's/Fry's Championship.