‘The brink of change is always more thrilling than the change itself’ – Keith McNally.
In a week where Rory McIlroy became just the fourth man to go back-to-back at the U.S. Masters, it’s likely the biggest story in golf wasn’t at Augusta National. It was reports in the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal that the Saudi Public Investment Fund had lost patience with LIV Golf and was ready to cut funding for the rebel league.
There’s something undeniably intoxicating about the idea of a revolution. A bold disruption of the status quo in the pursuit of a new world order. It’s easier still to drink down that brew of Kool-Aid when it comes with a chaser of hundreds of millions in cash. Like first-year uni students wearing Che Guevara t-shirts, golfers like Cam Smith, Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka were happy to adopt the new sportsmaxxing ideology that had them ascending in more ways than one.
The insane salaries were framed as a drop in the ocean for those investing. The PIF could more than afford the cash burn, and this was one piece of a broader play at legitimacy. Golf, football, boxing, tennis, there was no shortage of sports ready to be sold on the idea of disruption.
The WTA season finals moved to Riyadh. Ronaldo joined Al Nassr. Countless boxing world title bouts were held in the Saudi kingdom. Even cricket was seen as a potential target, with suggestions that the IPL could have competition. They might even buy into the BBL.
This week the Saudi Public Investment Fund released its five-year plan. A collection of buzz phrases assembled into a sentence that was intentionally impossible to derive meaning from. The PIF was to “focus on delivering competitive domestic ecosystems to connect sectors, unlock the full potential of strategic assets, maximise long-term returns, and continue to drive the economic transformation of Saudi Arabia and further enhance the quality of life of its citizens.”
In its presentation, none of the sporting entities were mentioned, but the recent actions have done plenty of talking. Al Hilal, one of four clubs owned by the PIF has been sold. The WTA won’t be offered an extension beyond 2026. Now reports of LIV golfers failing to be paid on time as murmurs of the end times for the league grow louder.
Its UK operation reportedly lost nearly $600m USD in the last financial year alone. Some estimate as much as five billion has been blown on the competition, and to what end? The Masters leaderboard was dominated by USPGA players.
On Thursday, LIV CEO Scott O’Neill assured employees and the press that the show will very much go on. Later that day the broadcast from the Mexico event dropped out. The tournament media centre had reportedly been shuttered due to electricity outages. No fire, lots of smoke.
If this is the end, what is Australian golf left with? Hazy beer-soaked memories of Cam Smith doing shoeys with EDM DJ FISHER on the pristine fairways of The Grange as lads in polos threw plastic cups at the pair?
The well-run Adelaide event made Aussie golf fans feel relevant, and some international stakeholders might’ve even noticed the huge crowds and feverish interest. Yet, if LIV goes tomorrow, you wonder how much of the revolution that was promised might still materialise for the sport in Australia.
The idea of change was thrilling; the reality has been something else.
The broader implications for world sport are enormous. This is a nation that will host the football World Cup, they have Olympic aspirations. We were told again and again that the PIF had more money than God. As it turns out, even deities want a return on investment.
