Tony’s take on LIV: It’s horrific and has turned into a dirty dogfight
Cameron Smith would potentially be throwing away his chance to become a golf legend if he takes the money and signs up with LIV Golf.
That is the view of Sky Sports’ golf analyst, Tony Johnstone, who has been left shaking his head about events in the game he still considers “gentlemanly”.
The rumours about Smith’s defection to the Saudi-backed Tour continue to whirl, with many expecting it to only be a matter of weeks until The Open Champion jumps ship.
Having produced that stunning putting display around the Old Course to lift the Claret Jug just a month ago, the Australian has refused to reveal his future plans.
That has left many to assume that he will be joining Greg Norman’s gang of rebels.
Johnstone hopes Smith – a player with the world at his feet – won’t turn his back on competing against the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas and Jon Rahm on the PGA Tour.
“For the younger guys, it is a question of money versus legacy,” said Johnstone (below).
“Cam Smith has just won The Open, and is in the prime of his career. With his talent, he could be one of the best of his generation.
“If that happened, he would be earning $100 million in sponsors’ endorsements alone in the next 10 years, on top of prize money, so he would not lose out.
“I just hope he doesn’t go.
“For most guys I played against in the 1990s and early-2000s, the prime motivation was competing, and the adrenaline rush that brought.
“The money follows later if you’re successful. That’s how the game works.
“I never stood on the first tee of an event, thinking about how much the purse was. It was about what I needed to do well to play well, and have a chance to win.
“So, if a 28-year-old Major Champion is not motivated by that competition, I don’t understand it.
“The average golf fan thinks it’s a disgrace that a player would be happy to potentially shorten his career at the top for a heap of cash.
“You can’t only play 10 events a year, and still be competitive in the Majors.”
The saga around LIV Golf, and its threat to the game’s long-established status quo, is only getting messier by the week.
A group of 11 players, including Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau, brought a lawsuit against the PGA Tour over their suspension for joining up.
Three of them – Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford and Australian,
Matt Jones – were unsuccessful in court in their attempt to be allowed to play in the Fed-Ex Cup play-offs.
“It’s all a big mess,” said Johnstone. “It’s horrific for the game, that we have always considered to be ‘gentlemanly’, has turned into a dirty dogfight.
“I really don’t know how this is going to end. Will they will keep battling in court, or reach some sort of agreement?
“The Saudis have a bottomless pit of money, but we don’t know what their long-term plan is, other than to try and popularise their country and show it is changing.
“We don’t know whether they will expect some kind of return from the investment at some point. It’s all a mystery.”
On the DP World Tour, players have not been suspended, and a few LIV golfers have been teeing it up in regular events.
While at this week’s Czech Open, one of the most prominent rebels, Ian Poulter, will be appearing.
For Zimbabwean Johnstone, the winner of the 1992 PGA Championship at Wentworth, this flip-flopping between Tours will be aggravating many rank-andfile European players.
“I have no issue with some of the older guys going off to LIV,” he stated. “They are in their mid-40s, they are no longer competitive and going to win Majors, and they have had a massive cheque waved in front of them, which means they won’t have to go on the Champions Tour.
“If I was a player, I’d be thinking if someone wants to go to LIV, just go. But don’t come back and try to take a share of my money.
“You can’t have your cake and eat it.
“I can imagine at some of these European Tour events, there is a slightly-frosty atmosphere on the driving range.
“I’d certainly have a few things to say – and they wouldn’t be very pleasant!”