LIV embarrassed as Koepka chokes, fails to capture Masters
It’s the plain joke, so let’s get it out of the best way. The LIV Golf representatives at The Masters aren’t used to taking part in 72 holes! That’s why Brooks Koepka crapped the mattress on Sunday and blew his lead, solely to be handed by Jon Rahm, who gained his first inexperienced jacket by 4 strokes! If solely the Saudi-backed new golf promotion performed longer tournaments! Letting the victory of the game’s signature occasion slip away is a big deal, and that’s no joke. What was alleged to be the planting-the-flag second for LIV Golf simply made the PGA Tour look stronger. The depth of LIV will be seen by Koepka tying Phil Mickelson for second place, each LIVers and Patrick Reed ending in a tie for fourth additionally representing the non-PGA affiliated.
The if-you’re-not-first-you’re-last mentality right here issues although. It’s really all that issues in particular person sports activities. One inexperienced jacket will get given out annually. And after this weekend, the identical quantity that gained The Masters underneath the LIV banner remains to be zero. And the power of 1 golfer, on this case, Rahm drop-kicking (or placing) everybody else into oblivion, issues. If Katie Ledecky wins the gold medal within the 100-meter freestyle, and Australia takes the remainder of the rostrum, we’re nonetheless listening to one nationwide anthem and it’s not no matter these down underneath play earlier than rugby matches. It’s the rattling Star-Spangled Banner. Regardless of the dearth of aggressive tournaments or high-pressure occasions the LIV golfers had participated in previous to final week at Augusta Nationwide, they held their very own. That’s completely not the victory lap the second-year league hoped to take. Understanding that distinction is vital.
The Masters is the litmus check, the measuring stick, the most important group of bragging rights. Profitable the U.S. Open or the British Open, or having a bunch current for a Ryder Cup victory, might be good nevertheless it’s not golf’s most vital occasion. If Novak Djokovic had been to have damaged off from the ATP and began the DTE (Djokovic Tennis Extravaganza), he or one of many turncoats would’ve introduced probably the most legitimacy to that group by profitable Wimbledon. The Australian Open, French Open, and U.S. Open are all nice, and doubtless nearer in significance to Wimbledon than any non-Masters main golf event. However the Djokovic crew would’ve skyrocketed in status with the Wimbledon title of their camp. The LIVers now have to attend practically 360 days for his or her subsequent likelihood at that promotion-defining second with The Masters being on an island of significance.
Anybody spouting the narrative that the LIV golfers can’t compete as a result of their tournaments are 54 holes isn’t being honest. At non-major males’s skilled tournaments, it’s greatest two-out-of-three units, with three-out-of-five units being the calling card for the grand slam occasions. Enjoying a full fourth spherical with all of the stoppages and transferring of tee instances that passed off final weekend in Augusta, the PGAers had professional competitors. But, Rahm might be touting the victory as a PGA-branded one at subsequent yr’s Masters Champions Dinner with no LIV-affiliated triumphs to talk of. And that hurts the LIV model.
