Who says history doesn’t repeat itself. Why it was only last summer when OU and UT declared their intent to join the SEC. Now here we go again – the two LA LA land schools bolting to the B1G!
Many thought the Big Ten was behind the curve in competing with the SEC. Well, looks as though we were incorrect. And…while the PAC-12 may have been caught lacking, USC/UCLA seem to have been working overtime, huh.
The Big Ten tonight accepted the applications of both the West Coast schools…pretty much a done deal. So much for Dorothy, KU, and Emerald City’s quest for B1G membership.
Look for BYU to reconsider its options, for the Zags to get a PAC-12 invite, and for SDSU and Lavin’s USD to fight like hell to get into the PAC-12.
What domino is next to fall? Who the heck knows at this point.
LIV Golf grows as PGA Tour defections soar. PGA News: The defections continue as Brooks Koepka and others bolt from the PGA Tour this week.
Koepka, Pat Perez, & Matt Wolff all moved to the LIV Tour this week. Jason Kokrak may also move. They join major champions Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, and many others in defecting from the PGA Tour to the LIV Golf Series.
They will not be the last high profile golfers to join the new circuit being CEO’d by two-time Open Championship winner Greg Norman. At least 20 PGA Tour players have defied the tour and joined the LIV Tour thus far.
What we’re seeing is golf…the sport, in a slightly different format, but still golf. Perhaps even a bit more exciting with the team aspect at play. Expect to see more defections by players, as the LIV Tour has a lot going for it: More prize money, less travel due to fewer events this 1st season, and what is becoming more of a player refrain…more time with their families.
The PGA Tour’s Jay Monahan is behaving as if the LIV Tour doesn’t exist. He’s attempting to protect his domain, rather than try to grow the game. Monahan is the equivalent of the Captain of the Titanic…that iceberg (LIV Golf) is a figment of your imagination.
Also notable in the early going is that the governing bodies that stage the four majors — Augusta National Golf Club (Masters), USGA (U.S. Open), PGA of America (PGA Championship) and the R&A (The Open) don’t seem ready to ban players who are competing in the LIV Golf circuit, at least not yet.
The USGA did not ban eligible players from the US Open last week.
Stay tuned for more as this golfing war is just heating up.
Bluenotes 