LIV: The day begins again! Sports VAT

The unprecedented division of world golf is entering its second year: The 2023 edition of the LIV circuit kicks off on Friday with an opening course in Mayakoba, Mexico, with $25 million and 48 players participating.

The event will be broadcast on TVA Sports 2 starting at 1pm.

After an inaugural season with eight tournaments, LIV Circuit’s Season 2 schedule features 14 tournaments and added Spain, Australia and Singapore as destinations.

As its name suggests (LIV for 54 in Roman numerals), the Saudi-funded PGA Tour competitor wants to continue its flick of multi-million dollar golf played over three days (and 54 holes), in teams of four with “flashy” names and colours. “.

It is undoubtedly one of its pioneers, the American Dustin Johnson, who best sums up what this circle represents for the discipline and its participants.

“My career on the PGA Tour has been amazing and I’m very proud of what I’ve achieved,” the former world No. 1 explained in the documentary series. full swing Streaming on Netflix.

“I have now chosen to take a new direction in my life and in my career. The decision to play this circuit came from the offer given to me, which is to play less and win more, it’s that simple,” continued the captain of the 4 Aces he coaches with compatriots Patrick Reed, Pat Perez and Peter Ohlen.

Johnson, 38, dominated the first edition in 2022, winning the individual and group rankings, which is synonymous with earnings of $36 million, in addition to the $100 million, according to the specialized press, that he would have received for joining the LIV circuit.

Migration continues

The Australian Cameron Smith, the best player in 2022 after winning the British Open, also responded to the Americans Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson or even Bubba Watson, the Englishman Ian Poulter, even if it did not happen. The longer they are allowed to score points in the world rankings.

They are joined this season by lesser players such as New Zealand’s Danny Lee and Belgium’s Thomas Peters, while Spain’s John Rahm, Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy and American Tiger Woods continue to be sworn in by the PGA.

Faced with this exodus, the North American circuit initially pressured the Grand Slam tournaments to refuse to pass players to the enemy. But, in December, the prestigious Augusta Masters decided to maintain its current criteria to allow LIV players to enroll in the 2023 edition.

The North American Tour is trying to fight back, by creating $20 million “Super Tournaments” and raising the Players Championship prize pool to $25 million.

But to hear its president, Australian legend Greg Norman, the LIV circuit, which will be contested on three stages at courses belonging to former US President Donald Trump, has already hit the mark.

“Our championship format is really starting to attract new fans,” the Great White Shark confirmed.