One would think that anybody who professes to truly love golf would hail when the game is played at its best, rather than turning it into a contest even after the Green Jacket is slipped on to the champ.
In this case, the winner was Jon Rahm. To the victor goes the spoils and there were plenty besides his huge $3.24-million payday on Sunday, which seems to be all anybody is looking at in golf these days.
For those not obsessed with dollar signs, Rahm also won his second major, moves to No. 1 in the world rankings after his fourth win this calendar year.
He is the fourth Spaniard to don the Green Jacket, joining Seve Ballesteros, Jose-Maria Olazabal, and Sergio Garcia. Rahm’s win comes 40 years after Ballesteros’ second win at Augusta and on his birthday.
Rahm was unflappable in his 30-hole marathon to conclude the Masters and whether his prize is financial or pride in his accomplishments, there are few, if any, who would question Rahm’s new Green Jacket.
There are those, however, who have turned it into a contest between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf rather than a spirited contest that drew the interest of a massive number of viewers to CBS.
Sunday began with a duel between Rahm and Brooks Koepka, but saw some spirited charges from others, most notably Phil Mickelson, who fired a final round 65 to tie for second with Koepka.
What many are noting is that Mickelson and Koepka are part of the crew who jumped ship to go to LIV, as was Patrick Reed, who was just another shot back at seven under after he shot a 68 on Sunday to tie for fourth.
So there you go — bragging rights for LIV, some will tell you, despite the fact that Jordan Spieth and Russell Henley, both PGA Tour guys, also tied for fourth to go along with Rahm’s win.
So, it’s a win by the PGA Tour over LIV, right?
Who cares?
About the only thing that was going to keep Koepka down was the injuries that have plagued him the past few seasons and if you think that once players move to LIV, their talents will deteriorate, better check that leaderboard from Augusta again.
Nor does it mean that the PGA Tour product is under threat from a talent point of view.
What matters most is that we witnessed a well-played event, some of it in trying conditions, on one of golf’s grandest stages at Augusta. A limping Tiger drew our empathy before he withdrew and there were surprises such as Rory McIlroy missing the cut.
It was one to remember because of what happened on the golf course and the names at or near the top of the leaderboard are ones we’ve become accustomed to over the years.
The PGA Tour and LIV are duking it out in court these days, but that’s not what we came for when tuning into the Masters. It’s just way too easy to get caught up on the business dealings.
Agreed Hutch, fans just want to see the kind of drama this Masters provided.
However this whole issue will be resolved one way or another, especially since Sports Resolutions put the hammer in Pelley and the DPWT hands.
PGA Tour is doing fine without LIV players as new Designated events have proved.
LIV players who all left for the money are doing fine, richer by the day, and some able to play the majors
DPWT is now basically a feeder league with a lot events for not a lot of money, or TV appeal, surrounding their impressive Rolex Series, but they have some financial security in their alliance with PGA Tour.
I just don’t think the Saudi masters vision of improving their worldwide image hasn’t worked at all, not a jot, so eventually even as rich as they are, sooner or later you’d think they will decide to spend their money elsewhere