Kevin Na recently announced that he was resigning his membership from the PGA Tour to join the LIV golf tour.
His decision has several layers of meaning, as do the decisions of Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, and Dustin Johnson to play in London’s LIV tournament, although the latter three have not announced resignation.
Johnson is getting a lot of money to play the Saudi-sponsored events this season, so there’s a chance he won’t ever be back.
No one knows yet if the PGA Tour Commissioner, Jay Monahan, will make good on his statement to ban any players from the PGA Tour if they jump ship to LIV.
We should assume that’s going to be the worst case, because the PGA Tour does not have a history of announcing things it doesn’t mean.
In a statement from the PGA Tour on May 10th which declined conflicting event releases, disciplinary action was the term used, as reported by ESPN.
“As communicated to our entire membership on May 10, PGA Tour members have not been authorized to participate in the Saudi Golf League’s London event, under PGA Tour Tournament Regulations,” the tour’s statement Wednesday said. “Members who violate the Tournament Regulations are subject to disciplinary action.”
People will miss Phil Mickelson if he is not allowed to return. But they understand why he went. He’s 52 next week, the week of the U.S. Open.
His best day ever may have been winning the PGA Championship at 50, after which he threw away his chance to be a complete legend in golf by remaining with the Tour.
But perhaps Mickelson wanted the money and fame that a second career with guaranteed money could bring. He did it in a very bad fashion, which was surprising, but he did it in a way that may not allow him to return.
While those who are going away may think they are irreplaceable or that they will be allowed to come back soon, they could be in for a shock.
So what if the worst thing happens and the PGA Tour loses 25 to 48 players?
What that would do is, first of all, is to open up someplace between 25 and 48 new spots on the PGA Tour for players who want to be there. Players who have it as their dream job, their dream life.
Whether that means players on the Korn Ferry move up or that those far down the FedEx Cup points list get into more events, it changes things for a lot of people.
While those who are going away may think they are irreplaceable or that they will be allowed to come back soon, they could be in for a shock.
You see, the PGA Tour is very good at developing new stars. Take Scottie Scheffler for instance. A year ago, almost nobody knew who he was, and now he’s the Masters champ, and a four-time winner this season. He’s hotter than summer in Phoenix.
Nobody had heard of Jordan Spieth until he jumped up and grabbed tournament titles by the throat. Pretty soon he’d won three majors and became huge.
Who knew Collin Morikawa would win two majors so fast?
The PGA Tour and the majors will continue to make new stars, new ones so sparkly and fun that soon nobody will care about the players who aren’t here.
Kevin Na will be the answer to a LIV trivia question someday
Pretty soon Na will just be the answer to a trivia question: Who was the first player to resign his PGA Tour membership for LIV? And that’s all he’ll be. People move on to the next big thing.
Smart Tour players are also thinking, that’s great. They think, that’s 25 to 50 guys I don’t have to worry about beating. And I think I can beat the next 25 or 50 down the list in that next level. So much the better for me.
Some players you already like may be in for their best seasons ever because that’s what they are thinking right now. Plus, there’s a funny thing about winning: It breeds more winning.
Future resignations to join LIV Golf allow the guys who have longed for another chance to get on the PGA Tour to have it. A golden opportunity. The door potentially opens for them at last.
Then there are the sponsor resignations which free up money for more PGA Tour players. Dustin Johnson already lost his RBC (Royal Bank of Canada) sponsorship. Taylormade Golf could decide to downgrade what it pays him to play their clubs.
Most players are paid by sponsors based on their appearance at PGA Tour events because the PGA Tour is the strongest tour on the planet.
Those who leave may need new money to make up for the fact that their equipment and business sponsors aren’t interested in the LIV tour because it doesn’t have the visibility of the PGA Tour. At least not now.
Mickelson is sponsorless, not because of wanting to play LIV golf, but because of language he used to describe the Saudis. While people may agree with his sentiments privately, they are not going to make that public.
So let Kevin Na resign. Let Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia and Dustin Johnson defect. If they don’t want to be on the PGA Tour, there are plenty of guys who do. The next Scottie Scheffler is waiting in the wings.