Mike Whan should take Phil Mickelson’s “dick move”, which is akin to the Pope praising one’s catechism knowledge, as a compliment and use it to prove that Mickelson has never won USGA competitions.
Mickelson attacked Whan to defend Talor Gooch. Mickelson believed that Gooch was unfairly treated by a change of exemption criteria which cost him a spot at the U.S. Open next month. Mickelson has now stood up in defense of someone who was treated badly by tournament regulations. It is only a matter time before he steps forward to protect those who could find themselves on the receiving end of his employer’s bonesaw.
Gooch has developed a strong sense of injustice towards Talor Gooch. Last week, he complained about the Australian government taking a large amount of tax off his $4 million in winnings from the LIV golf event in Adelaide. This was a predictable complaint from someone who is known for having a flexible view of what he should be paying and to whom.
Gooch’s disappearing U.S. Open exclusion was deemed “retroactive” by Gooch. The USGA published Open criteria every year, and since no specifications had been previously announced for 2023, there can be no “retroactive” change, as any dictionary will tell you (it is right after “retribution”, which Gooch believes this to be).
As reality sets in, the tossing out of toys from the LIV crib has become a daily event.
Bryson deChambeau, who was in Singapore last week, criticized the world golf rankings and demanded that LIV be added to this outdated system. LIV does not receive ranking points as it has been non-compliant with many rules and regulations. It also stated that it will not become compliant. DeChambeau and Mickelson insist that the ranking system is flawed because it awards points to tours rather than individuals who are now playing in a closed circuit, where they have contractual protection from the consequences of bad play.
DeChambeau stated, “It is not right and I hope that people will see through it.” He’s not protesting human rights, but rather the denial by his benefactor of ranking points.
In an effort to stay on top of the victimhood rankings, Lee Westwood resigned his DP World Tour membership along with four other players after a British arbitral panel ruled the European Tour can sanction members for playing LIV events without permission. He also claims that rules are unfairly being applied against him.
“I was able to join the PGA Tour as a European Tour Member without any problems for all these years.” “Tell me, what’s the difference?” Westwood asked the Telegraph. Just because LIV was funded by Saudi Arabia — a country in which my tour played and where we were encouraged?
Westwood confuses separate reasons for the LIV venture that upset people. Many fans, including many of Westwood’s own at one time, are concerned about where the money comes from. In this case, it is an autocrat who wants to use golf as a way to cover up his misdeeds. For those who run the PGA Tour or DP World Tour it has always been about where the money goes – to a rival league. LIV is not a moral issue for them. It’s a commercial one.
Westwood leaves out this context when he asserts that there is no difference between signing up for a long-term contract with a circuit that is intent on replacing the tours to which he professes loyalty and playing on other tours on an irregular basis. Westwood is not a fan of the strategic alliance that exists between the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour, which is based on the LIV threat.
He said: “I don’t want to be under such a regime.” This was a very mature response from a man who had proudly declared that he hadn’t read a single book. Ignorance is often worn with pride.
The desperation among some LIV players is growing as Greg Norman’s hollow claims crumble. Those who were fooled by the finger puppet with flaxen hair have money, yes, but they also don’t get to play on the PGA Tour. They can’t cherry-pick the DP World Tour either, nor do they receive ranking points. The British arbitration panel’s decision and the federal court ruling in Northern California has left LIV players stranded on an island. This reality must be obvious to all but the most obtuse among them (it might take Pat Perez a little longer).
This is why they are increasingly complaining about their access, ranking points and all sorts of alleged conspiracies. This is the characteristic of LIV, and those who feed off it: the legitimacy or otherwise of any institution depends on how it treats them, whether through rankings, regulations, or elections.
It is inevitable that the crybaby routine will grow louder, in hopes that a spineless executive from industry will act as a calmer and ensure that LIV’s demands are met. It might work. Men in golf’s upper echelon are not short of men who will happily peel off Saudi Riyals for their beleaguered organisations under the pretense of making peace between warring factions. The LIV players’ arguments are nothing more than a whimper by those who have made a choice they cannot live with.
By: Eamon Lynch
Title: Lynch: Phil Mickelson leads LIV Golf crybabies in blaming others for their predicament
Sourced From: golfweek.usatoday.com/2023/05/05/eamon-lynch-phil-mickelon-talor-gooch-bryson-dechambeau-lee-westwood-crybabies/
Published Date: Fri, 05 May 2023 22:19:45 +0000
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