Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Premier Golf League CEO: 'This only happens if everybody wants it to happen'

Written by 
Published in Golf
Friday, 21 February 2020 09:08

After weeks of speculation, the Premier Golf League has begun to lift the veil.

On the same day that the PGL’s verified Twitter account surfaced online, an hour-and-a-half interview with the league’s CEO, London financier Andrew Gardiner, was released by the Rick Shiels Golf Show Podcast.

“A true test of the best,” said Gardiner, the current director of Barclays Capital, who's vision sees the PGL one day sitting at the top of the golf-competition pyramid.

Gardiner offered many details of the world-tour concept, some of which have already been reported. The league, which is aimed to launch in January 2022, will feature 48 players competing among 12 four-person teams (similar to the Formula One racing circuit) in 18 no-cut, 54-hole tournaments with purses of $10 million each. The events will be played in four continents: 10 in the U.S., four in Asia (including one in the Middle East), three in Europe and one in Australia.

The season will run from January to August and will not conflict with the four major championships. As for how the PGL would coexist with longstanding tours such as the PGA Tour and European Tour, Gardiner hopes to “achieve collaboration.”

“We want as many people to watch this sport as possible because we believe that there is a connection between the number of people who will watch [golf] and the number of people who will actually play it. … This is in the best interest of the game,” Gardiner said.

Gardiner added that the PGL, which he noted “has a lot [of financial backing],” has built relationships with many people in the game, from funders to broadcasters to players. But he declined to talk about specific conversations, including talks with Tiger Woods and other stars deemed vital to the league’s existence.

If the mysterious Premier Golf League can’t counter Rory McIlroy’s rejection with at least one recruited mega star, we can plant a tombstone on the upstart’s proposal.

“This only happens if everybody wants it to happen, and that includes the best players in the world,” Gardiner said.

Since news of the upstart circuit first broke last month, many players have spoken out about the PGL. Phil Mickelson, who played with Gardiner in a pro-am at the Saudi International, said he was “intrigued” by the idea and added recently, “I’m going to guess by The Players I’m going to have a pretty good opinion.”

Woods last week confirmed that he had likewise been approached, but he failed to elaborate, adding, “We're looking into it.”

Other players have been more direct. Charley Hoffman said that while as an independent contractor he’d have to think about it, especially with high stakes involved, he didn't know if he "would like to be owned by some Saudi money over there.” (Gardiner said the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia is involved.)

Bubba Watson took a firmer stance: “It doesn't matter to me, I'm playing on the PGA Tour.”

But the real perceived gut punch to the PGL's hopes came from the mouth of world No. 1 Rory McIlroy.

“The more I've thought about it, the more I don't like it,” Rory McIlroy said this week in Mexico City. “The one thing as a professional golfer in my position that I value is the fact that I have autonomy and freedom over everything that I do. If you go and play this other golf league, you're not going to have that choice.”

Gardiner called McIlroy’s comments “very interesting,” but didn’t appear overly concerned despite stressing the PGL’s need for support from the best players in the world.

“It brought to mind the Mark Twain quote, ‘Rumors of my death were greatly exaggerated,’ as if this were some fatal wound,” he told Golf Digest in another interview.

In addition to player involvement, there are other unknowns surrounding the PGL. Gardiner wouldn't disclose potential host venues, though he did bring up the possibility for bids while adding that he prefers some consistency with the tour stops. He also couldn't confirm whether or not PGL events would receive world-ranking points – he reasoned they would – or if women's events would be added, though Gardiner said he'd be "delighted" to have that as part of future plans.

Gardiner did, however, offer up these further details: shotgun starts for each of the first two rounds; no dress codes sans for potential team uniforms and colors; a draft system, transfer window and promotion and relegation similar to professional soccer; and a “team principal” concept where team captains, playing or non-playing, would select two individuals from their team to count each day, similar to how college golf coaches select lineups.

And then there’s the playoff concept. After 17 events, an individual champion will be crowned and the teams will be seeded for the 18th and final event. Top seeds would get byes and get to choose their second-round opponents. Gardiner didn’t fully explain, but it’s reasonable to expect some sort of bracket, head-to-head format that leads to one world team champion.

Indeed, the curtain has started to rise. As for what else lies behind it, that remains to be seen.

“This could be forgotten in a few weeks' time,” Gardiner said, “or this 30 years from now could be looked back upon as the change that was good from the game and made it stronger.”

Read 962 times

Soccer

Pride open season with 6-0 rout; Rodman returns

Pride open season with 6-0 rout; Rodman returns

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe reigning champion Orlando Pride opened the National Women's Soc...

Liverpool capt Van Dijk eyes place among greats

Liverpool capt Van Dijk eyes place among greats

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLiverpool's Virgil van Dijk has said winning a second Carabao Cup t...

Neymar ruled out of Brazil return, Endrick in

Neymar ruled out of Brazil return, Endrick in

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNeymar's return to action for Brazil will be delayed yet longer aft...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Bulls banners 'Disturbed' during show; need fixes

Bulls banners 'Disturbed' during show; need fixes

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsAll six of the Chicago Bulls' championship banners were pulled from...

Doncic (calf) sits out Lakers' loss to Nuggets

Doncic (calf) sits out Lakers' loss to Nuggets

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsDENVER -- Luka Doncic did not play in the conclusion of the Los Ang...

Baseball

MLB award winners' gold logos to become cards

MLB award winners' gold logos to become cards

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsExpanding on the success of the MLB Debut Patch, Topps, MLB and Nik...

Dodgers' Betts to miss Japan games with illness

Dodgers' Betts to miss Japan games with illness

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsTOKYO -- Shortstop Mookie Betts will miss the Los Angeles Dodgers'...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated