Georgie Bingham: I am plugging for the good guys; the guys who chose morals over money
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and caddie Harry Diamond celebrate after chipping in for birdie from the bunker on the 18th green during the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 10, 2022 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images).
The weekend golf went TURBO
“You can’t stop it, it’s happening” I was told when I made puke noises about the players chasing LIV coin when it was launched last week.
Hey, I know it’s happening, and honestly if the money was not coming from an oppressive regime attempting to make themselves look good, and if the golfers who’ve gone really had the balls to say they’ve gone for the money I think I’d be really onboard.
But there is good to be had in what happened this weekend, here is why.
First of all I got confirmation that certain Americans on the PGA tour that I think are probably - er - not my kind of people - are indeed, well, not my kind of people. All we need now is for Bubba Watson to join Bryson De Chambeau, Patrick Reed, Phil Mickelson and co and I’ll be full house on my instincts for - well - not my kind of people. It’s hard to explain this without sweary words but a column full of potty-mouth isn’t necessary. You get my drift.
Second, did the PGA Tour and the DP Tour step up to the plate or DID THEY STEP UP TO THE PLATE? My days they did. Linn Grant broke new ground in a mixed tournament in Sweden with the most extraordinary win. Don’t underestimate not only her victory but the TIMING of her win; how ironic a woman prevailed on the same weekend a regime who only just allowed women to drive cars use fake Welsh Guards to serenade players they bussed around a course in London Taxis like these kind of cute gimmicks might sway the doubters into thinking they’re fun and fluffy people.
Then there was the Canadian Open. The leaderboard after Friday’s play was short of star power save the two really big names up there - and with De Chambeau and Reed confirmed for LIV, it looked, for a moment, like the Saudi Tour’s ability to pull star players was really a thing - except come Sunday night the race to the finish was as substantive as Charl Schwartzel’s win at Centurion appeared vacuous. Rory McIlroy was scintillating, breathless, brilliant. The chasing pack were game for some of the best golf I’ve seen this year. They completely nailed it on a weekend it was important the PGA Tour looked strong.
Competition is always good. This is happening, but I am plugging for the good guys; the guys who chose morals over money, the guys who are loyal to the tour who’ve made them millionaires with legions of fans. Don’t take sides if you don’t care, good for you if you do.
Georgie Bingham, broadcaster and journalist, writes a bi-weekly column for The Cut Stuff. She’s golf obsessed. She’s ready to go behind the tour.
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