PGA Tour’s Reputational Winners and Losers in LIV Golf Battle

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Reputational winners and losers in the LIV vs PGA battle. (PGW Graphics/Getty Images)

As the far-left sports media works to damage the reputations of LIV Golf’s marquee names, several players on the PGA Tour have basically self-imploded their own images, with a constant stream of attacks on their former colleagues.

There have been several players on the monopolized tour, though, who’ve stayed above the fray, and raised their stature in terms of class and professionalism.

With 18 holes to go in the PGA Tour’s final tournament of the 2022 season, and only the poorly formatted Tour Championship (which no one actually wins) remaining, here are the PGA Tour’s reputational winners and losers, so far.

The Losers

Justin Thomas

Justin Thomas 2022 Scottish Open
Justin Thomas speaks during a press conference ahead of the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club on July 6, 2022 in North Berwick, Scotland. (Photo by Luke Walker via Getty Images)

Full disclosure: the two-time major winner was one of this writer’s favorites. No longer, though. Somehow, the 29-year-old was convinced to side with the far-left golf media and become a political pawn. On a weekly basis, Thomas chips away at his reputation by smearing his ex tour mates. His arrogance and smug statements have severely tarnished his image.


Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy The 2022 OPEN Championship
Rory McIlroy speaks to the media during his pre-tournament press conference prior to The 150th Open on The Old Course at St Andrews on July 12, 2022 in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by David Cannon via Getty Images)

The clown prince of golf, McIlroy will never live down his prediction of LIV Golf being “dead in the water.” The pampered pint-sized phony lives in a media bubble and has no clue how much he’s despised. The fans rooting against him on Sunday at St Andrews ran about 80-20.


Billy Horschel

Billy Horschel 2022 Scottish Open
Billy Horschel during a press conference prior to the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club on July 05, 2022 in North Berwick, Scotland. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox via Getty Images)

The Florida U dunce recently claimed that legends such as Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka were no longer welcome on the tour. This from a guy who, in his mid-30s, owns a single top-10 finish in the majors. Just head shaking.


Davis Love III

Davis Love III Ralph Lauren
Davis Love III was Ralph Lauren’s golf ambassador for the 2021 Ryder Cup. (RL Facebook SG)

A four-major ego with a one-major resume, the company man exemplifies everything wrong with the tour. Recently came up with the brilliant idea to boycott the playoffs if LIV golfers were allowed to play. Then went out and missed the cut at Wyndham.


Will Zalatoris

Will Zalatoris Wins 2022 FedEx St Jude Championship
Will Zalatoris signs pin flags after winning the FedEx St. Jude Championship in a playoff at TPC Southwind on Aug 14, 2022 in Memphis, Tenn. (Photo by Ben Jared for the PGA TOUR via Getty Images)

“Winless Will” is now “One-Win Will,” but has a ruined reputation for talking way beyond his status. When you’re a sophomore on tour with no wins, it’s best to shut your pie hole.


Max Homa

Max Homa Wins Fortinet Championship
Max Homa hits his tee shot on the 15th hole during the final round of the Fortinet Championship at Silverado Resort and Spa North Course on Sept 19, 2021 in Napa, Calif. (Photo by Meg Oliphant via Getty Images)

The media’s go-to dope on Twitter lost all kinds of cred after a drive-by smear on Henrik Stenson, who’d posted a heartfelt letter explaining his reasoning for joining LIV. “Snarky, smug and just a pure dick,” said one LIV caddie. We couldn’t agree more.


Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods The 2022 OPEN Championship
Tiger Woods speaks to the media in a press conference during a practice round prior to The 150th Open at St Andrews Old Course on July 12, 2022 in St Andrews, Scotland.(Photo by Harry How via Getty Images)

The 15-time major winner has been able to restore his reputation and put his personal baggage in the rear view mirror. But if he thinks he can “rally the troops” and smear former colleagues without that baggage being thrown back in his face, he’s dead wrong. A dumb move!


The Winners

Jordan Spieth

Jordan Spieth WM Phoenix Open Primer
Jordan Spieth walks up to the 16th tee during the first round of the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale on Jan 30, 2020 in Scottsdale, AZ. (Photo by Christian Petersen via Getty Images)

The Golden Child’s flawless brand remains untarnished. Beloved by golf fans of all stripes and players in both leagues. Other than a single bland statement, Spieth has remained mum and lets big mouths like JT and Rory commit reputational suicide.


Adam Scott

2022 The 150th Open Adam Scott
Adam Scott on the 2nd hole during Day 4 of The 150th Open at St Andrews Old Course on July 17, 2022 in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Oisin Keniry for the R&A via Getty Images)

The classy Aussie saw his form return to elite level and his stature remained world class as he refrained from saying anything negative about his former tour mates. Regularly seeks to find common ground with the disruptive tour.


Cameron Smith

Cameron Smith Wins The 150th Open Championship Old Course St Andrews
Cameron Smith walks on the 18th hole during Day 4 of The 150th Open at St Andrews Old Course on July 17, 2022 in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Harry How via Getty Images)

The uber-talented 28-year-old swiped the Claret Jug from McIlroy and ruined the far-left media’s coronation. Reportedly paid $100 million to join LIV (after the playoffs or Presidents Cup), the Aussie’s status is nearing superstar level. Arguably the best player in the world at the moment and should (but won’t) win the Tour’s MVP.


Patrick Cantlay

2022 The 150th Open Patrick Cantlay-1
Patrick Cantlay looks over his position on the 2nd hole during Day 4 of The 150th Open at St Andrews Old Course on July 17, 2022 in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Oisin Keniry for the R&A via Getty Images)

The reigning FedEx Cup champion remains hot on the course and cool headed off. Always measured and respectful when answering teed-up questions from the corrupt media, Cantlay is also a critic of the poorly formatted FedEx Cup, which gives him bonus points.


Xander Schauffele

Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay Win 2022 Zurich Classic
Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay celebrate after winning the Zurich Classic at TPC Louisiana on April 24, 2022 in Avondale, New Orleans, LA. (Photo by Sarah Stier via Getty Images)

Like Patrick Cantlay – his partner and teammate, Schauffele has avoided the mudslinging. While attack dogs like JT and Rory personally smear their former colleagues, the reigning Olympic Gold medalist always takes the high road, and “hopes for a peaceful unification.”


Bonus Winner

Greg Norman

Greg Norman 2022 LIV Golf-Portland
Greg Norman, CEO and commissioner of LIV Golf, smiles as he looks out at the driving range during day 3 of the LIV Golf Invitational – Portland at Pumpkin Ridge GC on July 2, 2022 in North Plains, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey for LIV Golf via Getty Images)

The 67-year-old Aussie legend ignored the noise and focused on the signal en route to big time battle victories. Pro golf’s most talented commissioner has pulled off the unthinkable – a legitimate rival to the monopolistic PGA Tour. Even better, he embarrassed the corrupt media at every turn, forcing them to admit their smear campaign failed, spectacularly.

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10 COMMENTS

  1. Jeff, you use the words class and professionalism and then go on to call people childish names loses all your credibility for talking the high road. Confusing message.
  2. Well, now we find out that Tiger and Rory have their own gig planned and have for TWO YEARS! Love to see you write a story about this.
  3. Tiger and Rory now call the shots for the PGA and are copying LIV format. This must have Jay Monahan fuming inside although  he wont show it publicly. He has lost all power and control. Armchair commissioner resorting to others  calling the shots. What is this tour coming to. Got to hand it to bold and unafraid Greg Norman for his comittment to expanding global golf and opportunity.

    • “I heard Tiger’s the new commissioner,” joked Patrick Cantlay.

      Don’t laugh.

      Rumor has the top players pulling off something of a coup. The idea is to launch their own LIV type series (incl teams) of 12-15 events per year, under the PGA Tour umbrella, totally separate from the John Deere Classics and 3M Opens.

      Tiger will be the defacto commissioner and play in many of the events. Others include the regulars: rory, jt, etc.

      -JS

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