Lee Skarbek

@fried_egg_golf LIV could exist if they reduce the purses and end contracts. Players don’t need to leave but accept the last 5 years of big money was a boon and now the market is correcting to a lower level. Accept they were lucky to cash in. Except they don’t have that type of player.

"It would probably be healthy for the landscape of professional golf if LIV is able to survive on its own merits, without a sportswashing sugar daddy who inflates player compensation to unsustainable levels. Successful LIV events in Australia and South Africa have shown that those markets are starving for professional golf, and there has to be a way to capitalize on that hunger. The growth of DeChambeau’s YouTube channel is another example of what has worked. It’s unlikely that would have happened if DeChambeau had remained a PGA Tour member. Anthony Kim’s surprise victory earlier this year was the best organic storyline LIV has produced during its tenure. The OWGR handed LIV a big win when it granted top 10 finishers in LIV events world ranking points. Fred Ridley even thanked LIV during the green jacket ceremony at the Masters this year, something that would have been unthinkable three years ago. "But every bit of success ends up being undermined by more grievances. Instead of embracing the progress they’ve made, players, executives, and fans end up undermining it with constant whining and complaining. For every boast about how LIV is the future of golf, there are dozens of examples of the same people acting victimized." - @KVanValkenburg in today's newsletter (Photo Courtesy: LIV Golf)

@BobHarig @parandpaddock I disagree that you do all you can to play if the course wasn’t ready for prime time. But the announcement should have been a joint statement from LIV and city/state that the course will not be ready in time and both decided to reschedule in the fall.

@parandpaddock Again, given the dire circumstances, you do all you can to play. The course is open. It might not be great but at this point you don’t invite this kind of doubt

We understand that Bayou Park was not in any suitable condition to host the LIV Golf Louisiana. Scheduled renovations, planned in August/September 2025 as promised by the Governor/LED, had barely begun or not completed in time in preparation for the tournament when the deal to host it was signed. The green renovations have not started; they have not closed the course to prepare it, and the driving range renovations are incomplete and not suitable for a tournament of this nature. On a side note, this could be a political approach, given the changes and challenges within the state's LED group, and the LIV funding news was an opportunity for the LED to save face. That is not to say that LIV still have questions to answer on long-term funding and piss poor comms and statements lacking clarity. #LIVGolf

@JosephLaMagna Need more information. Why would the state make the decision to postpone? Was LIV supposed to provide some money at a date and missed the payment? Really strange announcement

So there won’t be a LIV event for a month and a half in the middle of the summer?

@JosephLaMagna Do you think the schedule could be setup differently without the need for swing 5 qualification? Seems like needing stretch of non signature non major events lead to fill that qualification leads to bunching of the signature events.

Four other golfers are too. Some guys don’t want to play three straight weeks ending with a major. This is not a story (or a new phenomenon).

@NUCLRGOLF @BrodyAMiller @TheAthletic I don’t think it is unreasonable. Negotiations haven’t been going well and he was looking at options. This is probably done without knowledge of any change in PIF funding and assuming that contract was viable. In the future LIV, I don’t see players getting contracts from league

🚨👀⛳️ JUST IN — The New York Times is reporting that Bryson DeChambeau and his team spent part of Masters week “meeting with organizations to discuss possible options if he chose to leave LIV.” (Via: @BrodyAMiller / @TheAthletic)

@JNucci23 @AlanShipnuck Didn’t Arnie and Jack force the split from the PGA of America into the PGA Tour?

"How many times do you think we were approached to do our own thing? More than I can count. Do you know why we always said no? Because it would’ve been bad for the game and bad for the fellas” Palmer [left the meeting], followed by every other player. @AlanShipnuck

@flushingitgolf In a post PIF or reduced PIF funding scenario, how does LIV pay for the current long term contracts? Is there any scenario where Bryson plays without a significant long term deal? Does the contract model go away or be transferred to the teams?

Recording a podcast later today about the future of LIV Golf. Any questions?

@parandpaddock Biggest impediment if funding is cut back is how to pay for the existing long term contracts. Rahm especially. If they need to be paid from future revenue that will be tough because that is a fixed cost. Maybe PIF will buyout the remaining contracts. Does Bryson stay without one?

@HackItOutGolf Great podcast. I love the hoola hoop with a pencil explanation. Is that why Hogan in 5 Lessons had a closed stance for driver and longer irons and open stance for wedges? To compensate for hitting up or down on the arc

A useful, technical listener question: what is the relationship between swing path and angle of attack? Mark takes the lead on answering a listener question (that might be from Lou?). If the driver head is ascending into impact, isn't it more likely also turning back to the inside of the arc? Mark attempts to offer some conceptual clarity on a good question—a concept that could have you hitting longer, straighter drives. Episode links, and other ways to hit drives, below🔽

@4golfonline Srixon Z758

Which driver are you currently gaming? 👀

This is a great visual swing drill that will improve your tee shots with driver. Start hitting BOMBS with this easy-to-follow guide… 🚀

@fried_egg_golf @AndyTFE @KVanValkenburg @JosephLaMagna How do you overcome the fact that Scottish and Irish open would be dual sanctioned with DPWT and your might not have access for all members of the elite tour depending upon that field size? No one ever addresses that when discussing Scottish Open. PGA isn’t getting 100 spots.

Rumors are swirling regarding a revamped PGA Tour schedule. While some pie in the sky ideas sound good in theory, putting together a realistic schedule is harder than it looks. On the latest Fried Egg Golf Podcast, @AndyTFE, @KVanValkenburg, and @JosephLaMagna gave it a shot.

@4golfonline I do play them. Helps to see I’m rolling my putts well.

Offering a fresh way to see the game, Srixon introduces the all-new Q-STAR ULTISPEED with TRACKLINE, delivering golfers a blend of visual performance, explosive distance, and greenside control, in a bold, modern look. Would you play this golf ball?

@Fahadnaimb Looks like a compressor stall

United Flight 2127 Boeing 787 LAX to EWR caught fire just 40 minutes after takeoff... full emergency landing back at LAX and everyone evacuated safely down the slides

@flushingitgolf Didn’t Rahm not meet the minimum required starts on DPWT last year to retain his card? That could play into it

The DP World Tour has agreed to give conditional media releases to 8 players to play events on the LIV Golf League in the 2026 season, the list does not include Jon Rahm. The players are: Laurie Canter, Thomas Detry, Tyrrell Hatton, Tom McKibbin, Adrian Meronk, Victor Perez, David Puig and Elvis Smylie. The conditions include: - payment in full of outstanding fines - participation in stipulated DP World Tour events - withdrawal of pending appeals A statement sent to players reads: “The conditions these members have accepted will provide additional value to the DP World Tour and benefit to the entire membership. Provided each member satisfies the conditions of their individual releases, no disciplinary action under the Regulations will be taken against them for playing in conflicting tournaments on LIV Golf in 2026 and they will retain their membership status. “The releases apply for the 2026 season only and they are not precedent-setting. Requests for releases will continue to be considered on their individual merits in accordance with the Regulations that all members agree to abide by.” This is a great move for the tour and the players involved but it leaves one massive question… What is happening with Jon Rahm and in particular his Ryder Cup future?

@KendoVT It is definitely to fill out the spots for the Pro-Am. Only Signature Event tied to a Pro-Am event so they needed to adjust the field size to accommodate all those amateurs paying big bucks.

Why did they have 80 golfers in the field this week and only 72 next week when there is a cut. I feel like those numbers should be reversed…

@JosephLaMagna If they don’t get rid of sponsor exemptions, they should make those who get them play in a full field event just before the signature event. If they withdraw from that event the sponsor exemption gets pulled.

Expect anything different?

@YipStrickler I think net golf is the adult version of participation trophies for golfers. All skill levels need to be included and people take advantage of it. No net golf. Handicap gets you into a flight then straight up golf.

Imagine winning a 36-hole event by 22 strokes! 👀 Jimmy Chapman achieved this feat back in November. He entered The Ledges Senior AM Championship as a 20.3 handicap index. He shot 80 each round while receiving 19 pieces of candy each day. BACK 2 BACK NET 61’S 🔥🔥🔥

@YoshioKubota I have this game setup now in my basement to play solo. How do you find the Combat Resolution Table?

冬のゲーム『The Battle of the Bulge』（1981） 12月27日AMの連合軍です。 槍の穂先から独軍が後退したことを受け、連合軍がその分前進します。 戦闘フェイズは穂先と南部の最東端で攻撃し、出目は悪かったですが、比率がよかったのと空軍もあり、独軍を撃退しました。

@LouStagner Why would the USGA (and the R&A) commission a study and then not use it correctly to dictate policy? There must be a serious disconnect between groups. Because those studies cost money and time and it provides ammunition to the critics of the policy. Embarrassing

@HackItOutGolf Greggie’s idea of a US feeder tour was such a brilliant idea and such a common sense solution. Don’t see why the people who run LIV couldn’t come up with that.

Not all the traffic with LIV Golf has been back to the PGA Tour. Recently, one of the top amateur golfers in the United States joined the team league. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg discuss his signing and what it might mean for the future of LIV. Can they develop a generation of young star golfers? Even if they do, will anyone notice? A new league commissioner(?!) and episode links below👇