For anyone who has been living in a bunker these past few weeks, LIV Golf is a newly formed rival to the established PGA Tour, an invitational series that will consist of eight events in its inaugural season.

Two of these events have already taken place, in Hertfordshire, England, and at the Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in Oregon, with each extending to 54 holes across three days, instead of the traditional 72 holes over four days.

This format-change explains the new tour’s name, with ‘LIV’ the roman numeral for 54.

Featuring in these competitions are household names and multiple major winners, including Phil Mickelson, Lee Westwood, Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson and though these ‘rebel’ players are suspended indefinitely from participating in future PGA events they are still free to compete in majors, such as the British Open Championship due to tee-off this week.

 

Incidentally, the two events in question were concluded without contention in front of curious crowds, with Charles Schwartzel winning the first, and Brenden Grace upsetting the golf odds in the other.

So far then, so not especially controversial although of course a breakaway league was always bound to be newsworthy and it certainly garnered plenty of headlines, mainly focusing on the fractious nature of it.

Only it has been controversial and frankly that’s something of an understatement, with some claiming the sport of golf will never be the same again.

Indeed, consider the criticism and condemnation that greeted a proposed European Super League in football at the height of the pandemic. Now double it. Treble it, even.

Tiger Woods gives damning verdict on LIV Golf pic.twitter.com/JjzXybHDGl

— Golf Monthly (@GolfMonthly) July 12, 2022

The reason for such rancour lies in the country behind the ambitious venture, with financial backing coming from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), a sovereign wealth fund overseen by the state’s ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

With Saudi Arabia’s appalling human rights record it has led to accusations of ‘sportswashing’ while the defected players have had their ethics queried.  Some in the media have even gone so far as to suggest Westwood and company have sold their souls.

And sold for an exorbitant price because the extraordinary money involved is another reason why LIV Golf has prompted uproar.

Phil Mickelson is reputed to have been paid $200m to participate while long-time online betting favourite Tiger Woods turned down four times that amount if reports are accurate.

Each tournament meanwhile offers up a $25m purse, the likes of which even the moneyed PGA cannot come close to matching, and it grates to hear rebel players insist they have jumped ship to ensure financial security for their families.

Just one look at Dustin Johnson’s net worth for example illustrates they are already set for life.

According to LIV Golf’s official website, the new format will ‘supercharge the professional golf landscape and create new value for fans and players alike’ but to date there has been no evidence of it doing any such thing.

Instead, it has provoked only disharmony and grievous ill-feeling, leaving a whole sport splintered.

Is LIV Golf the future? Let’s hope not.

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One of the most popular sports on the planet, the subject of the world’s greatest golfer is – and has been – up for debate. However, most fans would agree that two men in particular are clear of the rest.

Younger golf fans have grown up watching Tiger Woods win major title after major title while older viewers will recall Jack Nicklaus dominating during his incredibly 25-year professional career.

Both players have been immense servants to the sport and golf followers have debated this topic long and hard over the years. We decided to look at both players in a bid to determine just who is the greatest male golfer of all-time.

Jack Nicklaus

Major wins: 18

Not only is Nicklaus one of the best golfers of all-time but he is there or thereabouts when discussing the best sportsmen of all-time.

That is testament to the great man’s impact and influence in golf, starting from your local driving range to the 18^th hole at Augusta National. For mature golf fans, Nicklaus is unquestionably the greatest of all-time.

If you look purely at performances at major events, Nicklaus ranks as the best golfer to step onto a course.

Six Masters titles, five PGA Championship triumphs, four US Open successes and three wins at The Open Championship shows just how versatile Nicklaus was – he had the quality to cope with different courses and occasions.

Nicklaus had seven-time major champion Arnold Palmer to compete with during his career and that only strengthens his status as golf’s top player.

Palmer is a legend of the sport and he will go down as one of the very best but Nicklaus was a class above. That rivalry remains one of the most competitive golf has ever seen.

The Roger Federer of golf, Nicklaus was a fan favourite across the world and he conducted himself impeccably throughout his career – both on the golf course and in his personal life.

For neutrals, his positive behaviour in interviews and in the public spotlight may give him the edge over Woods.

 

Tiger Woods

Major wins: 15

Walk down the street and ask somebody to name the first golfer that springs to mind and Tiger Woods is likely to be the answer.

A global icon, Woods’ reputation has grown for his exploits on the course but also for his conduct away from the sport. True fans are willing to look past his off-course antics though and prefer to remember his glittering career.

It took Woods just over a year to win his first major event after turning professional – and it was clear that he was destined for a special career.

One of the most successful players in PGA Tour history, Woods was golf’s dominant figure during the 1990s and he was arguably the biggest sportsman on the planet during the decade.

Tiger’s story is incredible. 11 years after recording his 14^th major success, Woods defied the odds to secure title number 15 at the 2019 US Masters.

There were emotional scenes on the 18^th green at Augusta National on that occasion and the golfing universe united to celebrate with the American. Dismissed time and time again, this was Woods’ big moment.

Woods holds the record for the most consecutive weeks at the top of golf’s world rankings while he has also been in top spot on that list for more time than any other golfer in history.

In addition, he has won the PGA Player of the Year award a record 11 times and is a worthy contender for Nicklaus’ crown as golf’s greatest player.

 

*Credit for the main photo belongs to David J. Phillip / AP Photo*

The Open Championship is the oldest golf competition in the world and it is widely regarded as the most prestigious of the four golf majors.

First held in 1860, the Open Championship originally took place at Prestwick Golf Club but there is now a specific rotation of courses.

Open Championship Highlights:

• Bobby Jones (1930)

• Ben Hogan (1953)

• Tom Watson vs Jack Nicklaus (1977)

• Seve Ballesteros (1984)

• Nick Faldo (1987)

• Constantino Rocca (1995)

• Jean van de Velde (1999)

• Tiger Woods (2006)

• Darren Clarke (2011)

• Phil Mickelson (2013)

With the 2020 Open Championship cancelled, British golf fans will have to wait until 2021 for their major fix.

Golf fans will flock to Royal St George’s in Kent in 2021 and punters can follow golf betting tips in the build up to the tournament. Ahead of the 2021 Open Championship, we look back at 10 of the most famous British Open memories.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to AP Photo*

 

These 20 stalwarts deserve due recognition for sticking around through thick and thin, showing a trait that is increasingly becoming a rare commodity in football these days. Loyalty. 

AFC Bournemouth – Adam Smith

The Cherries defender headed to the South Coast in 2014 having previously spent a season-long loan there some years earlier. 

Loan spell included, Smith has played in three different divisions for the club and still only 31 there are plenty more adventures to be had by the former England Under 21 international. 

Arsenal – Granit Xhaka

It’s fair to say the Swiss midfielder’s time at the Emirates has been chequered, arriving in 2016 to some acclaim before establishing himself as a player of extremes. 

On his day, he could be a game-changer but elsewhere, a propensity to see red – both literally and figuratively – cost his side too often. 

Frustrated at this, the fans turned, leading to their club captain sarcastically applauding when substituted in 2019. His Arsenal career appeared to be doomed. 

To the surprise of many however, a comeback has subsequently occurred, the player pivotal and loved again, and with the Gunners favourites in the Premier League odds outright market a legend’s legacy is now all-but-secured.  

Aston Villa – Jed Steer

The 30-year-old goalkeeper has been loaned out more times than an Agatha Christie novel at a provincial library but on the rare occasions Villa have turned to their reliable back-up he hasn’t let them down. 

Highly rated as a teen, Steer has carved out a decent career, even if it has amounted to short stints up and down the footballing pyramid. 

Brentford – Rico Henry 

Honing in on 200 appearances for the Bees, in many ways Henry’s rise mirrors that of his club, first considered an excellent Championship proposition before confounding all expectations and excelling among the elite. 

At 25 years of age there is still time for the left-back to break into the England set-up and a cap feels overdue given his outstanding performances at the Gtech Community Stadium these past couple of seasons. 

Brighton – Lewis Dunk 

Is there a single Under-rated XI article online – or one that highlights the best players beyond the ‘top six’ - that doesn’t have Dunk bolstering its defence?

Brighton-born and a proud Seagull since the age of 11, the centre-back’s blend of non-nonsense tackling and expert reading of danger saw him capped at international level in 2018.

In doing so, he became only the fourth Brighton player to represent England. 

Chelsea – Cesar Azpilicueta 

‘Dave’ arrived in West London in 2012 and has been a consistent, versatile and high-achieving star for the Blues ever since, making his 500th appearance for the club earlier this year.

Long-installed as captain, perhaps his biggest compliment from a queue of admirers came from former boss Jose Mourinho who claimed a team made up of 11 Azpilicuetas would win the Champions League. 

Crystal Palace – Joel Ward 

An ever-present at Selhurst Park for well over a decade, the defender-slash-midfielder-slash-play-anywhere Ward has seen it all at Palace, experiencing play-off successes, cup final defeats, not to mention several flirtations with relegation. 

He rarely makes the headlines but the Holmesdale Fanatics know his real worth with a long and dedicated service that is priceless. 

Everton – Seamus Coleman 

For 14 consecutive seasons, the right-back from Killybegs, Ireland has quietly gone about his business, being routinely superb for the Toffees.

Purchased for just £60,000 it’s hard to find a better value-for-money signing in Premier League history. 

Coleman’s career high-point came in 2013/14, a stellar campaign that saw awarded Everton’s Player of the Year and be included in the PFA Team of the Year. 

Fulham – Tom Cairney 

To the bemusement of Fulham fans, the Scottish midfielder remains an under-appreciated talent beyond Craven Cottage but at least there, on the banks of the Thames, they know what a diamond they possess. 

Their sometime-captain, scorer of spectacular goals, and the player who struck the winner that ensured Fulham went up via the play-offs in 2018, Cairney has been treasured in that part of the world since arriving in 2015. 

Leeds – Liam Cooper 

Sculpted from hard minerals, Cooper’s leadership at the back has forever gained him a place in Leeds folklore so it surprises to learn that initially he struggled at Elland Road, picking up the disparaging nickname of ‘League One Liam’.

Several years on, their captain fantastic is truly loved, becoming a symbol of the heart and fight that propels the club through all weathers. 

Leicester – Jamie Vardy 

We are all aware of the Jamie Vardy story, an astonishing journey that takes in Stocksbridge Park Steels and superstardom. 

Now we can add longevity to the party, the constant fixture in the Premier League top scorer odds one of only three players still at the King Power who made a ridiculous fairy tale a reality back in 2016. 

Liverpool – Jordan Henderson 

Signed for a little under £20m way back in 2011, Henderson took a while to make any meaningful impact at Anfield and just as he was, the midfielder was then tasked with filling the vast void left by Steven Gerrard. 

Leading the Reds to Champions League glory and their first ever Premier League title, it can safely be said that the boy done well. 

Manchester City – Kevin De Bruyne 

The midfield magician was damned as an expensive folly on joining City in 2015, with esteemed and educated pundits ignoring his brilliance in the Bundesliga and focusing only on his unsuccessful spell at Stamford Bridge. 

His fantastical football since, elevating the Belgian to a plateau rarely before seen in the Premier League, brings to mind a famous assessment of Fred Astaire. Can’t act, can’t sing, can dance a little. Where are those pundits now? 

Manchester United – David De Gea and Phil Jones 

On June 29th 2011, the then league champions announced two new signings. One was hugely hyped, compared prematurely to the great Duncan Edwards. An incoming keeper meanwhile was tipped for success but still had it all to prove.

The latter has gone to make over 400 appearances for the Red Devils, winning the club’s Player of the Year merit on four occasions. The other is Phil Jones. 

Newcastle – Paul Dummett

The Welsh international has made 119 outings for the Magpies since coming through the ranks and making his first-team debut in 2013. 

Rarely heralded to the point of near-anonymity outside of the North-East it can truthfully be stated that every club needs a Paul Dummett. They are the constants in a storm. 

Nottingham Forest – Joe Worrall 

Amidst an awful lot of coming and going at the City Ground, the centre-back’s first team place and future with the Tricky Trees was never in doubt. 

Given the captaincy at the start of their return to the top-flight, local lad Worrall is swiftly gaining a reputation as a defender of genuine note. An England call-up is surely not far away. 

Southampton – James Ward-Prowse 

The Saints’ set-piece maestro is currently on 333 appearances, notching an impressive 46 into the bargain. No player has adorned the red and white more in the top-flight.

Born and raised just down the coast in Portsmouth, Ward-Prowse’s calm, efficient midfielding has been an invaluable asset in a series of relegation dog-fights these past few years. 

Tottenham – Harry Kane 

Gooners may enjoy posting ‘that’ photo of Kane wearing an Arsenal shirt as a kid, but the arch-poacher has now made 310 Premier League appearances for Tottenham, becoming their all-time leading goal-scorer in the process.

Growing up a Spurs fan, just 15 minutes from White Hart Lane and a prodigy of the club’s academy he is, of course, one of their own. Photographs it seems, do lie after all.   

West Ham – Aaron Cresswell 

Signing from Ipswich in 2014, Cresswell enjoyed a successful opening chapter to his West Ham story, claiming the Player of the Year award in his first season. The left-back has been a much-valued presence ever since.

To put his long service into perspective, his team-mates on arriving in East London included Kevin Nolan and Stewart Downing. 

Wolves – Ruben Neves 

The Portuguese international is a real fan-favourite at Molineux, adored for his tenacity and guile in the middle of the park. A long-standing habit for scoring long-range screamers helps too.

Neves came to England in 2017 saddled with enormous hype. He has lived up to it and more.

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*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

Julian Nagelsmann fired, Thomas Tuchel new coach. The big shock of the month comes from FC Bayern during the international break, when usually things don't happen, at least at top clubs.

The situation was apparently calm this week but in reality the Bayern bosses were reflecting on Julian Nagelsmann's position already after the defeat against Bayer Leverkusen; for too long the situation between Nagelsmann and the Bayern board had been quite cold and not easy to manage, a relationship full of complicated moments despite the excellent results of the German coach, especially in the Champions League.

Nagelsmann's numbers in Europe were incredible: just 2 goals conceded against Viktoria Plzen playing with the "second team", excellent performances with Inter, Barcelona and above all Paris Saint-Germain without ever conceding a goal, the feeling that Bayern was a serious candidate to win the Champions League.

Still, the relationship between the club bosses and the German coach had become difficult… but not to the point of breaking.

In fact, Julian Nagelsmann didn't expect to be sacked on Thursday night. He was on holiday with his family, enjoying some free days and recharging for the upcoming crucial matches with Bayern.

Nagelsmann knew of the club's intention to sack him on social media; it was a shock that the German coach had not foreseen, before the club informed him and confirmed the decision.

Bayern had by now decided to change managers precisely because of the difficulties in relations with Nagelsmann, the feeling that some players preferred some changes but also the intention not to be anticipated by other clubs on the real top target as new coach for the long-term project: Thomas Tuchel.

Yes, because Tuchel had been top of the list for Bayern for some time and the club had the feeling that Tottenham or Real Madrid could try the former Chelsea coach in the coming weeks.

So Bayern have decided to act fast and there is already a full agreement with Thomas Tuchel on a contract valid until June 2025, no doubt from Tuchel that he wanted to return to coaching as soon as possible after the separation with Chelsea last September .

Tuchel accepted Bayern because he loves the Bundesliga, he is convinced that Bayern's project can be successful and he considers the team a true top team that can be improved in the summer with just a few moves to be almost perfect.

🚨 EXCLUSIVE: FC Bayern are seriously considering to sack Julian Nagelsmann. Decision being discussed internally, the club could fire him soon. #FCBayern

🚨 Understand Thomas Tuchel leading candidate to potentially take FC Bayern job.

More to follow. pic.twitter.com/YpnTHsgbhy

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 23, 2023

In short, Tuchel is excited about the possibility of joining Bayern in such a crucial moment of the season and from Monday he will start training in Germany as new head coach.

An unexpected but ready to start revolution, a big shock for Bayern and especially for Julian Nagelsmann.