The most successful Finn in the sport tells that golf is going in the completely wrong direction. He also considers it possible for Finnish golfers to take part in a terrific LIV tour.
Aino Paloniemi,
Janne Karinkanta
12.6. 19: 01 • Updated June 12. 19:01
The Saudi-funded golf LIV tour has been tumultuous since the player legend Greg Norman announced its plans for a new competition in March.
The huge prize money and performance fees for the tour will increase the monetary significance of golf, creating a financial incentive for players.
The all-time Finnish star of the species Mikko Ilonen comments on the power struggle of Sport’s well-known golf tours and the new LIV tour.
– I think it’s complete madness. Golf has been trying to get rid of the monetary stamp for as long as I can remember and have been involved in this.
The LIV tour takes the trend in the opposite direction and the importance of money in golf is highlighted by the historically large prize money.
– Now we’re not really talking about anything but money. Players only play for money and it takes the sport in the wrong direction. The sporty side of golf has been completely forgotten, Ilonen continues.
The first race of the nightmare tour is over
The first round of the LIV golf tour, which ended yesterday, won Charl Schwartzel. South African Schwartzel recouped his profit for $ 4.75 million. 17 players familiar from the PGA Tour entered the English Open.
Among the well-known players of golf, among others Graeme McDowell was under pressure from journalists at the opening of the tour. Among other things, he was asked about the wide-ranging human rights problems in Saudi Arabia.
“If, as golfers, we tried to improve the geopolitical situation in every country in the world where we play golf, we wouldn’t be playing a lot of golf,” McDowell said, defending his participation in the tour.
Ilonen watched the broadcasts of the race over the weekend.
– The players were pretty tough in front of the press. They had to think for a long time that nothing wrong would be said. The cautious mood was reflected in the answers, which is a real pity, Ilonen says.
According to Ilosen, the putting on the LIV tour set by the PGA tour was completely expected.
The collar was announced well in advance and the players participating in the LIV tour have been aware of it. So far, no decision has been made on the players participating in the LIV tour of the European Golf Tour.
Finnish names are also possible
Ilonen also considers it possible for Finnish names to participate in the LIV tour. However, Finnish golfers have not yet been approached from the LIV tour.
As the most probable and attractive players for the tour, Ilonen sees the success of the European tour Kalle Samoojan and a good early rival Tapio Pulkkanen.
Ilonen mentions that he achieved great results, especially a couple of years ago Sami Välimäki and the winner of the 2018 European Tour Mikko Korhonen as potential recipients of the tour invitation.
– Maybe it’s the most likely outfit that one day could think of showing up there.
Ilonen also says that he understands from the players’ point of view why they are going on a new tour.
– Many who are here now have been rolling those tours for years and it may feel like a squirrel wheel.
– They want to try something new, so in itself this is an attractive option for players.
Reputation will be overcome as the season progresses
Ilonen does not believe that the LIV tour will continue as such for a very long time. The position of the LIV tour in golf circles will be formed during the first season and it will be clear in the autumn how the tour will look in the future.
According to Ilonen, the reputational damage caused by the Saudi tour to golf will also be seen.
– At the moment, there are such cash flows behind it that it is possible to continue this for a while, but if the tour doesn’t start properly and you start skipping other big tours, it’s hard to see that you want to waste money there.