LIV Golf first impressions show there’s a market for the Saudi Arabia-backed series

Love it or hate it, LIV Golf appears to be here for the long haul.

NORTH PLAINS, Ore. — First impressions go a long way. After spending three days at the LIV Golf Invitational Series event at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, one thing is clear: there’s a market for this upstart circuit.

It just depends what you want to get out of a golf tournament.

If you’re a golf fan who loves the game for the history and competition, these events won’t be for you. But if you’re a general sports fan who loves festivals and fanfare, you may be interested.

When you walk through the front gates you’re immediately met with the selling points of the series on signs lining the walking path: 48 players, 12 teams, 54 holes, no cuts, shotgun starts. Night and day from a normal pro golf tournament, and that’s exactly what LIV and its players want.

Workers scrambled to build structures in the two days leading up to the start of play, with parts of the fan village still to be built less than 24 hours before Thursday’s 1:15 p.m. local time shotgun start. By the time gates opened at 10 a.m. for fans, they were able to see just what the Public Investment Fund – the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia that backs LIV Golf – is capable of.

Just a few steps further to the left and you see the fan village, filled with food and drink options ($5 for beer, $10 for wine and cocktails and $15 meals, so if you just want a small snack, good luck), a kids zone and golf activities ranging from putting and chipping challenges to mini golf and even a performance center loaded with multiple digital hitting bays and, for some reason, racing video games.

Performers riding unicycles and bicycles with juggling equipment rode around the course during play. “Alcohol monitors” are on patrol in bright yellow shirts in order to make sure no fans get overserved.

You almost forget you’re at a golf tournament.

Despite the controversy surrounding LIV Golf due to the source of its funding coming from an oppressive regime with ties to terrorism and human rights abuses, the fans don’t seem to care. They enjoy the activities outside of golf, but more than that, they just want to see the pros. LIV might not have it all figured out, but coming to a region that loves golf and is starved for tournaments was smart.

Same with their ticket discounts. Active-duty military and veterans get in for free at LIV events, same with kids 15 and younger with a ticketed adult. The series also offers 25 percent discounts for college students, teachers, medical professionals and first responders. Those who oppose the event say it pays to not have to worry about turning a profit and they’re pandering, whereas optimists argue this should be happening at other events. Both may be true.

And as for the players, they seem legitimately happy to be here this week – a booming bank account and at the very least $120,000 for finishing in last place for three days of work can do that. LIV also not only pays the way for the players, but their caddies, too. Whoever said money can’t buy happiness hasn’t seen a LIV event. It’s as if you’re in this bubble where everything seems too good to be true.

The fewer fans and fewer players makes for an interesting vibe around the grounds, and the players are eating it up. On the range after Wednesday’s pro-am, Phil Mickelson quipped to Matthew Wolff about how nice it is to not have to act like a bobblehead every hole. Instead of four amateurs per group and one player, the LIV format is two players and two amateurs and closed to fans. Another subtle change to the normal tour life that players enjoy.

With the rosters and actual names of the teams changing between events, it’s impossible to buy in on that aspect just yet (just don’t tell that to the dozens of fans rocking Mickelson’s Hy Flyers hats). Most fans on Thursday couldn’t name more than four of the 12 teams, let alone a full roster. That said, the series will expand to 14 events and re-brand as the LIV Golf League in 2023, and is expected to announce another player as soon as this weekend.

Whether you love it or hate it, LIV Golf appears to be here for the long haul.

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Reports: Matthew Wolff, Carlos Ortiz and Eugenio Chacarra round out final spots in Liv Golf event in Portland

LIV Golf reportedly has continued its signing spree with three new names for this week’s Portland event.

LIV Golf reportedly has continued its signing spree over the weekend with Matthew Wolff, Carlos Ortiz and Eugenio Chacarra expected to join the upstart circuit for its event this week at Pumpkin Ridge in Portland.

LIV Golf previously announced 45 players for its 48-man field at the second of a scheduled eight events in the series.

Wolff, 23, claimed the individual 2019 NCAA Championship title as a sophomore at Oklahoma State, turned pro that June and won the PGA Tour’s 3M Open in just his third event. Playing as a sponsor’s exemption, Wolff canned a 25-foot eagle putt from the fringe on the final hole to edge Bryson DeChambeau and Collin Morikawa. Wolff further showed his potential by finishing fourth at the 2020 PGA Championship and shot 65 at Winged Foot in the third round of the U.S. Open later that year to assume the 54-hole lead. He finished second to DeChambeau and rose as high as No. 12 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

With his unorthodox swing and charismatic presence, he appeared to be on the verge of being the Tour’s next breakout star. However, Wolff struggled adjusting to Tour life and took two months off from golf last year, citing the need to address his mental health. Wolff has missed the cut in seven of his last 12 starts this season, without a single top-25 finish, and has plummeted to 77^th in the world ranking. He shot 66 on Sunday at the Travelers Championship, where he made his PGA Tour professional debut in 2019, and finished T-55.

Wolff’s jump to LIV was first reported by The Telegraph of London. It has been rumored for weeks, most notably after his image was included in a LIV Golf sizzle reel promoting the fledgling circuit that is backed by Saudi Arabia’s PIF Investment Fund.

Sports Illustrated reported that Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz has decided to join LIV Golf, too. The 31-year-old Ortiz won the 2020 Houston Open. He is ranked No. 119 in the world. Last week, Mexico’s top-ranked player, Abe Ancer, also made the leap to LIV, giving the circuit a viable Latin American presence.

As noted on Golfweek on Saturday, Chacarra, the No. 2-ranked amateur in the world, was reported to have signed with LIV and planned to forgo his senior year at Oklahoma State and turn pro to compete in the 48-man field in Portland. Writing in Spanish, he noted that he had “received an opportunity I could not turn down,” adding, “it is one of those trains that pass once in a lifetime.”

Notre Dame commit J.J. Starling makes U.S. team for Nike Hoop Summit

A big month is coming up for a future Notre Dame player.

J.J. Starling, the most anticipated Notre Dame commit in years, is going to be very busy over the next month. In the last week of March, he will take part in the McDonald’s All-American Game in Chicago. A week-and-a-half later, he will get the opportunity to represent the U.S. in competition for the first time. That’s because he has been selected to play for his country in the Nike Hoop Summit, an annual game between the best U.S. players and the best international players ages 19 or younger.

Starling, who attends La Lumiere in La Porte and participated in a 2019 U.S. junior national minicamp, will be part of the first Nike Hoop Summit since 2019. COVID-19 has forced the event’s cancelation over the past two years. The international roster for the game, which is taking place in Portland, Oregon, will be announced later.

Starling is believed to be taking the roster spot of Cason Wallace, who signed a letter of intent with Kentucky in November.

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Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Warriors Playoff Rewind: Steph Curry drops 40 in 2016 ‘I’m back’ game in Portland

It’s been four years since Stephen Curry exploded for 40 points in the “I’m here, I’m back” game against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Throughout the 2019-20 season, Stephen Curry has missed 60 games for the Golden State Warriors. His absence from the lineup has had a dramatic impact on the Warriors’ chances of returning to the NBA playoffs for the eighth straight time.

With 17 games remaining on the calendar, the Warriors are the first team in the league to be eliminated from playoff contention. Despite the Warriors missing the playoffs in 2020, the past handful of years has provided a balanced wave of postseason highlights.

Although Curry’s return to action was shortened to only one game before the NBA season was put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, the two-time Most Valuable Player’s comeback in the 2016 playoffs produced a legendary moment.

May 9, 2016

After spraining his knee against the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs, Curry made his awaited return versus the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Semifinals game four.

After dropping game three behind Damian Lillard’s 40 points, the Warriors found themselves in another tight game in Portland. Without Curry in the starting lineup, the Warriors fell behind big to start the game, but a back and forth battle broke out after the first quarter.

Harrison Barnes drilled a 3-pointer with 52 seconds remaining to push the game into overtime. Prior to the start of OT, Curry recorded 23 points against the Blazers. Once the bell rang for the extra period, Curry exploded.

The six-time All-Star snapped an NBA record, scoring 17 points in overtime to blast past the Blazers, 132-125.

With just under two minutes remaining in overtime, Curry splashed a deep 3-pointer from the top of the key forcing the Blazers to call a timeout. As the teams were walking to the bench, Curry famously called out — “I’m here. I’m back.”

Curry’s 40 point performance on 16-of-32 shooting with nine rebounds and eight assists in 37 minutes will forever be known as the “I’m back” game.

Watch highlights from Curry’s return to the playoffs via YouTube:

The Warriors eliminated the Blazers in game five Oakland to move on to face Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals.

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Today in Warriors History: Klay Thompson splashes late game-winning 3-pointer to beat the Blazers, 113-112

In 2014, Klay Thompson hit a late go-ahead 3-pointer to give the Golden State Warriors a one-point victory in Portland.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Golden State Warriors and the rest of the NBA are currently on hiatus until further notice.

With no basketball on the radar, Warriors Wire is digging deep into Golden State’s history — highlighting worthy performances from the past. Last week we looked back at Baron Davis’ 38 point effort against Steve Nash, Amar’e Stoudamire and the Phoenix Suns in 2008, today we rewind to 2014.

Prior to Steph Curry and Klay Thompson becoming NBA champions, the blossoming Splash Brothers were battling for a playoff spot in the Western Conference.

March 16, 2014

Before clashing deep into future playoffs, the Golden State Warriors were fighting for position against Portland. The Warriors were listed behind Damian Lillard’s Blazers as the six seed in the Western Conference playoff picture before traveling to Portland for a mid-March contest.

The Blazers jumped out to a lead that grew to 18 in the third quarter. However, it wasn’t enough to close out Curry and Thompson. The Washington State product scored 23 of his 27 points in the second half to push Golden State back into the game.

The Warriors grabbed the lead with six minutes left in the final quarter, setting up a classic finish. With 11 seconds left, Portland stole the lead back, 111-110. The next possession, Thompson drilled a triple to put the Warriors up by two points. Portland’s Nick Batum missed a game-tying free throw with five seconds remaining to clinch Golden State’s road win.

On top of Thompson’s heroic 27 points, Curry added 37 on 11-of-24 shooting from the field with six makes coming from beyond the arc.

Watch highlights from Golden State’s 113-112 win via YouTube:

In 2014, the Warriors secured a spot in the postseason for the second consecutive year. Although they were eliminated in the first round by the Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State followed their playoff exit in 2014 with five straight trips to the NBA Finals.