As we reflect back on 2022, we have never experienced the division and unrest that is currently present in men’s professional golf. With the LIV Golf tour offering top names exorbitant sums to leave the PGA Tour, fewer events and larger purses it has thrown the golf world into a tailspin.
The fighting between the LIV and the PGA Tour is definitely the biggest story in golf last year, but there are also a few more that deserve consideration.
- LIV Completes First Year
Greg Norman and the Saudi Investment Fund have definitely made a huge impact on professional golf. They only held 8 events around the world in 2022, but the LIV media people made sure they kept social media and golf news outlets filled with plenty of content all year long.
Greg Norman appears to be a man on a mission to completely disrupt professional golf and with the help of Saudi Arabia Royal Family’s endless supply of money, he is succeeding mightily.
Two questions remain for the LIV. The outstanding Lawsuits will determine, if the PGA Tour illegally tried to stop the LIV from getting started and if the OWGR will grant LIV players World ranking points.
Lawsuits have become as important as birdies and eagles with both tours keeping hundreds of attorneys busy churning out legal briefs and filing multiple suits.
Ed Travis examined LIV versus the PGA Tour and you can read his report beginning on page 10.
- Dustin Johnson Earned $35 Million on LIV To Top All Golfers
Dustin Johnson has been one of the best golfers in the world for 15 years. He has won two major championships and over 20 titles on the PGA Tour. When the LIV offered him $125 million to jump to the rival tour, he took the money, plus added another $35 million in prize money, topping the LIV money list.
With $74 million in career earnings on the PGA Tour, Johnson earned nearly that much in one year on the LIV.
- Tiger Woods Returns to Competition
In February 2021, Tiger Woods was involved in a horrific car crash that nearly required amputation of one of his legs. Through hard work and rehabilitation, he was able to actually return to a golf course for the first time in December, 2021 and enter PGA Tour events in 2022.
Shuffling around the golf course on a pair of less than perfect legs he made the cut at the Masters, but could not make it to the weekend at either the U.S. Open or PGA Championship.
He is scheduled to play in three events this month and we look forward to gauging his progress and fitness as we move to 2023.
- Rory McIlroy Took on a Much Bigger Role
Rory McIlroy had a phenomenal year on and off the golf course. In 16 PGA Tour starts he racked up three wins, plus runners-up finishes at both the Masters and the OPEN championship. He earned over $8 million in prize money and pocketed another $18 million for winning the FedEx Cup.
He ended the year as the No. 1 player on the DP World Tour and on the Official World Golf Ranking. Throughout the year Rory also assumed a larger role as a spokesman and leader of the PGA Tour players speaking out against the rival LIV Golf League.
He has lifted the PGA Tour on his shoulders and worked tirelessly to promote the American Tour. He has become the acknowledged leader of the PGA Tour players. Look for him to continue to expand that role in 2023.
- Major Championships
The LIV Golf League also had an effect on the majors, but the players were not banned from participating, if they had previously qualified for the tournament.
-Scottie Scheffler started off the year with his win at the Masters. He went on to win four times last year, lead the PGA Tour in earnings and ascend to the No. 1 spot on the World Golf Rankings for a few weeks.
-The second major of the year saw Justin Thomas add another Wanamaker Trophy to his collection. JT has 10 top 10 finishes last season, earned nearly $7 million in prize money and finished No.5 in the FedEx Cup standings.
-Matt Fitzpatrick has been a world-class golfer for several years. When the U.S. Open returned to the Country Club for the 2022 U.S. Open, Fitzpatrick liked his odds. He had won the 2013 U.S. Amateur on the same golf course and once again found the historic course to his liking. He bested Scottie Scheffler and Will Zalatoris by a single stroke to capture the USGA’s biggest trophy.
-Cam Smith had a monster year on the PGA Tour winning both THE Players Championship & THE OPEN at St. Andrews before jumping to LIV Golf Tour for a very big payday. Smith’s consistency in finding fairways and relying on his ever-trusty putter translated to making him one of the best players in the world last year.
- Lydia Ko Returned To The Top Of Women’s Golf
As a teenager, Lydia Ko shocked the golf world winning multiple professional titles while still an amateur. When she did turn professional the winning did not stop. Changing golf coaches and styles she struggled over the past couple of years, but golf pundits could see near the end of 2021 that Lydia was returning to her old consistent fairways and greens style of play.
In 2022 and now 25 years old, she appears to be ready to once again dominate women’s golf. She won the $2 million first place check at the CME Group Championship. Her average score of 68.988 earned her the Vare Trophy for the second consecutive year.
Ko also won LPGA Player of the Year honors and is just two points shy of winning induction into the LPGA Hall of Fame.
She was the model of consistency all year, amassing three wins, plus 11 more top 10 finishes. Lydia Ko is once again a must-watch player on the LPGA Tour.
- Bernhard Langer Closes In on Hale Irwin’s Record
Hale Irwin holds the record for most Champions Tour wins with 45 victories. At the age of 64, Bernhard Langer won two Champions Tour events in 2022 to finish the year with 44 titles, one win shy of Irwin’s record 45 wins.
The seemingly ageless Langer has been one of the top players on the Champions Tour for 14 years. Smart money says he catches and surpasses Irwin before the 2023 season is over.
