In the most recent edition of #AskAlan with Alan Shipnuck of the Firepit Collective, the author of “LIV and Let Die” reported that the Saudi PIF will have to pony up the big bucks once again if LIV wants to keep their biggest stars under contract.

Players such as Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau Jon Rahm and Phil Mickelson all received massive signing bonuses to join LIV, but those contracts will begin to run out after the 2024 and 2025 season, meaning they’ll need to be re-signed.

“The slow-playing can’t last forever—we will know in the next couple of months whether the framework agreement winds up in the recycling bin or if the PIF will invest a few billion dollars into PGA Tour Enterprises to buy its way into the golf establishment.”

“The time horizon that matters is four years, which is the length of the contracts of LIV’s biggest names. We’re now in year three.

“The future of LIV will come down to the negotiations and machinations between Yasir Al-Rumayyan and the tour’s best players, beginning this coming off-season.”

“LIV has done a remarkable job keeping it in-house but there is plenty of disenchantment among the players at the heavy-handed and often chaotic way the PIF runs the tour, with much of the decision-making filtered through the white-shoe law firm of Gibson Dunn; professional sports is very different from the oil business and courtroom litigation. But money can buy happiness, or at least acquiescence.”

“Someone close to one of LIV’s marquee attractions recently said this to me about the impending contract negotiations: ‘Will he stay? If they offer him the same money as last time around, absof—inglutely. But if Yasir gets stingy, he’s gone.”

Time will tell if Yasir Al-Rumayyan will continue to open the checkbook for some of world’s top professional golfers.

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As Nick Taylor and Charley Hoffman faced off in the playoff at the WM Phoenix Open, there was no doubt that a Titleist golf ball player was going to win for the sixth straight week to start the 2024 PGA TOUR season.

What made it more interesting for the duo, however, was the way they marked their Pro V1x’s.

Both men’s golf balls featured the initials C and H, with Charlie Hoffman’s ball marked with a red Sharpie for his initials.

Nick Taylor’s ball also featured the initials C and H, with the Canadian’s being either side of the play number and representing his children Charlie and Harper.

Taylor prevailed in a playoff in Phoenix, but it wasn’t all bad news for Charley Hoffman, whose runner-up finish earned him a spot in this week’s Genesis Invitational.

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On Wednesday, Verne Lundquist announced that the 2024 Masters will be the last time he calls the event.

Lundquist has had some legendary calls at the Masters and his iconic voice is recognized by many generations. The 83-year-old retired from broadcasting football games back in 2016 but continued with the Masters through what will be his 40th time this year.

Yes Sir!

As Verne Lundquist gets set to call his 40th Masters on CBS in April, he has announced that it will be his final Masters for the Network. pic.twitter.com/y9VxlliQKJ

— Golf on CBS ? (@GolfonCBS) February 14, 2024

Fans will surely miss Lundquist’s legendary calls and took to social media to express their gratitude for his career.

The most memorable calls always seem to come from Verne.
“Maybe…YES SIR!”
“Oh. My. Goodness…Wow!…In your life have you seen anything like that?”

— Steve Eubanks (@jseubanks) February 15, 2024

“In your life have you heard a better call?!”

— Luke Elvy (@Luke_Elvy) February 14, 2024

We all love Verne, and can’t imagine the Masters broadcast without him. #YesSir

— Maybe Yes Sir (@Maybe_YesSir) February 14, 2024

The Masters won’t be the same without Verne, so we should all enjoy one last week with him April 10-13.

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