Par4QC I think it kind of odd, that these fellas would be European captains. They seldom play there, and they've all been living in the U.S. for several years. Just doesn't seem right, for some reason.

It's pretty much inevitable with the changes to world golf over the last 30-40 years - it's much easier now for the best European players to be members of the PGA Tour (which has the highest standards and deepest fields, on average) and still maintain membership of the European/DP World Tour. For the top players in the 1980s and 1990s, the choice was either to play mainly in Europe and only be able to play 6-8 events in the US (including the majors) or commit to being a full member of both tours and have to play something like at least 15 events on both tours, with all of the travelling that this would require. More recently, there are a number of events (majors and WGCs, and maybe a few others) that effectively count towards the membership requirements on both tours, so it's much easier to be a member of both tours. It also means that the balance has shifted the other way - it's now possible to be a member of the European Tour and only play something like 6 or 8 events on that tour (which most guys based in the US get by playing the Middle East events early in the year, the Scottish Open as part of Open Championship preparation and the big European Tour events like the PGA Championship at Wentworth and the season-ending Tour Championship).

      Spuzz Agreed, the number that jumped proved the PGA Tour heavy-handed didn't stop people from jumping. The European Tour had to adapt to the Euros going for the money in the PGA Tour and nobody said dick. LPGA went to China and nobody cared about this chasing money effort. PGA Tour has approved in the past players playing in Saudia Arabia but always a one-off, nobody cared these players were paid to play. Now they are jockeying to be the Anti-Christ????
      Perhaps we take a view of where some PGA Tour events are played and look at their past. Nope, can't be bothered.

      Now people want to cancel Pumpkin Ridge, wherever it is (I know where it is but am not a fan of Oregon) because it will host a LIV tournament. Seriously? Close a course and be happy? Kicked people off because they play slow, don't know how to repair a divot, stand in the line, and don't let others play through........ Complain about etiquette but people do not have the right to select their path???
      Hard to understand why people care so much one way or the other. Sounds like another thread.
      PGA Tour is not a charity, it is a business with charity protections. In fact, they canceled Mickelson's sponsor of a tournament that hurt those charities, Not transparent either.
      Sponsors are strange too. UPS dropped two players but continues to deliver "stuff" to Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Fund owns stakes in Boeing, CitGroup, and anybody boycotting them. Disney??? Hell, RBC played a lead role in the IPO of Saudi Aramco, and yet they sponsor a PGA Tour Tournament.

          MartinD What exactly are the qualifications for being a Captain? Meaning, if a player from the U.S., is playing most of his tournaments in Europe (or on their Tour), why can he not be their Captain, if the time should come? Let's even say he has a residence in Spain, or some such country.

              Par4QC Not happening, imo.

              It might happen. Unlike the Tour they have to pay taxes. They need to make some donations to keep taxes in check.

                Par4QC or even the qualifications for being a player. DJ is looking to play the DP Tour, could he earn enough points to play for the Euros?. Or is it citizenship? DJ could always say he identifies as a Euro and they'd have to let him play

                  Bravopilot. There is so much hypocrisy surrounding the LIV it's ridiculous, as you've pointed out. 99.9% of the people complaining would jump at the chance to earn generational money for their families. They're just jealous it isn't being offered to them.

                    Par4QC I don't think that there are any specific requirements to be captain (on either side), but I suspect that it's expected that 1) the captain should meet the same eligibility criteria as the players, 2) the captain has played in several Ryder Cups with a reasonable degree of success, 3) the captain is reasonably popular on Tour, and 4) the captain is likely to be competent at all aspects of the job.

                    One thing that doesn't seem to be stated explicitly (but is implicit, on both sides) is that any player/captain needs to be from either the US or from Europe. For example, Brooks Koepka was never eligible for the European Ryder Cup team in 2014 despite playing primarily in Europe that year and finishing in the top 10 of that year's Race to Dubai.

                        MartinD the captain should meet the same eligibility criteria as the players

                        It seems I recall somebody speculating the Captain could play due to injuries/sickness recently, so there must be something to this stipulation? I can't remember when that was. Maybe when Tiger was involved? or Phil?

                          "Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund head Yasir Al-Rumayyan said Saturday that any LIV Golfer who shoots 54 will be awarded $54 million." 🤑

                          Are they now promoting putt-putt ?

                            Par4QC I even have an HP 420

                            LOL
                            I HAD one too, and sold it about 8 years ago...

                              garyt1957

                              As I posted before the DP World Tour signed a strategic alliance with the PGA Tour last year. Can’t see the DP Tour cutting the throat of the PGA Tour after signing such an agreement.

                                  Eguller

                                  This is one reason we probably won’t see a major network broadcasting LIV Golf. Who’s going to buy adds on that broadcast? No company would risk such a boycott.

                                  Except maybe Saudia (formerly Saudi Arabian Airlines). Lol

                                      Sneakylong You would think with all the $$ being thrown at the players, they could find some major network to do the broadcast, for just compensation, just to get it on the air in the U.S.. After all, huge sums of money apparently has a very sweet taste.

                                      Do not need any commercials.