Golf media has been pretty much unified in its opposition to the SGL. How can they not be, since the King of Saudi Arabia killed one of their own? As Will Bardwell just wrote, sportswashing is designed to stop human rights reforms, but the players threatening to leave are saying that they think the new league will open up reforms in Saudi Arabia. The SGL isn’t a truly competitive league. They are willing to lose hundreds of millions to take the heat off of their human rights issues. It’s not an open market that the players are missing out on. And the Saudis found willing pawns in Phil and Bryson and DJ who are greedy enough not to care how the sausage is made. Phil and DJ have reportedly been offered over $100 million for a few years plus on-course earnings. Bryson has reportedly been offered $230 million. Tiger has only made $130 million on-course in his career. This is big money. The SGL wants to start this summer. The big questions are how many players will leave, will they be banned by the PGA Tour and DP Tour if they leave, will sponsors leave these players if they go to the SGL (Royal Bank of Canada wouldn’t let Dustin Johnson where their logo in Saudi Arabia), will they get world ranking points if they leave, will the majors let them in even if they have qualified for those tournaments, who will broadcast these tournaments (Fox, streaming?), and will the players sue the PGA Tour or the majors if they get kicked out. Basically, they want appearance fees from the PGA for the top golfers. That's what this is about. It's kind of sickening to me that blood money is the tool by which they are trying to extract extra money from the PGA. Chamblee was right to call out Mickelson. I guess private jets don't pay for themselves. I don't play or watch golf for a good reason. $230 million is far more than traditional appearance fees. The money being thrown at these players makes appearance fee money seem tiny.