Professional competitive golf is in crisis. Somehow golf is broken.

After watching the US Masters last week, I would like to share my view on what is happening nowadays with professional competitive golf.

In recent years, golf enthusiasts have been discussing the conflict between the PGA TOUR, LIV GOLF, and other Tours. Undoubtedly, golf is divided, and all of this has harmed the sport regarding major tours and tournaments.

I have no doubt that LIV GOLF is likely a consequence of the clumsy management of tours in the past, such as the American and the European. I gained experience with the latter during my years working with Seve, as we became promoters of a significant number of tournaments within this tour (From 1986 till 2013).

Nowadays, professional competitive golf is reaping what the TOURS sowed for many years thanks to the actions of clumsy and visionless management.

In my opinion, LIV GOLF, despite being a consequence of what was mentioned earlier, is a poor competition. It may be rich in prizes and agreements that, in my understanding, do not make much sense as they are not worth it, but it is poor in terms of the essence of competitive golf. Music on tees, shorts, an unattractive format where they try to apply a team concept to a sport that is absolutely individual, and ultimately, a group of friends with a lot of money who dedicate some 15 or 16 weeks a year to playing golf in weekend get-togethers on short courses so that old glories can still achieve results.

Today's golf is not like that of previous decades. Before, there were competitors; today, there are professional golfers who have fun with social media, travel by private plane, and are friends among themselves. Or at least it seems so. Before, there was no friendship; it was all competition at all levels.

In previous decades, there was competition, not friendship. The Ryder Cup was "a war", not a parade of players wearing wigs, dressing up, or overacting. In my opinion it’s nothing close to what it used to be.

As an example of what I'm saying, I would say that the recent US Masters speaks volumes about what has happened. The Masters is always the Masters, but this year, I believe it has been somewhat lackluster.

Ultimately, it is regrettable that today's professional competitive golf is what it is. There are not many references or players with the enough charisma and personality to push the sport higher. I don't think we will live again the old days, when possibly the lack of all the facilities and distractions that exist today made great champions with character with only one goal: to make history by winning real tournaments where the best were playing. Money was secondary.

The reality is that the highest professional competitive golf as of today is broken.

I wonder what you think.