As 2023 fades into permanent shadows a new year is now upon us and hope springs eternal as the calendar moves on.<\/p>\n
Can specific individuals raise the level of their game? What new forces may enter the picture that are truly either misunderstood or not properly valued?<\/p>\n
How will the key organizations within golf deal with vexing issues pushed from one year into the next.<\/p>\n
The world of golf went through a topsy-turvy sequence of events in 2023. In a sport which places a high premium on tradition it was non-traditional forces that had the greatest impact.<\/p>\n
Will such forces continue in 2024?<\/p>\n
If anything has been proven it's that golf is no longer in a sea of tranquility.<\/p>\n
Past responses may not so easily fit or even apply.<\/p>\n
Hold onto to your seats and pass along the popcorn.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
When PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan announced last June 6 that a \"framework agreement\" had been reached with upstart LIV Golf the tsunami impact went beyond words.<\/p>\n
Up to that point Monahan had been vehemently opposed to any discussions and had stated forcefully that Tour players opting for LIV would be forever banished.<\/p>\n
The framework agreement was supposed to be settled by December 31 but both parties have agreed to extend such talks into the new year.<\/p>\n
The Tour has reached out to other private investors and the possibility exists a new framework for professional golf could have LIV remaining on the outside looking in. Or it could mean a percentage equity stake and a front row seat at the decision-making table.<\/p>\n
Marriage between the two cannot be totally discounted because LIV has the capital to remain active. Could what seemed like an untenable intersection not that long ago develop into a rapturous bond?<\/p>\n
Predicting courtships of any type is anything but certain. An uncertain future could well mean a deft navigation through a series of unknown and unseen land mines.<\/p>\n
High level business intersections can produce strange bedfellows.<\/p>\n
The ongoing saga between the PGA TOUR and LIV remains the central focal point in the year ahead.<\/p>\n
The ultimate shape of what professional golf is now clearly at stake.<\/p>\n