Greg Norman turned world golf upside down with a Saudi Arabia-funded start-up tour, Cameron Smith won his first major, Minjee Lee claimed her second and a monster cheque to go with it, and men and women played alongside each other in a national championship for the first time. Here are the highlights, and lowlights, of a golfing year like no other.
Word of the year
LIV. Three letters, and golf’s version of World War III. In the same year in review for 2021, we touched on Greg Norman’s plans for a Saudi-backed rebel circuit and said it might work, it probably won’t. The protests over the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund using LIV as a venture in “sportswashing” to improve its image in the face of its human rights record won’t go away. It has included lawsuits, counter claims, friendships lost and lots of money gained by those who don’t really need it. But even Greg Norman couldn’t have predicted it would be as successful as it has been in its first year. He prised top 100 players, top 50 players, top 20 players – and then the reigning British Open champion and world No.2 Cameron Smith. Most of the star power still resides with the PGA Tour, but Norman has made inroads.
The winners
Cameron Smith. Where did that year come from? A win in Hawaii. A win in the Players Championship (golf’s unofficial fifth major). The Open at St Andrews. Truckloads of cash to defect to LIV. A maiden LIV win in Chicago. Then the Australian PGA on his Claret Jug homecoming (celebrated with beers at the Breakfast Creek Hotel). Greg Norman Medal winner. A normal person with an extraordinary golfing game.
Minjee Lee wins the US Open.Credit:Getty
Minjee Lee. How good was that US Open win? Already a major winner, it took a Monday morning in June, where she streeted the field to win the largest pay cheque in women’s golf history (at the time), for Australia to perhaps wake up to how good she is. Oh, and finished the year with a $1.5 million bonus for a risk and reward challenge on the LPGA Tour.
Rory McIlroy. Golf’s version of Luke Skywalker. The Northern Irishman finished the year winning both the PGA Tour and DP World Tour titles. But his on-course success was overshadowed by him assuming the role of golf’s global ambassador and taking up the fight for the traditional tours against LIV. Hasn’t won a major for eight years, but finishes the year as world No.1 and has never been more popular.
Australian golf fans. Some decent tournaments back on these shores – finally. The Australian PGA and Australian Open had a buzz about them like rarely before, at least in modern times. And whether you agree with it or not, LIV Golf in Adelaide will be huge next April.
The losers
The Presidents Cup. Yes, the International team were decimated by a spate of LIV defections weeks out from the event, including Cameron Smith. Yes, they fought hard on the weekend after giving up a big early lead. But the biennial event doesn’t need courageous losses from the International side any more. It needs the United States to actually lose. On its last legs.
Jay Monahan. The PGA Tour commissioner has fought to preserve golf’s traditional tours, and won’t be seen in a room with Greg Norman anytime soon. Lost more players than he thought he would and accused of ceding power to Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy in the fight against LIV. How long will he last?
Tiger Woods fans. This year, above all others, showed the days of Tiger being competitive, or even playing at all, are pretty much done. Limped around Augusta for 72 holes in perhaps his greatest achievement at The Masters as he still remains largely bothered by his car accident, and then withdrew from the PGA Championship and missed the cut at The Open.
It’s a young man’s game more than ever, highlighted by all four majors going to players under the age of 30 for the first time in history. Treasure every Tiger appearance because there might not be many left.
LIV Golf chief executive Greg Norman.Credit:Getty
Controversy corner
LIV. The obvious. Once “dead in the water”, now the biggest storyline in golf since Tiger Woods’ sex scandal. Agree with it or not, it’s turned world golf on its head.
On a local front, the 18th green argument between Marina Alex and Julienne Soo during the Australian Open is highly commended. Bizarro.
Man of the year
Cameron Smith. Could it be anyone else? The mullet pieced together a year for the ages and won a legion of fans for his off-course attitude, as much as his wizardry on it. Honourable mention for walking headline Greg Norman.
Woman of the year
Minjee Lee. See above. Could end up as our second best ever female golfer behind Karrie Webb. Might become our best if she really wants it.
Phil Mickelson took a break from competitive golf after his published comments about Saudi Arabia.Credit:AP
Quote of the year
“They’re scary motherf—–s to get involved with.” Whether it was on the record or off the record, the quote attributed to Phil Mickelson in Alan Shipnuck’s biography of the star almost torpedoed LIV Golf before it started. He didn’t play competitive golf for five months and then returned in LIV’s first event in London. Go figure.
Crystal ball
Cameron Smith wins The Masters at Augusta National, LIV Golf and the PGA Tour are no closer to a truce and the rebel players still don’t have rankings points despite Greg Norman taking on a reduced role, the PGA Championship is the only major to ban LIV players, Tiger Woods announces his retirement from competitive golf, the United States dominates Europe in the Ryder Cup and Golf Australia doubles down on its controversial dual-gender national championship.
