For the second time in as many years, the Canadian Open has been upstaged by dramatic events taking place elsewhere.
All this followed two years of pandemic-related cancellations and until last year’s tournament at St. George’s Golf and Country Club, the tournament had last been held in 2019. LIV plays a schedule of shorter – 54 holes versus 72 – events that payout a total of $25 million to its limited fields where all 48 players earn a cheque. In response, the PGA Tour had brought down a schedule of “elevated” events where its members competed for $20-million but maintained a full compliment of 156 golfers with a 36-hole cut to a shade less than half of the original field, who share the prize money.
Saudi Arabia has in recent years attempted to use international sport, including many that it previously had little or no involvement in, to burnish its reputation and get the world to look past its appalling record on human rights. Starting with a trickle last spring but soon was picking up steam – with the 2022 Canadian Open taking place smack-dab in the middle of it – several high-ranking players left to join Norman’s effort. Former Masters winner Patrick Reed pulled out of last year’s Canadian Open and soon announced he was leaving for LIV.