Welcome to LIVbreathegolf. We are the ice in your tea. The chocolate in your milk. The beer in your margarita.

What we’re teeing up for you today:

• How LIV is changing golf

• Abraham Ancer

• Breakfast

• Help out Pam

LIV Just Changed the Way Golf is Played… Again

Smaller Fields and No Cuts

The PGA Tour, on Wednesday, announced changes to the 2024 season that sound like they could only be inspired by LIV’s format. This is a huge step for all of golf as leagues better understand what golfers, fans, and sponsors want in a modern golf environment.

The 2024 season for the PGA tour will now include 8 designated events that will include:

• Smaller field sizes of 70-80 players

• No cut line (best players guaranteed to play all 4 days)

• Increased purse sizes (if you’re the best you will get paid like it)

To give players and fans some predictability these designated events will generally be scheduled as 3 non-designated events followed by 2 designated events.

Historically Important Events

such as The majors, THE PLAYERS, and the FedExCup Playoffs will be unaffected. Those tournaments have no change to their formatting at this time.

Eligibility for Designated Events

The Tour is still putting some puzzle pieces together, but in general players will be eligible based on the below criteria (per the pgatour.com)

• The Top 50 players from the prior year FedExCup standings through the FedExCup Playoffs;

• The Top 10 players, not otherwise eligible, from the current year FedExCup standings (using the previous year’s FedExCup standings through the conclusion of the fall events for any early season events);

• Top 5 players, not otherwise eligible, earning the most FedExCup points through each “collection” of standard events (i.e. events between each Designated event);

• Current year tournament winners, not otherwise eligible, of full FedExCup point events prior to the Designated event;

• PGA TOUR Members among the top 30 in the Official World Golf Ranking;

• Four sponsor exemptions restricted to PGA TOUR members.

Tougher to Get In

Obviously 70 is less than 120. And it’s highlighted by the eligibility above that it will be tougher for some of the lower ranked or up and coming players to get into these events now.

But that’s not bad.

Win For Everyone?

Yes, it will be harder to get into these designated tournaments. But at the end of the day the fans and sponsors want to see the best golfers out there. Now in designated events it is virtually guaranteed.

All of the other events get a boost as well. Non-designated events are going to have even higher stakes now because doing well in those is going to get you into the designated ones with better competition and better money.

It adds a factor of interest for every event.

LIV Changed the Game

It is pretty easy to see that this type of field is of interest to golf fans. And this type of purse is of interest to golfers.

Despite any drama between LIV and the PGA Tour it is a huge win to change the game in a positive way for everyone. At the end of the day it doesn’t really matter who did it first, but that it is done.

Thanks to LIV for being brave enough to take the first step. Now we will all reap the benefits of more exciting golf nearly every weekend. (Not sure how Spouses will like this, but for golf it’s awesome)

Those Damned Birds

There is a lot to be said about the changes by players and fans alike. Some good. Some bad.

“There's ways to play into it. It's trying to get the top guys versus the hot guys, right? I think that creates a really compelling product.” - Rory McIlroy

McIlroy seems to enjoy the new changes.

Poulter is a little more fiesty. I can’t say I blame him.

The comment back tracking is a little misleading though… There is definitely plenty of that going on. Talking heads that condemned LIV now praising the PGA Tour for it’s innovation.

There are plenty of people that continue to shout their displeasure into the void as well.

What This Means For LIV

Probably only good things. One way of looking at it is a giant proof of concept. Now they can say - okay, we thought we were on to something and now we are watching the proof play out.

One could wonder, will this draw viewers away from LIV now that the PGA Tour has a similar format? On the contrary.

This change should be good for everyone, but especially LIV.

Small fields no cuts are LIV’s bread and butter so now that there will be more of that out there it is likely to generate more hype for LIV. It’s not the weird thing those sellouts are doing. It’s the new way to keep golf entertaining.

With only 14 events from LIV golf fans can now get exciting, high stakes golf almost whenever they want. It lifts everyone up.

Player Profile - Abraham Ancer

We’re busting out something new for you all. Today is the first part in a series where we will go through each golfer and get to know them a bit more.

A lot of sports earn followings from loyalty to geographic locations, colleges, etc… This is your chance to learn about the LIV golfers and find who you connect with.

• Age - 32

• Birthplace - McAllen, Texas

• Plays From - Mexico

• College - University of Oklahoma

• Turned Pro - 2013

• Joined LIV - 2022

• LIV Team - Fireballs GC

• OWGR - 27th

Breakfast Balls

257 out of a bunker?: I can’t even hit it that far… You know what they say - those that can’t do write newsletters.

Hole in 1: This one is a kid, but do you really need an excuse to watch a hole in video ever?

Meme of the Day

Don’t golf alone, Share LIVbreathegolf and get more people on the course

Or copy and past this referral link: https://livbreathegolf.beehiiv.com/subscribe

For sharing you get…something???

Is my undying gratitude enough? If people actually start reading this maybe you will get a sticker or a trip to the LIV Golf finals or something… who knows. For now, just know that I love you.

How’s my swing?

Have you ever tried to critique your own swing? Most likely you were sure you had the answer until you the next hole when you’re walking around in the woods looking for your ball you sliced again. Please help me out so I can perfect my practice and start hitting ‘em long and straight.

Bogey, bogey, par, birdie, par, par, bogey, birdie, par...