Posted at 6:00 a.m.
The American Open, which is in its 122e edition, will be contested for the fourth time in history at the Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts. Hometown of the Kennedy family, who saw the birth of John, May 29, 1917, at 83 Beals Street, about fifteen minutes from where the third major tournament of the season will take place.
While traditions are crumbling and tearing our neighbors to the south apart, golf is also going through troubled times.
The last few weeks have been eventful and now two clans will meet at the golf congress, starting on Thursday. Those who chose the past and those who chose the future. Players who decided to carry on the tradition and those who decided to prioritize money. PGA players and LIV Golf Series players.
Even though PGA commissioner Jay Monahan has formalized the suspension of players who have revoked their playing rights on the tour to play in the Saudi league, major tournaments are run independently. This means that the PGA cannot interfere in the affairs of the United States Open. This is why athletes from both circuits will be able to meet at Brookline and fight for the Wanamaker trophy.
PHOTO JOHN DAVID MERCER, USA TODAY SPORTS
Boos should no doubt be expected during the presentation of players like Phil Mickelson (photo), Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Reed.
like intruders
But for the majority of golf enthusiasts, LIV Golf series players will not be welcome. Boos should no doubt be expected when introducing players like Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Reed.
The latter two are the newest members of the Saudi series. They have each confirmed their attendance over the past week.
Golf fans will be glued to their screens, because like the Ryder Cup or the Presidents Cup, there will be two teams. Good guys and bad guys.
Not many people want a LIV Golf Series player to win the tournament, but everyone would love to see a PGA player beat a LIV representative in overtime.
It will also be interesting to see what the reaction of the PGA players will be to the arrival of the deserters.
PHOTO JOHN DAVID MERCER, USA TODAY SPORTS
Justin Thomas strongly criticized, even denigrated, the prestige and competitiveness of the LIV Golf series.
The reactions have been many, strong and unequivocal over the past few days. Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka and Fred Couples are among those who have strongly criticized, even denigrated, the prestige and competitiveness of the LIV Golf series, to the benefit of the PGA Tour circuit.
A movement is taking place
Now that the camps are established and defined, it is relevant to ask who will have the upper hand and what the future will look like. This meeting will also be the perfect opportunity for players from the new series to recruit new members, as they have been doing behind the scenes for the past few months. The cream of the crop will be gathered at Brookline. This will be a critical moment for the future of the PGA.
A rare opportunity for players to wonder not what the PGA Tour can do for them, but what they can do for the PGA Tour. Even if the PGA is not dying, it will be a defining weekend for the craftsmen of what was, until recently, the ideal tour for the best golf players in the world.
The PGA Tour is no longer the only tour to rule and the ramifications of the new league are already being felt. It makes you wonder what will happen if Dustin Johnson or Bryson DeChambeau wins top honors on Sunday.
If effort and courage aren’t enough without purpose and without direction, it’s clear that PGA Tour players are working hard to retain the value, prestige and memory of the Tour.
This edition of the US Open is sure to go down in history one way or another.