NBA legend Charles Barkley was asked on a Friday night YouTube broadcast for his thoughts on the Saudi golf league.
"For 150 million dollars, I would kill a family member!"
After the laughter, El Gordo continued: “Hey, I'm serious.
Phil Mickelson got $200 million and Dustin Johnson got $150 million. For $150 million I would kill a relative, even one I liked!”
The war in golf between the American circuit and the Saudi league has crossed borders.
In the US Open that takes place in Brookline (Massachusetts), the conflict for power beats behind an exciting sports competition.
The PGA Tour has expelled the rebels who switched sides from its tournaments, but the US Open, like the other three majors (Masters, PGA and British Open) is outside its jurisdiction.
It is under the umbrella of the USGA (the US golf federation), and this at the moment, like the rectors of the other Grand Slam events, allows the faithful to the American circuit and the insurgents to coexist on the course.
That is the other US Open that is played in Brookline, that of knowing which side is the champion who this Sunday picks up the jar and keeps a fat check for 3 in his pocket,
The balance tipped after the first two rounds for the good guys on the PGA Tour.
The first three of the world ranking, Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy, became strong in the places of honour, led by Collin Morikawa, number seven in the world.
The four are heavyweights positioned for now on the side of the American circuit.
Among the figures on the other side, you had to go down to 31st place to find Dustin Johnson, while Sergio García and Phil Mickelson did not make the cut.
LIV Golf, the company that has set up the Saudi league, is very attentive to its boys.
“Happy birthday, Lefty!” tweeted his official account on Thursday, the day Lefty Mickelson turned 52.
Next week there may be new travel companions.
Phil Mickelson.Patrick Smith (AFP)
The battle of the image also counts in this face to face between the traditional power and the nouveau riche.
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, now in the eye of the storm, rushed to congratulate Rory McIlroy in person on his victory at the Canadian Open last Sunday, one day after the inaugural LIV Golf event in London.
For the American circuit it was a hit.
McIlroy is one of the organization's strongmen, the only one besides Rahm and Justin Thomas who has unhesitatingly shown his support for the motherhouse.
He is now seen at the US Open, looking for his fifth major after eight years of drought in the majors.
“I want this not to be easy.
I want someone to do 65 strokes to force me to do 64″, McIlroy released after the second day.
That is one of the iron arguments of the defenders of the status quo.
"I want to compete against the best in the world, and they are here," said Rahm, also sounded out at the time about the possibility of joining the rebellion.
The Basque, who defends the title in the American Open, referred him to his representative agency.
Closed door to a format that he does not consider real golf (three days, no court and a squad of only 48 golfers) and in which there is no trace of history.
In the bank account there is no comparison between the mountain of gold that LIV Golf offers and some prizes on the American circuit and in the big ones that even without reaching those figures are also very juicy.
As true as it is that in sports there is no discussion about the immense value of a tournament like this US Open,
US Open qualifying.
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