The game of golf was turned on its axis in 2022, dominating sports news headlines thanks to the introduction of LIV Golf and the defection of many PGA Tour professionals. The landscape has changed as this new league offers competition for the first time, threatening the PGA's monopoly with bigger purses and a lighter schedule.
The PGA has banned those who have signed with LIV from playing the tour events, but majors are a different story so far. Those who have agreed to compete for the Saudi Arabian-backed organization are still permitted to pursue major championships, but that will certainly be something worth monitoring as all this continues to unfold.
Catching Nicklaus
The question since his retirement in 1986 has always been whether or not anyone would be able to catch Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major championships. It's not going away anytime soon, and though Tiger Woods appeared to be on pace to shatter it once upon a time, injuries have hampered his ability to play at the level we were all so accustomed to.
Tiger last won a major in 2019, a miraculous Masters victory at Augusta, but he remains three behind the Golden Bear, and what once seemed like an inevitability is nothing more than a longshot.
However, Tiger and Jack are two of only five golfers in the history of the sport to earn a career grand slam, winning each of the four majors at least once. The other three are Ben Hogan, Gary Player, and Gene Sarazen.
Grand slam contenders?
Phil Mickelson made headlines in 2022, but mostly off the course. Lefty became one of the marquee names to join LIV Golf following reports of gambling losses that totaled millions and millions of dollars.
Mickelson is second on the active golfer list behind Tiger for most major championships, winning three green jackets, an Open Championship, and two PGA Championships. His 2021 PGA crown saw him become the oldest golfer ever to win a major, but the U.S. Open has eluded him his entire career, leaving him one leg shy of the career grand slam.
Reaching (or eventually surpassing) Phil seems like the more realistic goal for the next group that includes Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka, Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson, Collin Morikawa, and Justin Thomas. Catching Jack appears to be unattainable, but each of them certainly has the chance - and ability - to capture the grand slam. But back to one of our original points, it could be more difficult for Koepka and DJ, who both signed with LIV, if the rules change down the road. McIlroy needs to win at Augusta and Spieth a PGA Championship to complete the ever-elusive grand slam.
The next wave
Other notable names that joined Mickelson, Johnson, and Koepka on the LIV tour include Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio Garcia, Kevin Na, Patrick Reed, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, and Charl Schwartzel. Schwartzel was the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational London champion, pocketing more than $4 million in the process.
Most of those players mentioned have a major championship to their credit, but it's debatable if they're in contention for a career grand slam.
There are bound to be more defectors as time goes on and LIV obtains more sponsorship and television deals, but the PGA Tour isn't going anywhere either, especially if the purses increase in response to their competition.
So it wouldn't be unfair to highlight young names like Cameron Smith, Sam Burns, Cameron Young, Matt Fitzpatrick, Max Homa, Xander Schauffle, and Scottie Scheffler, all of whom have the potential to win the big ones as their careers continue.
One noticeable downside as it relates to LIV invading the sport is the potential diluting of the fields. There will be big names on each card, but odds will go down, making for less attractive wagering, which has provided a major boost to the game financially.
Golf has never been more polarizing, for better or worse, and strap in because it's only just the beginning.
