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The Starter: LIV Golf's precarious state

Speculation abounds about the Saudi PIF-backed league's future; Takeaways from the Masters; Given his Masters finish is Scottie Scheffler a sure bet for the next three majors?

🏌🏽 Rory McIlroy won the Masters, becoming the fourth player to successfully defend his title. But he surrendered a six-stroke 36-hole lead and shot just 73-72 in the final two rounds. Serious flaws or is that just what the Masters can do to you?

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Signage on an empty grandstand prior to the LIV Golf United Kingdom in Rocester, England, in 2025.

🏌🏽 LIV Golf is in jeopardy following reports that the Saudi PIF is going to pull its billions in funding. LIV’s CEO maintains that the 2026 season is fully funded. But what happens next year?

🏌🏽 Bryson DeChambeau’s LIV contract ends after 2026. Will he be the next player to leave LIV in the middle of the season?

🏌🏽Given current events — it’s been reported that some LIV vendors and players haven’t been paid in weeks — did Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed see this coming?

🏌🏽 Kevin Kisner, who works for NBC, hammered CBS’s Masters coverage on a Barstool podcast. To be fair, CBS did make some critical blunders, especially on the 72nd hole. Should Kisner have criticized fellow broadcasters lest he’s in the same spot someday? Or was he justified?

🏌🏽 Justin Rose, who led the Masters by two shots in the final round, stumbled home to finish T3. At 45 years old, was this his last best chance?

🏌🏽 Robert MacIntyre and Sergio Garcia were reprimanded by Augusta National for their respective displays of temper at the Masters. Should there have been harsher punishment?

🏌🏽 Sportsbooks have Scottie Scheffler 4-1 or better to win each of the year’s three remaining major championships. Would you bet against him?

🏌🏽 The prosecutor in Tiger Woods’ DUI case has subpoenaed Woods’ prescription drug records, presumably to demonstrate that he shouldn’t have been driving while taking certain medications. His lawyer is fighting it. Should we see those records?


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