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Atul Khosla, COO of LIV Golf, quits Saudi-backed league

Billy Day — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 11:53:20 +0000

Atul Khosla, the veteran sports executive who was to guide LIV Golf into the franchise model on which it has staked its viability, has resigned from the Saudi sovereign wealth fund-funded business in a challenge to the PGA Tour. Khosla’s exit, just over a year after LIV announced his appointment as COO, comes as the startup struggles to gain traction and, according to confidential information reported by the New York Times this week is far from hitting the benchmarks. that would be success. LIV did not immediately comment on Friday, days after players and agents were privately told Khosla intended to step down. Khosla is not the first senior official to leave LIV this year, and the outfit has faced open questions about the future of its commissioner, Greg Norman, a two-time British Open winner and outspoken critic of the PGA Tour’s design. . But as a departure from Norman threatened to rob LIV of one of the most familiar and proven voices in men’s golf, Khosla was increasingly seen as LIV’s most essential leader in charting the way forward. and was deeply proud of his work. At the same time, suspicions about the true extent of his power swirled in the weeks leading up to his departure from LIV. In a recent court filing, the PGA Tour accused the governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, as the wealth fund is officially known, of playing an outsized role in managing a deal that attracted a handful of the world’s best players, including Dustin Johnson. , Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson and Cameron Smith. But even with the defections of these players and a few others from the PGA Tour, LIV hasn’t secured the television and sponsorship deals that are a cornerstone of top-level professional sports. Such deals were seen by consultants McKinsey & Company, in an analysis prepared privately for Saudi officials last year, as critical to the new league’s prospects for success. Additionally, LIV fell short of other milestones identified by McKinsey as crucial to achieving even “co-existence” with the PGA Tour, including signing most of the world’s top 12 golfers and facing to a “null/moderate response” from the golf establishment. LIV, however, insisted that it remains on track as it moves towards a system in which its teams will act as franchises. In a statement to The Times last week, Jonathan Grella, a spokesperson for LIV, said he “has made it clear on multiple occasions that our stakeholders take a long-term approach to our business model.” “Despite the many obstacles put in our way by the PGA Tour, we are thrilled with the success of our year of beta testing,” Grella said. “And we are confident that over the next few seasons the remaining elements of our business model will materialize as planned. Our business plan is built on the path to profitability. We have a nice long runway and we’re taking off. A week later, news of Khosla’s departure became public. Source : Nouvelles Du Jour

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LIV Golf COO Atul Khosla leaves breakaway tour after one season | Golf News

Garrett Townsend — Sat, 24 Dec 2022 11:44:44 +0000

LIV Golf will begin a 14-tournament season in February LIV Golf chief operating officer Atul Khosla has resigned after the Saudi-backed separatist business’ first season. Khosla’s departure comes just over a year after he was appointed after serving as chief corporate development and chief brand officer with the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Greg Norman, Commissioner of LIV, said in a statement to The New York Times : “At the end of LIV’s successful inaugural season, Atul Khosla has decided to move on. “We respect AK and his personal decision.” LIV’s introduction has been divisive in the sport over the past year, drawing criticism for his Saudi investment given the country’s human rights abuses.

Tiger Woods has praised Rory McIlroy for voicing his support for the PGA Tour amid controversy surrounding the LIV Golf Tour. Tiger Woods has praised Rory McIlroy for voicing his support for the PGA Tour amid controversy surrounding the LIV Golf Tour. The tour has meanwhile attracted a number of top players from across other tours, including Open champion Cameron Smith, with lucrative prize money and a shorter team format over the course of a truncated season. The PGA notably issued indefinite suspensions to players who made the switch, while the Ryder Cup future of LIV participants also remains uncertain. Rory McIlroy has been among the leading voices against LIV and recently called for Norman’s removal as commissioner so they can reach a resolution with the PGA. LIV will begin a 14-tournament, $405 million prize pool season in February, having recently added three championship venues in the United States to its schedule for next year. Tiger and Charlie Woods both follow the Ritz-Carlton GC course as they play in the PNC Pro-Am Championship. Tiger and Charlie Woods both follow the Ritz-Carlton GC course as they play in the PNC Pro-Am Championship. The Gallery Golf Club in Tucson, Arizona (March 17-19), Cedar Ridge Country Club in Tulsa Oklahoma (May 12-14) and The Greenbrier in the Allgheny Mountains (August 4-5), West Virginia , will host LIV Golf League events. in 2023. “LIV Golf’s expansion into new US markets adds to the growing excitement for the league’s launch in 2023,” Norman said. “More fans across the country and around the world will experience the energy of LIV Golf and the innovative competition that has reinvigorated the sport, and these championship courses will contribute to the transformative season ahead for players, fans and the game. of golf.” The events will likely feature Smith, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka and Sergio Garcia, all of whom are part of the LIV Tour. Source : Nouvelles du Monde

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A LIV Golf boss resigns!

Billy Day — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 10:02:25 +0000

The news was confirmed by LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman in a statement on Friday, days after players and agents were privately briefed on Khosla’s decision. “At the end of LIV’s successful inaugural season, Atul Khosla decided to move on. We respect AK and his personal decision. No explanation was provided. It is the second departure of a key player this year from the circuit financed by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) since Sean Bratches resigned earlier in the year to join F1, Khosla had been hired by LIV Golf in December 2021. He previously held a senior position with the Tampa Bay American football team playing in the NFL.

Chess

Observers felt that Khosla should be considered the “thinking head” of LIV. A character of the utmost importance for the future of the rebel circuit. In an interview this fall, Khosla explained that he was “optimistic” about LIV Golf obtaining points. For the moment the committee of the Official World Golf Ranking has not given an answer. Responsible for finding an agreement with a broadcaster Khosla had still not managed to agree with a TV channel in the United States for 2023.

Disenchantment

It would seem that most major American networks refuse to engage with LIV Golf, at least for the moment. This is also the case for advertisers. And the arrival of new players is slow to be confirmed. These relative failures would explain the hasty departure of Atul Khosla. Even if the LIV Golf has managed to sign great champions in the course of 2022, such as Cameron Smith, Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Sergio Garcia or the fifty-year-old Phil Mickelson, there is still a lot missing. top 20 players in the world and some show little or no interest. Source : Golf Planète

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