(Provided by Tennis World USA)
The letter written by Tom Watson to the CEO of the Pga Tour, Jay Monahan, really weighs a ton. Reason for the dispute? Obvious: the agreement signed in complete secrecy between the American circuit and the PIF, the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia , the same one that lavishly finances the LIV Tour.
Tom Watson, letter
In the lines of the letter, what makes your wrists tremble is not only the harshness of the tones used by the eight-time Major winner in order to make clear what he thinks about the pact with the Saudis, but also and above all the fact that Watson opened with his words unprecedented glimpses on the economic situation of the PGA Tour and on the regularity of the process through which the Americans and the Arabs reached an agreement.
Basically, Old Tom asks Monahan two specific things: 1) what real financial situation is the American circuit in to willingly accept an agreement with the “rivals” of the LIV; 2) how it was possible to reach a valid and certain agreement, since In the meantime all the necessary and due processes and steps were totally and deliberately skipped.
The result of Watson’s words is very heavy: on the one hand, it can be hypothesized that the Saudis have taken the PGA Tour due to economic exhaustion; on the other hand, if it is true, as claimed by the American champion, that the The negotiation process was not legal, then it is easy to think that either the agreement between the parties could be considered invalid, or that the CEO of the US circuit could be placed under investigation shortly.
In both cases, the matter becomes more complicated every day, without ever, even by mistake, there being a glimmer of light on what happened and what will happen in the future. Watson’s golf career began in 1971 after graduating from Stanford University with a degree in psychology.
His most successful time on the PGA Tour began with the 1974 season and lasted until 1984. From the late 1980s, Watson was unable to maintain his brilliant form due to persistent putting problems. About 10 years later, however, at the advanced age of 47 and 49 respectively, he won a tournament against consistently much younger competitors.
Since 1999 Watson has been allowed to play with the seniors on the Champions Tour and has won five major titles there so far. His high-class duels with Jack Nicklaus at the Open Championship in 1977 and the US Open in 1982 remain unforgotten.
He then won both tournaments at the last moment. A particularly emotional day came at the 2003 US Open when Watson, accompanied by longtime caddie Bruce Edwards, hit a sensational opening round of 65 and everyone knew it would be the end of Edwards, who was terminally ill with ALS.
The Caddy died the following year at the age of 49. On 19 July 2009, nearly 60 years old, Watson was leading by one shot at the Open Championship with one hole to go. However, he missed the winning putt on the final hole and lost in the play-off to fellow countryman Stewart Cink, 24 years his junior. Tom Watson currently resides in Stillwell, Kansas with his wife, 2 children and 3 stepchildren.