Laurie Kanter has made £3m since moving into the Rebel series. Credit: LIV Gold via AP/Chris Trotman
Money Guaranteed, they said… no pressure, they said… a worthless exhibition, they said.
LIV Golf was charged with all these crimes against the competition in its first crazy year, but for those without the status of a «superstar» — like Laurie Kanter — these accusations must seem ridiculous.
Kanter is in a precarious position in a Saudi-funded scheme, fighting for his career. Of course, the 33-year-old from Bath chose to play at LIV and did so without any advance payment or any assurance of where the controversial decision might lead. However, at least his example should serve as a warning to the narrative that the rebels have nothing to lose.
Kanter, a former tennis protégé who in a parallel world could play at Wimbledon this week, is in 41st position in the standings, knowing full well that anyone who is not in the top 24 will not have a guaranteed spot on the list. 2024 and that any player ranked 45th and below will be relegated.
The rules of LIV are clear, even if there is nothing else in this mess of the sports landscape. Any player in the top 24 players of the entire season and 14 team captains will be safe in Season 3 LIV.
Players ranked 25th to 44th on the points list will enter what the LIV calls the «open zone», effectively becoming free agents, where they can either move from one team to another or leave LIV Golf if they do not have a contract with the team.
Players who do not finish in the top 44 in points will be relegated and will have to return to the LIV via a 72-hole relegation tournament at the end of November after the £20 million final tournament in Jeddah.
Thus, Kanter is in danger, and the danger of employment is exacerbated by the fact that at the moment he is only competing due to the injury of compatriot Sam Horsfield. However, Horsfield confirmed on Wednesday that he will return from injury for the final three events of the year, meaning that unless another spot opens up on a team other than the Majesticks, which are managed by Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson, then Kanter will have little time.
“It makes me laugh when people say there is nothing about these events,” Kanter said. “Of course there is, because you can see everyone grinding like always. And I have something to play for. That's all it takes to get into the top 24, and that's the first thing I think. This is my task. What I'm working on.»
Canter is focused on making it into the top 24 and securing a spot in 2024 . list Credit: Getty Images/Tom Dulat
Kanter said those words on Wednesday, and by the end of Saturday night's game, he bolstered his hopes by hitting 67-69 at the Centurion Club in St Albans to reach seven under for seventh, six behind Cam Smith, the leader going into the final round. , but only three behind Thomas Peters, Luis Ousthuisen and Mark Leishman, tied for second.
After qualifying open Tuesday in sensational style, Sunday could end a big week for Kanter. Place in Hoylake, parking on LIV.
If only it were that easy. A shocking «framework agreement» between Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund and PGA and DP World Tours threw everything, including eggs, into the air last month. Even though Yasser Al Rumaya — the manager of the LIV-funded Public Investment Fund — assured players that the LIV would continue, the wording of the underlying deal shows that Jay Monahan, PGA Tour commissioner, will have the power to reverse the breakaway. league — if the deal is completed.
So, deep down, Kanter and the others who renounce their LIV status fear that their efforts may be in vain anyway. Admittedly, Kanter has made a small fortune from his troubles — over £3 million — and enough for him and his young family to live on. Of course, he does not expect sympathy. But as a sports pro, he may have nowhere to play next year, short of the Asia Tour. He lost his DP World Tour card, and even if he won it in the qualifying school, he would have to complete a ban of at least three months. said it was hit with the latest economic sanctions of £150,000 a day after the merger was announced — and even with LIV's backing, it's getting expensive. “After the merger, I was asked what it meant to me,” Kanter said. “I honestly don't know. I'm just trying to play well enough to get a fixed seat at LIV in 2024. In my case, nothing is certain.»
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