Speaker
Description
This paper seeks to shine a sociological light on the recent and rapid rise of LIV – a new professional golf tour, financed by the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia, that is causing considerable concern in the established golf profession – the PGA. The paper frames the PGA as a longstanding profession and ‘moral community’ (Durkheim, 1952), which saw its position, until recently, as dominant, exclusive and solid – and furthermore, as one that exercised exclusive occupational closure regarding both established and future members of the elite competitive golfing profession. The paper additionally follows the seminal work of Abbott (1988) who introduces the concept of ‘bump-chains’ as a means of creating space for new entrants to dislodge professions from their position of exclusivity in the market. This paper argues that LIV is seeking to dislodge the PGA as the proprietor and guardian of competitive professional golf through a sustained, brute-force ‘bump-chain’ incursion. In formulating and evidencing this argument, the paper reviews other recent ‘bump-chain’ attacks on established sporting professions, namely the failed ‘European Super League’ attempt of 2021 (Brannagan et al, 2022), in seeking to understand how and why LIV has gained a foothold – and continues to make territorial advances – into the formerly exclusive territory of competitive professional golf. The paper concludes by assessing the likely outcome(s) of this jurisdictional contest and consider the prospective longevity of LIV as a credible, workable alternative to the PGA and European (aka DP World) golf tours.
