Is the golf model also possible in skiing?

I had a dream. Or was it a nightmare? I saw a man wearing a “dishdasha,” the traditional long white cloak that is extremely comfortable to wear in Saudi Arabia in the constant heat. I was able to try this out myself when, for a press evening on the occasion of an athletics event, we were actually sent to a tailor who fitted us a suitable piece of clothing for the gala evening. On the head comes a “Ghutrah” which is held by an “Igal”. If my face hadn't been as white as cheese, I could probably have passed for an Arab, because of course we wore sandals. Of course, we also quickly realized that we weren't in Europe because there was only mineral water with the truly sumptuous meal.

A flowing white cloth strolled through my dream and threw euro notes around. Long arms stretch greedily towards the banknotes like tentacles. They belonged to golfers who are basically athletes who can earn millions even with average performance. Now there are even more, because the “Super Golf League” has opened at the Centurion Club in London. Saudi Arabia is trying to improve its image with billions from the Saudi sovereign wealth fund. Violations of human rights, such as the murder of dissident Jamal Khashoggi, are to be covered up with banknotes, including with the help of sporting activities. Formula 1 is already here, the English Premier League club Newcastle United was recently acquired and the plan for a new golf series has now actually been put into action.

None other than the legend Greg Norman, who they called “Jaws” during his playing days because of his flowing white hair, is the chairman. The 67-year-old former world-class player has an almost unlimited budget at his disposal. It is rumored that Phil Mickelson from the USA, who has so far had 45 victories on the PGA Tour, received a rumored 200 million euros just to play on the LIV Tour. For this he risks the tour card in the USA, perhaps even participation in the US Open. There is also the possible prize money.

Greg Norman is the chairman of the new golf series. © ANSA / NEIL HALL

The first winner, Charl Schwartzel from South Africa, won almost five million US dollars in one go in London. Since he's just an average golfer, he hasn't earned that much in the last four years. The motto of the 48 golfers involved is: Money doesn't stink. Moral aspects have no chance. The LIV golfers are also not interested in the fact that the new series could break up the entire tournament with the PGA Tour and the European Tour. The only thing that counts is the cheap money. At least thanks to the financial basis (there are probably two billion earmarked for the Saudi golf project) it seems to be working with a series that competes with the established tournament formats.

Attempts in this direction in other sports have always failed, such as alpine skiing. About 20 years ago, the proposed project lacked the financial resources necessary for a small revolution and the possible distribution of the races via social media was not yet possible at the time. But times have changed and if the Saudis feel like expanding their ideas to other sports, then the international federations must be careful. What about tennis & Co.? I see a tennis tournament in front of me as a competitor to Wimbledon or the French Open. 64 participants receive a fixed entry fee of two million euros. A mere 128 million euros would be wasted. This is a small thing for a Saudi sovereign wealth fund. The prize money would be adjusted accordingly. Like in golf, perhaps. Five million for the winner. I suspect that many players would not be able to resist these calls. I would suggest Boris Becker as chairman.

Or a downhill series in alpine skiing, separate from the FIS. Entry fees of a million, victory bonuses that someone like Dominik Paris could only dream of before: And competition would be possible here too, if there wasn't a brake that could have an effect. Only those who compete in races under the umbrella of the International Ski Federation (FIS) can take part in the Olympic Games. The former professional skiing series was ultimately forced to give up with this instrument and the freedom-loving freestylers even submitted to the dictates of an unpopular association in order to be able to take part in the Olympics.

The men's golfers (there is still no tournament counterpart for women) don't care much about this. For them, a gold medal at the Olympic Games is no more worth than a tie pin, especially since there isn't even any prize money, because the other motto of the golf professionals is: Nothing happens without moss. I didn't even wake up bathed in sweat after this dream, because a lot of things have already become reality. And it's not over yet. It's more of a spooky beginning.

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Is the golf model also possible in skiing?

Saudi Arabia is causing an earthquake in the golf scene with a new tournament series. Almost immorally high entry fees are paid. For our columnist Sigi Heinrich, an expansion of such a series to other sports would be a danger to the existing international associations.

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