RIATH AL-SAMARRAI: Is it too much to ask? A Grand Slam for Rory McIlroy

After the chaos comes calm? Or just a little extra chaos? If any sport endured more madness and disruption in 2022 than golf, then they did a quite magnificent job with the smoke, mirrors and concealer.

The myths that once spoke to golf’s higher virtue and sedate nature are all buried somewhere in the crater left by the LIV asteroid, which did not so much shake up the old game as demolish its landscape and a good few of its friendships.

With so much left to untangle in that civil war, it is a certainty that the toxicity of the relationship between LIV and golf’s traditional factions will once again be a dominant topic in 2023.

But from Rory McIlroy’s battle with the monkey on his back, to Tiger Woods’s battle with his own body, to Europe’s Ryder Cup battle with the US, there is considerably more to the 12 months ahead than off-course squabbles.

Here, we take a look back at a year like no other in golf and the year to come.

How much more disruption from LIV?

What first needs to be recognised is that LIV have grown far bigger and quicker than most anticipated. Even with $2billion of Saudi Arabian money, their expansion has been rapid — it would have been one thing to land an ageing megastar like Phil Mickelson and a few strong names such as Sergio Garcia, Patrick Reed, Bubba Watson, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter, but it was quite another to secure Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau. 

They amassed some tremendous talent and in the next month to six weeks will look to finalise their line-up for the coming season.

Where 2023 is meant to be different to 2022 is LIV intend to have their golfers all signed up before the expanded 14-event season commences in February, theoretically meaning less disruption. 

To date, there have been no new arrivals announced since the close of their first season but it is understood as many as seven could yet be recruited, with the American Ryder Cup pair of Patrick Cantlay (world No4) and Xander Schauffele (No6) long known to be the top targets.

But there has been a curious silence around them and other names they want to recruit. A more underwhelming move for world No44 Mito Pereira is believed to be in the pipeline, but expect the next batch to make far fewer waves than those generated by the arrivals of Johnson, Mickelson, etc.

LIV and let die or LIV to thrive?

On the broader topic of LIV’s health, questions need to be asked. They have no TV deal, no ranking points, meaning their players continue to plummet in the standings (the idea Dustin Johnson is only the 41st best in the world is laughable) and there is plenty of uncertainty behind the scenes.

Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods are not alone in believing Greg Norman must leave his role as LIV CEO if there is ever to be a compromise between traditional golf and the start-up, with that idea privately supported by certain figures on the other side of the divide. 

Where LIV have been hurt in recent weeks was in the sudden departure of chief operating officer Atul Khosla, who was previously of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and very much seen as the adult in the room. That hints at unrest within the organisation.

Despite those concerns and indeed the unresolved legal battles between LIV and the DP World Tour and PGA Tour, LIV enjoyed a big win in December when the Masters confirmed they would not change their eligibility criteria.

As it stands, that means about 15 LIV players could tee up in the first major in April, though they need to address the ranking-point scenario if many of their golfers are to keep qualifying for majors beyond the next year or two. 

LIV have also had some success in nabbing famed golf courses, including Valderrama in Spain, and it should be acknowledged their team format does have considerable potential.

On the course, what was 2022’s highlight?

Matt Fitzpatrick’s victory at the US Open was special. It was all the more impressive by the drama and brilliance of his shot from a fairway bunker at the 72nd hole to clinch it. It was also good to see Nelly Korda winning again after four months out with a blood clot.

Who was the breakthrough star?

Tom Kim. As a 20-year-old he won twice on the PGA Tour, the first to do so under the age of 21 since Tiger Woods. An incredible player.

What does 2023 look like for Rory McIlroy?

Hugely promising, though we have clearly been here before. It has been eight years since his last major but he will be in fine shape if he retains his 2022 form.

He closed last season as the rankings winner of the PGA Tour and DP World Tour and also finished as world No1, an unprecedented hat-trick. His wedge game has come on considerably, meaning he is arguably at his most complete as a player.

And Tiger Woods?

Clearly he can still hit all the shots, but walking after them is the issue for a man who nearly lost his right leg in that car accident in 2021. Padraig Harrington believes Woods can win a 16th major but that seems like a generous assessment of a 47-year-old who managed only nine competitive rounds in 2022. If he plays more than six or seven tournaments in 2023, it will be a surprise.

Favourites for the Ryder Cup in Rome?

As it stands, that would be the US, despite the Americans failing to win away in 30 years and their ranks being hit harder by LIV than Europe. The latter lost their captain Henrik Stenson but few others have departed beyond Sergio Garcia and yet the Americans, for all their losses, are still far stronger on paper. An intriguing subplot concerns the Cantlay-Schauffele partnership for the US. If LIV snatch either of them, it will be a huge blow to Zach Johnson’s team.