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sports Wednesday 8 March 2023
MLS pushing for temporary substitutes for head injuries

NEW YORK (AP) — Major would allow club medical
League Soccer will keep on professionals to conduct a
pushing the sport’s interna- structured off-field evalua-
tional rules-makers to allow tion of players suspected of
a trial of temporary substi- sustaining a concussion.”
tutes for players suspected The MLS Players Associa-
of concussions. The Inter- tion has criticized the IFAB,
national Football Associa- which includes four repre-
tion Board, which decides sentatives from FIFA and
rules, said Saturday that it one each from the govern-
will continue with trials of ing bodies of England, Scot-
permanent substitutions for land, Wales and Northern
players suspected of head Ireland. MLS said it will work
injuries. MLS and England’s with the Premier League,
Premier League proposed the French league, the MLS
having injured players be union, the international
assessed for a longer peri- union FIFPRO and the World
od and have the potential Leagues Forum to push the
to rejoin the match. IFAB to trial temporary sub-
“We strongly believe in the stitutes. “In the meantime,
benefits of conducting the we will continue to evalu-
trial and welcome the op- ate our options as we work
portunity to share the data with our players and clubs
and learnings from such a Minnesota United midfielder Kervin Arriaga (33) sits up after having his head bandaged from an on implementing our cur-
trial with the global soccer injury trying to head a corner kick during the first half of an MLS soccer game against the Houston rent MLS head injury/con-
Dynamo, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022 at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minn.
community,” MLS said in a Associated Press cussion evaluation and
statement Tuesday. management protocol,”
“The proposed temporary concussion substitution pro- tocol was developed with MLS’s medical advisers and the league said.q

Would new PGA Tour model have stopped defections?

By DOUG FERGUSON without a cut, the money anteed spots on LIV for
AP Golf Writer effectively is guaranteed multiple years regardless
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. on both circuits. of how they play. That as-
(AP) — The PGA Tour is Not to be overlooked, how- pect — more than the lack
going to reward the big- ever, is that LIV players like of a 36-hole cut or 54-hole
gest stars with as many as Phil Mickelson, Dustin John- events — is what led to sug-
11 tournaments that have son, Brooks Koepka, Cam- gestions the Saudi-funded
small fields, big money and eron Smith and Bryson De- league would be merely
no cuts. Chambeau — all of whom an exhibition.
This should sound familiar. have won majors in the last PGA Tour Commissioner Jay
And there is no denying it five years — received a Monahan and his prede-
would not have happened signing bonus of what has cessor, Tim Finchem, share
without the threat and the been reported to be in the more than Irish heritage.
disruption of Saudi-funded $150 million neighborhood. Both have taken ideas from
LIV Golf. That was more appealing Greg Norman, the latter
But it raises a question that than a chance to play for having created the World
might shed light on the dif- the Iron Heads or the Hy Fly- Golf Championships that
ferences between the rival ers. were similar — but not iden- LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman is seen on the first tee during the final
circuits. If this had been Spieth still can recall be- tical — to the Shark’s failed round of the LIV Golf Mayakoba at El Camaleón Golf Course,
in place two years ago, ing at a Rolex dinner dur- plan of a World Golf Tour in Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023, in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
how many of the 36 PGA ing the U.S. Open last year the mid-1990s. Associated Press
Tour players who defect- when Koepka was part of a The PGA Tour stole a page
ed to LIV Golf would have group that was circling the from LIV’s playbook by not events. Five years ago, the enough of an avenue for
stayed? wagons for the PGA Tour. having a cut, effectively as- PGA Tour schedule had those who aren’t at the elite
“Zero to five,” Jordan Spi- And then a week later, Ko- suring sponsors and televi- nine no-cut events, though level or are trying to earn
eth said in offering his best epka signed for the Saudi sion that all the best players not everyone felt com- their way back. Ten spots
best, which is all anyone money and was gone. will play four rounds in the pelled to play them (three will be awarded to lead-
can do. “It’s still not guar- “The easy way out,” is how eight designated events, were in Asia in the fall). ing players from the current
anteed money, or that lev- Rory McIlroy described along with the three FedEx Tiger Woods, who has 26 no- FedEx Cup standings, some
el of guaranteed money.” players leaving for LIV when Cup playoff events. cut victories among his 82 of that from points accrued
That remains one of the dif- their prime years were still It effectively creates a two- wins on the PGA Tour, was in the fall. Five other spots
ferences in the two models. ahead of them. tier system. Then again, it’s said to be among those would come from points
The PGA Tour has put the The new PGA Tour model been that way for the 25 who felt strongly about a earned at tournaments
prize fund at $20 million for effectively creates two years the WGCs have been cut, perhaps because he that year.
its big events, just like LIV tours, but players — no around. Now those will be rarely worried about week- “As long as you’ve got a
Golf, except with larger matter their world ranking gone after this year. ends off. Woods failed to tee time, good golf takes
fields and more fresh fac- or what they have done The biggest criticism for the make the cut seven times care of everything,” J.T.
es. LIV is locked in with the lately — still have to per- PGA Tour is doing away in his first 13 years on tour. Poston said in January
same 48 players and the form. with a cut, regardless of What the tour got right, as the system was being
occasional alternate. But The top players are guar- its history of having no-cut however, was providing developed.q