23 February 2023 , 16:23
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Former golfer turned agent Andrew 'Chubby' Chandler has warned the controversial LIV Golf series "has to get stronger" or it may "disappear in two or three years time".
The Saudi-backed breakaway tour has tempted many of golf's top stars to join with lucrative deals, including Cameron Smith, Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson.
LIV's new season is set to get underway on Friday and will place more emphasis on team competition, with the inaugural season seeing players regularly switch teams. This year, each of the twelve teams have unveiled four player rosters for the entire season which will span 14 events.
And Chandler believes the added focus on team golf means this year is huge for LIV, warning that they need to make it "more interesting" for fans otherwise he believes it will "disappear" completely.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Chandler said: "It's a big year for LIV. The PGA Tour has done so much to keep going forward, now LIV have got to find a few gems and [new signing Thomas] Pieters doesn't quite fit that bill.
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"They've got to keep adding to their roster or it will be very dull, won't it? There's a lot depending on what they do this year. They have to make this team thing more interesting.
Andrew 'Chubby' Chandler (L) has warned LIV may "disappear in two or three years time" (Getty Images)"The public will decide in the end. They'll either watch on TV or not; they'll either go to the tournaments or not. To keep going LIV has to get stronger, it can't be as is forever or it'll disappear in two or three years time."
Chandler also compared it to franchise T20 cricket competition the Indian Premier League, with LIV hoping to attract outside investment. "You can't get away from cricket's Indian Premier League, this is what this is based on isn't it?" he added.
"Every IPL team has a high-profile, very rich owner. That is where I think this has to go if it is going to succeed and that's where the value comes."