Trump, $50 million and Snoop Dogg as LIV Golf ends first season

A $50 million prize money purse is up for grabs at the Trump National this week but while the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series is pulling out all the stops, even their most recognised player accepts it is missing something.

American Phil Mickelson, whose switch from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf caused a storm of criticism, has become the most prominent advocate for the breakaway circuit which he insists is "not going away."

But while talking up the new format and approach to the game, the six-times major winner accepted that the team championship, lucrative as it may be, can hardly be compared to established team golf competitions such as the Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup.

Asked on Wednesday if the experience of those tournaments would prove an asset when action begins on the Blue Monster course on Friday, Mickelson was surprisingly candid.

"There's some elements of those team events that can apply, that knowledge and experience can help, and there's some that simply don't," he said. "We don't have anybody sitting out and we don't have the rich history and probably the pressure that those other events have, whereas this is really a fun event. Like we're having a blast."

A fun event it certainly looks likely to be and promotional material promises "big names, big energy. Experience the unrelenting action from top players - 12 teams. Shotgun starts. Good vibes, great eats and live music."

But while you can catch Snoop Dogg on stage at the LIV party at a Miami Beach venue and enjoy "Apres Golf" parties by the course, will the actual sport matter much?

LIV is hoping that what it is missing in terms of tradition and historical context, it can replace with the lure of enormous prize money.

The action gets under way on Friday with matches such