HEMEL HEMPSTEAD, ENGLAND -- The first LIV Golf Invitational Series event began this week with what felt, at the time, like it might be the death of irony.
Phil Mickelson -- who, the previous day, had explained he was here hoping to use golf as a force of good in a morally ambiguous world -- walked to the first tee at Centurion Golf Club, weaving his way through a modest crowd, as The O'Jays 1973 hit "For the Love of Money" blared over the loudspeakers.
Money, money, money, money ... money! The song was, of course, written not as an ode to wealth but as a warning about the perils of doing anything for the almighty dollar.
Some people got to have it
Some people really need it
Listen to me why'all, do things, do things, do bad things with it
You want to do things, do things, do things, good things with it