No sooner had the wrath of football fans seen off the spectre of a European Super League (ESL) than golf sprung a similar ‘money-grabbing’ concept on us: a breakaway golf tour driven by Saudi Arabia, with several big names reported to be among the players who have been targeted.

This is not a new idea in sport, of course. Kerry Packer’s World Series cricket, in the late 1970s, saw some of the world’s best cricketers sign up to play a series of matches to which only Packer’s TV company had broadcast rights. For the players, then and now, it was about more lucrative contracts.

Now, it’s also about Saudi Arabia trying, once again, to legitimise itself on the world’s sporting stage, while being roundly criticised elsewhere for human rights’ abuses.

Rory McIlroy, chair of the Players Advisory Committee on the PGA Tour, agrees with officials’ stated hard line on rebels who might join – though it should be noted that, at the time of writing, none of the targeted players have agreed to participate. Golf, we’ve been told for many a year, needs to change.

But the change is driven by a need to be more inclusive and a desire to encourage more people to take up the sport, not to reward multi-millionaires.

Those contemplating the switch should heed the experience of many of the clubs who ‘joined’ the ESL – they were vilified by their own fans. And, while golf spectators are not as demonstrative as football fans, the pros might consider the impact on their morale of being politely booed on the tee and shunned by nervous sponsors.