The importance of Saguaros cactus removed by Gallery Golf Club for LIV Golf League’s Tucson tournament

A golf course in Arizona is under fire for removing two Saguaros cacti. The cacti were removed in advance of the LIV Golf League's Tucson tournament. A golfer saw this occurring and took a video, which has caused controversy online.

According to Arizona Central:

"Saguaros are protected by law and while landowners have the right to destroy native plants on their land, they must notify the Arizona Department of Agriculture 20 to 60 days before. According to the Arizona Department of Agriculture, which is investigating the incident, the Gallery did not have a permit or notice of intent for the removal as is required."

Heather Flowers, assistant director of Strategic Initiatives and Policy at the AZDA, said:

"The AZDA did not identify records of a permit or notice of intent for The Gallery Golf Club to cut down the two saguaros, and we are currently conducting an investigation related to this action."

Jeremy Duda, the general manager of the golf course, said they would replace the cacti that were removed:

“We've always been very good stewards to the community and the desert."

Duda also specified that the cacti were taken down by a third-party company without permission from the Gallery management.

These specific cacti are very important. They are beneficial to all life that surrounds them, including humans. Oftentimes, landowners will have them supplanted and sold rather than removed or destroyed. They're too valuable to remove in most instances.

The removal of a Saguaro is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 if they do not have the proper permits to do so.

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LIV Golf CEO called out for ruining Cameron Smith

LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman is from Australia, the same place that Cameron Smith is from. Smith was on track to potentially get to be the top-ranked golfer in the prime of his career before he defected to LIV.

Former golfer Brandel Chamblee believes Norman may have had ill intentions via The Guardian:

“It’s ironic to me that it might possibly be an Aussie that will keep another Aussie in Cameron Smith possibly from ascending to a spot where he’s considered the greatest player of all time [from Australia]. Supplanting Peter Thomson, he had that kind of talent."

Did LIV Golf star Cameron Smith make a mistake?

He continued:

“Norman didn’t get there but [Smith] could have easily supplanted Greg Norman as the second-best player of all time from Australia. That’s at least in my view where Cameron Smith was headed. That’s what he’s turned his back on and a lot of it has to do with Greg Norman, and Cam Smith got a lot of bad advice from his agents and other people in the game around him trying to suck him into LIV.”

Smith made his choice with regards to LIV Golf and no one could have forced him to defect.

Still, it certainly hurts his legacy and Chamblee at least believes that he got bad advice on joining or staying with the PGA Tour.